Chill & Prosper with Denise Duffield-Thomas

Back then when I first tried my hand at launching an online business, it was a whole different ball game. In 2009, social media was an infant, graphics creation was a nightmare and hosting your own videos? Forget about it unless you were ready to shell out some serious dough. I still remember the days when PowerPoint or Paint were my tool of choice for creating graphics and I continually tweaked HTML struggling to center things on my webpage. Fast forward to today, and things are wildly different. Creating graphics is as simple as a click with platforms like Canva and hosting videos? Platforms like Teachable and Kajabi have made it as easy as pie. But amidst all the convenience, I hear from lots of entrepreneurs that launching has become more challenging. The need to keep up with the ever-evolving social media platforms, the struggle to stand out in an increasingly saturated market - it's enough to make even the most seasoned entrepreneurs want to stop. So, is launching getting harder? I'd say yes and no. Yes, because the demands are higher and the competition is fiercer. But also no, because with the right mindset and strategy, launching can still be really rewarding. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and start doubting yourself when you're about to launch. I've been there, trust me. The online business landscape is constantly changing, and what worked yesterday might not work today. But that's where the thrill lies, in continuously learning and growing. Listen to today’s podcast episode for my take on the challenges and winning strategies I’m seeing online.

As an introvert, the thought of living out of suitcases, constantly on the move with my family was simply overwhelming. But, when Mark and I first starting talking about the idea of taking on some extended travel, there was a determination deep within me to turn this journey into something more than just an extended vacation. It was about breaking free from the daily grind, to create vivid memories that would last a lifetime. In a couple of weeks, my family and I will begin four months travel in Europe, mainly based in the UK but with a few adventures and weeks away on the continent. I’ve never been a very adventurous traveller and I haven’t loved traveling with young kids in the past, so it’s taken some time for me to prepare for this trip. There are a lot of logistics to plan in our business but it’s also taken some mindset work. I bet many of you entrepreneurs and business owners can relate to this, especially if you’re planning to hit the pause button on work for an extended period. So, how am I managing to streamline my operations without breaking our business? Here are three simplified steps I took, which I believe would be beneficial for you as well...

I recently got home from an AMAZING trip to New York, and I was surprised by how many money lessons I picked up! This was an unusual trip because, at least initially, it wasn't work-related. It felt hard to let myself relax and do something purely for fun. As you may know, I love musicals and Broadway (and have invested in a few), so I went to NY for BroadwayCon. The Ruler in me did add two VIP days to pay for the trip, but it was honestly such a chilled, and inspiring trip. So the first lesson straight away was that it's okay for me to do things just for me and just for joy - this is definitely something I want to lean into next year. When did you last do something just for the fun of it?

I don’t want to be a “Debbie Downer,” but I’m going to be real with you. Being in business, particularly working with your significant other, is not always sunshine and rainbows. Today’s podcast episode isn’t a pity party, but I’m giving you an honest look at some of the things I find hardest in my business.

For today’s podcast I’ve got something a little different for you and it’s so fun! And this took some expert editing because recording this ep was a little manic! This episode is a family affair - I’ve got four special guests; my hubby Mark and our three gorgeous kids. Listen to this chat with our family to learn: How we talk about money Our kids ideas about money and future careers What our kids think we both do in our business How we use tapping to release fears or emotions And so much more!

SO JUICY! Ever wondered what it costs to run a multi-million dollar business? In today's podcast, I take you behind the scenes and share the real costs from my company.

If you’re stuck at a plateau or want to move to the next income level, it starts with exploring your unconscious beliefs about why you can’t earn more. Are there unwritten rules about what you are and aren’t allowed to earn? Maybe there are unconscious limits from your parents, industry, or mentors. In today’s podcast episode, I discuss how to acclimate to higher revenue and the steps you can take to be open to expanding beyond what you thought was possible.

This week's episode of Chill & Prosper is an Ask Me Anything, and in addition to talking about getting your partner or potential partner on board, I also dive deep into how you can: Discover powerful techniques to manifest and chase after your biggest dreams. Learn strategies to conquer self-doubt and eliminate limiting beliefs. Uncover the secrets to improving productivity through delegation and automation. Find out how writing a book can be fulfilling and advantageous for your business.

