Create A Time Saving Routine For Yourself
by Trish Russell

 When you’re a busy mompreneur, time is like gold to you. And who doesn’t want more time (or gold)? A girl after my own heart, Trish Russell also provides strategies to help you reclaim time in your day and in your business. Her business tale is filled with twists and turns and illustrates oh-so-well how success isn’t always a straight line. The journey, if you’ll allow yourself to flow with it, can lead to pleasant surprises and a business you love.

1. Tell us about your business – what’s your mission; your soul’s purpose and why you created your business or service?

Unlock Your Intelligence serves women ready to build their legacy looking for a plan to streamline their days and become more effective with less time. With a personal strategy you’ll build an unshakeable belief so you’re able to serve others with confidence and care.

2. Tell us about your journey and your story…describe your family and business and any major life events….what got you to this point today?

Whew, my journey to here is full of twists, turns, and surprises. I never set out to be a business woman. My focus in life was to serve my country as a Military Intelligence Officer but after my time in Afghanistan my world completely changed. I spent the better part of a decade trying to reconnect with the woman inside and business was the key to finding her. My life today is full of littles (3 kiddos 5 years old and younger), the role of Army wife and growing business owner. I feel like every day is a new self-discovery lesson whether I’m learning how to be a more playful mom, understanding wife, or insightful strategist. There’s never a dull moment under our roof, that’s for sure J.

3. How do you create, innovate or break the rules in your life/business/organization?

30 day launches. I’m constantly pouring into my audience so that when I have an idea I can go test it. I do not enjoy long drawn out processes. This style of creation pushes me to keep a pulse on my audience and stay connected and engaged with them with care and intention. I really enjoy having a personal connection with my tribe as well. It’s important for me to celebrate their wins and support them during losses.

4. How long did it take you to reach important milestones in your business?

Part of my philosophy is “one step at a time.” Each of us has a different journey and I am learning to celebrate along the way. For me, any time there has been a big change or investment, I’ve walked it out within 30 days of commitment. Whether it’s my decision to leverage LIVE video, launch a course, share my PTSD story, open up a membership site, etc. What took the longest was launching my first LIVE event. From idea to event date was 6 weeks. All the commitments in between are big milestones for me because each one was something new, different, and outside of my comfort zone.

5. Tell us about the start-up scares: Was there a moment where you ever seriously contemplated quitting?

14 months into business I had the “continue or walk away” decision conversation with myself. My husband was unsure of what I was doing because I couldn’t articulate the process and I came to a breaking point. Either I would step up and believe in myself and the value within, or I would walk away. It was super scary but I committed to believe in the women I was serving, the families we would impact, and the future we were creating for our children. So, whenever doubt creeps in I go serve someone, give more. Generally the doubt quickly dissipates with the positive action.

6. Did you ever fail or make a substantial mistake in business or organization? Any serious Challenges? How did you overcome and resolve it?

My biggest mistake so far is taking on 1:1 clients before defining my non-negotiables. I’m an implementer and thrive in walking out a process then evaluating how to do it better next time. As I grew my confidence and experience in this new industry I took on a few 1:1 clients who were looking for a friend more than a strategist. Before those clients I didn’t realize I could interview them (like you do for a new job), set expectations for working together, and respectfully decline their money. I learned the hard way my skill set at the 1:1 level only serves someone who’s ready to walk out their ideas and I don’t have to say yes to someone because they’re willing to pay my price.

7. What action has the most impact that you’ve taken to reach your goal/s?

Investing in coaches/community and launching my ideas in 30 days. Both actions have catapulted my business growth faster than if I’d taken the road on my own or overanalyzed my ideas. It’s been really scary and there are days I have doubt, we all do. And in those moments I have a very short list of people I can call for a reality check and a track record to show I’m learning my audience and serving them well.

8. What would you tell your younger/earlier self? Any piece of advice?

Love yourself more.

9. What the best advice YOU’VE ever received about pursuing your vision?

Be the loudest voice in your head. Have a team around you, align yourselves with mentors, AND be the one who believes in your vision like nobody else. It took 14 months for this to happen. Before that I relied on other people’s faith in me until one day a mentor said, “I do not want to be the loudest voice in your head. I do not want to be the person who believes in your vision more than you do. You must believe in this more than me.” It was a big wake up call and shifted my internal belief.

10. Has having success in your business/organization or money changed you? In what ways?

YES!

I used to think money and success were sinful and those with money were selfish. When I started personal development (business books, personal growth podcasts, etc.) I discovered very quickly those with money were the same as those without; some used their resources for good and some did not. After discovering this truth I started learning about the true nature of money and stopped counting pennies. Now I look for opportunities to give rather than fitting it into my budget. In addition to giving more, I look to engage in difficult conversations about success and business to assist others in seeking more for their lives. One of my favorite conversations is planting seeds to revolutionize negative thoughts about money and success.

11. What does a typical work day look like for you?

My day looks rather different than others because I have three little ones, two who are homeschooled. Most of my work is done before they wake up, during nap times and 3 evenings a week. For 6 months I did have a nanny come to the house 6 hours during the week so I could make strategic progress in my business. My world revolves around time blocking and non-negotiable habits built in place.

12. How do you juggle your business and being a mom? Any great tips?

My biggest tip would be embrace your kiddos being your co-workers. Whether you work outside or inside the home, enrolling our kiddos in our vision and purpsose allows them to feel included. Instead of trying to keep my 5 year old separate from my business, I introduce her to my clients and let her help me decide on photos for my social media. For the longest time I tried to keep it separate so my kids did not feel neglected because “mommy had work to do.” Then one day, as we sat at the kitchen table together and the kids colored while I took a client call, I realized these little humans of ours are my office mates. How cool is that? Since then I find ways to include them and join in the fun. This approach has really helped me fight the “mom guilt” and celebrate the way we do life together.

13. Tell us about your most successful launch. What was it for and what really moved the needle for you to make it a success? (If you’re comfortable, please share if it met your goals/expectations or if it earned 5-, 6- or 7- figures.)

April 2017 I broke through my first 5-figure month, followed by another one. Foundationally my needle moved when I owned my value and wrote my victory log. I was working with a coach at the time and she challenged me to define “what are you a master of right now that you could go and teach?” Then she told me to put a price tag next to it. We’d done this exercise several times but for some reason this time was different. Instead of thinking of all the things I wanted to be I had to define a skill already in place. The other piece I did was write down 100 things I accomplished in my lifetime, a victory log. This exercise retrained my brain to look at my past as a success and when I have doubt, I read it. I also add to it when doubt or uncertainty creep in. I completed both of these exercises within a week or two of my first 5-figure month.

14. Stevie Wonder or The Beatles? (this, I personally must know.) 

Uh oh…I’m in trouble. The Cranberries. I think Stevie Wonder and The Beatles are amazing but…. J

Trish Russell is a talented Performance Strategist who teaches you how to streamline your days to build your legacy. If you desire to serve your clients and community with greater confidence and clearer processes…she’s your gal. A former Military Intelligence Offer, she’s a master strategist; spending years analyzing situations, factoring in outside variables, and mapping out 3 possible outcomes. She’s taken those skills and empowers women to battle the enemies of legacy building; such as lack of time, doubt, and distraction.

Trish loves empowering women to take one intentional step IN their journeys each day no matter what is going on. When she’s not freeing women from the “overwhelm” of modern day living – she’s practicing her sharpshooter skills, enjoying tea parties with her littles, and traveling through time & space.