I can't believe how far I've come since those early days when I decided to dive headfirst into entrepreneurship. It feels like a lifetime ago when I was fumbling through writing my first ebook, teaching myself how to build webpages, and trying to navigate the ever-changing online landscape. But there's something magical about being a newbie, filled with boundless energy and the willingness to adapt and experiment. Today I'm answering a question I get asked all the time - what if I had to start again from scratch? What would I focus on? What lessons have I learned along the way that I would apply to starting again?

I’ve never met someone who doesn’t feel like a fraud or imposter, at least some of the time. Myself included. But the thing about imposter syndrome, especially in business, is that it feels so lonely. It feels real, and we often tell ourselves that no one else feels this way. So on today’s podcast, I’m sharing some times when I’ve felt like a fraud and my tips for overcoming imposter syndrome.

Having a business plan is one of those important prerequisites for starting a business that they teach in business school - Right? But do you really need one? What's the best way to do a business plan? Is there a Chill and Prosper way? As someone who was never really good at assignments, writing a business plan always felt like boring homework. Plus, my ADHD and procrastination meant I never got around to it. Maybe you're like me and don't want to take the time to plan because you're too busy taking action. Please don't procrastinate starting your business because you're waiting for the perfect plan. It's totally fine not to have a business plan, but you do need to have a rough idea of where you're going, so I've got some alternatives for you.

This episode of the Chill & Prosper podcast is all about timing. For this Ask Me Anything episode, I'm answering a bunch of questions on the theme of knowing when it's the right time to make a change in your business.

Hi there, Is there a salary that’s deemed “appropriate” in your industry? Or common beliefs about what you “should” be charging? Does your industry have money blocks that are creating barriers for everyone? In today’s podcast episode, we look at which professions have the biggest money blocks and explore the common blocks that could affect your industry.

On today's podcast, we're talking about juggling business and family. Variations on this theme are the most common questions I've been getting recently; How to juggle business with having kids? How to prepare your business for having kids? What changes in your business when you have kids? How to balance being a CEO and a Mom? But even if you don't have kids, you'll get a lot out of this episode. The strategies I share will help you be a better CEO regardless of your family situation.

In my recent survey, our community told me that hiring was one of the top challenges you face in your businesses. Hiring is such a big pain point for many, and I know you've got a lot of questions about it - how to hire your first assistant, who to hire next, and who's on my team. Who to hire and when is a big decision, so in this podcast episode, I'm explaining how the Money Archetype framework can help you build the dream team you deserve.

I've got a juicy bonus podcast episode today all about how to use the Money Archetypes to understand and identify your ideal client. This is always a big pain point for people in all the business courses and coaching I've done. It's normal to stress about doing this wrong, picking the wrong niche, or worry about excluding people (I see you Nurturers wanting to help everyone 😘).

How did you pick your business model? Why do you run your business the way you do? When you're driving along the road of entrepreneurship and making money, it can be hard to take your foot off the gas for just a second and ask, is this the right road? Too often, we're not even thinking about the destination; we just focus on getting to the next gas station. I've been there too. The current state of your products, services, and systems is probably a result of hundreds of decisions made on the fly over a couple of years. And the result is a business that is generally sound - it helps some clients and makes some money. But under the hood, things might feel cobbled together. Is your business model optimal for YOU? Were you told to do things a certain way? By a coach or mentor? Are you doing things in business because everyone else does, or that's what your industry expects? Perhaps you learned to do business a certain way in a job, so when you went solo and needed to make money, you just kept doing things that way? A better way is to start with your strengths and your personality's unique gifts and design a business model aligned with who you are and how you want to run your business. In today's podcast, we're discussing what business model and ways of working would best suit your Money Archetype.

Today I’ve got a bonus podcast episode for you, which is part 2 of the debrief of my Money Archetypes Launch. In part 1, I shared how I relaunched my SMA business course last year and did something completely different that led to astonishing results. The launch debrief continues in today’s episode and this will be perfect if you want to increase your sales by connecting with specific segments of your market.

After another disappointing launch, I was frustrated and confused. I realized my business course just wasn’t resonating as I had hoped and something had to change. So I decided to do something completely different. I had been a certified Sacred Money Archetypes® coach for years, but it wasn’t until last year that I finally applied the SMA framework to my own launch. I took a deep breath and threw my heart and soul into the launch, creating a campaign that spoke to the eight individual archetypes. I relaunched my SMA business course, but it was more like eight launches in one. It felt like a huge risk, but I believed it was worth it. And it was – the results were astonishing. We had almost ten times the sales compared to my previous launches, all because I finally understood my audience and communicated the message clearly. I learned that to truly connect with people; you have to speak their language and understand their dreams and pain points. This week’s podcast is part one of a tell-all debrief of my most fun and complex launch ever.

Growing up, I never imagined that there would be a day when I could make an income without putting in the usual one-to-one effort, like selling a product or service in person. Everything changed when I stumbled upon the concept of passive income in my early 20s. With the rise of the internet, I realized the traditional way of earning money was evolving. So I started by writing an ebook and selling it online but I felt uneasy about being paid for something I had already created. This is the biggest mindset problem I see with passive income today, and why so many entrepreneurs are skeptical of the idea; For some, passive income doesn’t feel real, and sometimes it doesn’t feel ethical. The idea of creating something once and being paid multiple times goes against the money beliefs many of us have been raised with, so can bring up guilt or feel risky. In today’s podcast episode, I’m dispelling some myths about passive income to motivate you to get started on your next passive income stream.

Last year, I joined the local country women’s association near my farm, and we had a country fair selling scones and cakes. They said, “Denise, you’re young and spry; you should be on the cash register.” And I thought… “No, I can’t; please don’t make me!”... I didn’t want to have to make change and add up numbers with people watching. So I heated up scones instead. Maths was really hard for me as a kid and still is. I use my calculator for everything and get the brain version of “tongue-tied” whenever I have to calculate anything (I suspect I have Dyscalculia, it’s like Dyslexia but with numbers). For a long time, I was scared to hire “numbers” people in my business - I was intimidated by the idea of building a money team around me, like accountants, bookkeepers, or financial advisors because I felt like I would be tested or they’d realize I wasn’t good at maths. But being bad with numbers doesn’t have to mean being bad with money - this is a skill you can outsource. On today’s podcast episode, we’re talking about building your money team so you can grow and protect your money.

Are you considering going into business with your best friend? It's a decision that can be full of excitement and potential, but it's essential to understand the risks and rewards of such a partnership. Going into business with a friend could be a winning idea destined to make you millions, OR it could be one of the biggest mistakes of your life. I've seen it go both ways, so let's dig deeper to see if this could make sense for you. In today's podcast episode, I'm sharing my practical checklist of everything I would consider before going into business with someone else.

One of the questions I get asked all of the time is; “How did you build your following? How can I build my list?” “What tips do you have for people just starting out building an audience?” Now, I’m not famous. But in my little corner of the internet, I’ve been able to rapidly grow an audience. By showing up as myself consistently and with confidence, I’ve now got a global following of Lucky Bees, who I love. Yes, there’s a lot of practical stuff you can do when growing your reach, and I’ve got some good tips to share about newsletters, opt-ins, and calls to action. But more importantly, I’m sharing the mindset you’ll need to consistently grow an audience that will support your business and life goals. Whatever stage you’re at, you’ll get a lot out of today’s podcast episode.

Today I’ve got an Ask Me Anything podcast episode and is PACKED with juicy topics. This is a great chance for us to talk more casually about questions from our community that burning in the background.

I'm celebrating! My Chill & Prosper podcast hit two incredible milestones this week - 100 episodes and over 1 million downloads! I was so surprised and happy to hear the download number - wow (thank you!) So to mark the milestones, in today's episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of Chill & Prosper to share my process for creating and promoting the podcast and the challenges I've had along the way. So many entrepreneurs have told me they're intimated by the demands of launching a podcast: Not being able to keep up with the constant need to create content Unsure of the tech and how to keep it simple and low-cost Overwhelmed by content creation and staying organized with content Doubtful of whether a podcast is right for their business And so many people have beliefs about imposter syndrome and not being smart enough, ready enough, or cool sounding enough to do podcasts. If you've been feeling this, my latest episode is for you. You'll learn the following: How to create consistent content for podcasts: Learn the behind-the-scenes tactics I use to create and batch my podcast episodes. What makes a good podcast interview: My tips and tricks for getting the most out of podcast interviews. Benefits of being a guest on other people's podcasts: How I leverage appearances on other podcasts to market my business.

get something out of today's podcast episode. I'm talking about the pros and cons of being the breadwinner of your family, and you know I'm going, to be honest about how this works in my own family. I share about the pressure, the power, and the mistakes I've made along the way and provide a glimpse into how Mark and I navigated the expectations and pressures that come with providing for our family. From speaking to thousands of people about this, I know there's a lot of energy and fear around this idea of being the primary income earner. The fears we have about being a breadwinner are often similar to those of growing or making more money or doing something different and going past our perceived limitations. It is important to acknowledge these fears to start moving past them, so let's dive in.

You know I’m an oversharer – but I just LOVE answering your questions about my work and money. In this episode, I answer listener questions about everything!

You’ve probably heard me talk about my beach house. It was a long-held dream, and manifesting it was a big deal for Mark and I. It’s a stunning house, but we’ve decided to sell it. I recently shared some photos and videos on social media and got lots of questions about “Why are you selling?” and “What’s next?”. So last week, I recorded a podcast episode to share more about why I’m selling, what was once my dream house, and the steps I’m taking to manifest the next one.

Getting ghosting sucks. Whether it’s the person you’ve been enjoying getting to know romantically, or a huge lead for your business, a sudden stop in communication is a punch in the gut. But to be honest, in your business people are going to ghost you. They will flake on you, change their mind, and sometimes be pretty rude about it. But you can’t take it personally! Today on the Chill and Prosper podcast, I cover how to get yourself into a mindset of abundance to close the deal (and the steps to take when you don’t).

People ask me all the time, “Denise, how long does it really take to make a million dollars?” For me, the magic number was five years. Five years from starting my business to pushing over the threshold of $1 million in annual revenue. But that’s not the whole story. Because truthfully, I was waiting in the wings for years before starting my business. Listening and learning – gathering all the information I needed to be successful. I didn’t wake up one day and think, “I’m going to make a million dollars!” and then five years to the day later had a huge check in my hands. But maybe that could be your journey. Today on the Chill and Prosper podcast, I share the struggles I faced when scaling my business, from my first try at nine years old to everything I have today.

Small words of wisdom for this week: Just because someone is succeeding in addition to you, doesn’t mean they are succeeding instead of you. There’s nothing new under the sun, right? It can be nerve wracking to put your ideas out there because what if it looks like you’re trying to copy someone else. Or even worse, what if someone ends up copying you and making even more money. How can we be original when the world around us is moving a mile a minute? Let me tell you a story … A few years back, I published a blog post about spotting money leaks in your business. I had batched the content months before, but it just so happened that the week I picked to publish that post, a peer of mine published the exact same post!! Was it just a coincidence? Today on the Chill and Prosper podcast, I’m talking about copycats, making your own path, and being original in your business (plus what happened with that blog post).

I am doing another episode of Ask Me Anything. It keeps me on my toes because I’m answering a question every couple of minutes!

Let’s be real: the physical space around you can really impact your mindset. Clutter can clog you up. It impacts your ability to focus and nags at you when you have a million other things to do. Kind of like having 50 tabs open on your computer and you can’t figure out which one the music is coming from … It’s simply overwhelming. When you have a lot of stuff, it's really hard to appreciate what you actually have in your life. I’m a big fan of Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method. Marie’s instructions are that if it doesn’t spark joy, it has to go. Because a build up of junk in your workspace can actually spark a lot of negative outcomes instead … … stress because you can never find what you need under the mountain of mess on your desk. … procrastination because you’ve been meaning to clean out your refrigerator for a while now and just got a whiff of death while getting a snack, so now you have to drop everything. … frustration because you are working all day every day … but nothing in your business or home ever seems to get done. It doesn’t have to be like that. Today on the Chill and Prosper podcast, I share how decluttering your space and mindset once and for all, can help you make more money.

Can you believe we’re already in the third week of the New Year? Have you flown into January and already have multiple new projects up and running? Or are you just getting round to opening your emails and working on your plan for the year? Either way is totally fine. The perfect time to plan out your year is whenever you actually do it! Mark and I like to start planning things out in December to give ourselves space for the year ahead, but if that’s not your vibe, don’t force it. You can make your plan any time. Sometimes, we don’t really get to it until February, which is Lunar New Year … so it totally still works. At its core, our planning process is very simple. Listen to this episode, where I share how to avoid scheduling burnout without compromising my goals.

Welcome to another year of the Chill & Prosper podcast! We’re diving right into the big stuff: money worries. I’m ready to stop worrying about money! Let’s face it: there are so many things happening in the world right now that can make us feel unsure. The last couple of years especially have created a lot of money worries for a lot of people. And let's not gaslight ourselves:, there are real economic pressures that are happening right now. So that's my disclaimer straight off the bat, today’s podcast episode is not about loving and lighting our way out of money worries. And I’m also not pretending that those things don't exist - that the economy is perfect, there's no poverty in the world, and we're just going to ignore all of that. No, I’m talking about what you can personally do when you're feeling worried about money, as everyone can have money worries at any level of income. You might think that when you have a particular amount of money, then you'll never feel fearful about money again. And that's absolutely not true. You can feel good at any income level, and you can also feel not so good at any income level. You might think, "Oh, Denise, she's the chillpreneur. She's so lucky. She must never worry about money." And you know what? That is true a lot of the time. So I want to acknowledge my privilege here. I'm a very wealthy woman, and I absolutely have a lot of privilege and wealth in my life now. But that doesn't mean I still don't worry about money sometimes. I worry about my responsibilities. I worry about being able to take care of all of my employees, my family, and my assets. So I do a lot of the things I share in today’s podcast to help me when I feel scared.

I don’t know about you, but January 2022 feels like another lifetime ago. I feel like I’m a completely different person from who I was at the start of the year. But on the other hand, it feels like the year has flown by and I’m still working on things I was frustrated by a year ago! If you have had a whirlwind year and you’re thinking about how next year can be different, then today’s podcast episode is for you.

I’ve a pick and mix of juicy goodness for you today. In today’s Ask Me Anything episode I’m answering some beauties, including: How do I stay motivated as a multi-millionaire? What to do when you feel like you're doing all the work and you're still stuck? And more!

You may have noticed a little video I shared on social media recently of me dressed as Marie Antoinette. It was part of a very luxe, beautiful photo shoot I did that brought up SO many layers of feelings for me. So much so that I knew I had to record a podcast episode about the experience and my reflections. This is a vulnerable share but such an interesting episode.

I can't bite my tongue anymore! There are four things I repeatedly see in business, and today I'm going to have a little rant about them. I hate them, so let's get right into it!

Here’s a little unsexy secret – I regularly hunt out money leaks in my business. I’ll sit down and look at where costs have crept up, and where money’s leaking out. It doesn’t take long and I really recommend it! If you're trying to manifest money and it's not coming in, it might be that you need to fix some leaks.

I’m back with another Ask Me Anything episode. These podcasts are sooo fun and popular. Basically, you get to ask me anything!

You’ve probably noticed, but launching is one of my absolute favorite things to talk about in business. I love it and I hate it! If you’re considering launching a course, a program, or book, I’ve got a special podcast episode for you today. Sometimes, small tweaks can have a big impact on the results of your launch so here’s nine lessons I’ve pulled together to help you achieve next level launch results.

I’ve got something a little different for you today on the Chill and Prosper podcast. I have a very special guest on the show - someone I really admire and one of my mentors, Jeff Walker. We got together to do an episode about launching because so many people try and tell me that launching is DEAD, and I know that is simply not true. I’ve been able to help so many people and make a lot of money by using online launches to grow my business. So I’m bringing you this new interview with the guy who invented launches and who I follow to stay up to date with what’s working in launching today.

A launch is an exciting and nerve-wracking time for any business. But holy moly - there are so many things to think about; creating the actual product in the first place, getting all the tech set up, and all the million and one things to tick off. It's an exhausting and exhilarating time. And guess what? I'm gonna give you even MORE things to think about.

What comes up for you when I talk about working for free? You might be thinking: “This doesn’t affect me; I charge for everything in my business. My boundaries are clear”. I invite you to take a closer look. I think we all have something to learn here.

I had so much fun recording a bunch of Ask Me Anything podcast episodes recently - tune in for some more juicy questions in today's epsiode.

I love talking about the juicy subject of pricing. And today I’m going to help you feel excited about your prices. Gulp! Let’s get started.

Today I’m talking about the classic (but horrible) combination of undercharging and over-delivering It’s so, so common – I see it all the time. And I hold my hand up. I am guilty of this. So before we get started, know that if this resonates for you, you’re not alone.

Pricing’s tricky right? When you go into business for yourself it's like you have to put a value on yourself. Urgh! You might have some mindset stuff around wanting to be accessible and affordable for everyone. So, if you are struggling with prices right now, let's talk about a couple of different ways it could be showing up for you.

There are only a few days left, so let’s go even further behind the scenes of my current launch. You know how I love sharing so you’re gonna get the good, the bad, and the ugly!