June 28, 2023 • 33 mins
Are you feeling overwhelmed and stressed out by the complexity of your business model? Is it taking up precious time that could be spent innovating or serving customers? Motherhood can be challenging enough. Creating further chaos with an overly-complicated business plan is definitely not something you need. But don’t let this discourage you! With the right tools and strategies at your disposal, streamlining your model doesn’t have to feel like a daunting task.
In this guest episode, Amy Birks is going to walk us through how to simplify your business model. In this episode, we discuss what inspired Amy to develop a simpler business model, why you are your best strategy, how to actually create a simpler business model, and advice for the mompreneur who is struggling with the idea of scaling without sacrifice.
Timestamps:
{03:20} What inspired Amy to simplify her business model
{10:36} Amy’s philosophy that you are your best strategy
{19:37} How to go about creating a simpler business model for yourself
{29:32} Advice for the mompreneur who is struggling with the idea of scaling without sacrifice.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Turn more prospects into clients with three easy hacks- free guide
Connect with Amy:
LinkedIn-@strategyninja
Instagram-@amy.birks
Facebook-@amylatzenbirks
Ways to Work With Gianna:
Interested in learning more about the Energetically Aligned Content Co-Creation System? Head to https://www.giannadiggs.com/eacc for more information.
You can also watch a demo or book a FREE Voxer call here.
Connect With Gianna Online:
- Gianna's Website- https://www.giannadiggs.com
- Follow Gianna on Instagram- @giannadiggs_
- Follow the show's Instagram- @themompreneurmindsetpodcast
- Follow Gianna's Facebook Page: Gianna Diggs
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Gianna Diggs (00:05):
You are listening to the Mompreneur Mindset
Podcast, a show that empowersyou to create a business that's
authentically yours.
Say goodbye to stressful days,juggling multiple priorities,
and feeling like you're neverenough.
I'm your host, Gianna Diggs, acertified mindset coach and
business guide for women and momentrepreneurs.
I'm here to empower, guide, andalign you with the tools and the
(00:27):
mindset needed to build athriving business that's true to
your purpose.
In each episode, we'll explorestrategies, tips, and success
stories designed to help yourise above your obstacles and
level up your mompreneur game.
So whether you're a first timeentrepreneur or a season
professional, grab a cup of tea.
Some quiet time away from thekids, and let's dive into the
(00:48):
mompreneur mindset together.
Are you ready?
Let's get into today's episode.
Welcome back to the mompreneur.
A mindset podcast.
So today we have another guestepisode and we're going to be
talking about how's hissimplify, your business model
(01:10):
with Amy Burks.
So, if you are struggling with acomplicated business plan, this
episode is going to be perfectfor you.
Please get a notebook and a penbecause you're going to want to
take a lot of notes because Amydrops a lot of gems.
So a little bit about Amy.
She is an award-winning businessgrowth strategist opportunity,
hacker and author of the hustle,free business, helping purpose
(01:33):
driven, conscious companies andfounders simplify their models
and scale without sacrifice sothey can grow their impact in
revenue without giving up theirnon-negotiable free time.
After leaving the corporatehustle, this single mom prenuer
restructured her entire businessto sustain its profitability to
work part time all the time soshe could dedicate her single
(01:54):
mom time solely to her daughter.
Known for our dad jokes andpuns.
Amy superpower is in her GPSbrain to now in like a missile
on where her clients are missingopportunities.
She also facilitates exponentialgrowth with the foundation of
simplicity and fun.
With a 20 plus year track recordof success.
Amy's work has been featured inus news and world report, keep
(02:17):
and fast company.
She's also been known to risklife and limb to pet a cute dog
and rap the entire lyrics tobust a move upon request.
And just so you know this is apart of her bio, but Amy is
legit funny and you will hear melaugh a few times.
So without further ado, let'sget into the interview.
Hi Amy.
Welcome to the show,
amy_birks (02:38):
Hello, Gianna.
I'm so happy to be here.
Gianna Diggs (02:41):
So, I'm so excited for our talk today because, um I
feel like we, people in general,women especially, we
overcomplicate our business, inthe beginning.
And so I'm excited to talkabout, you know, how to simplify
your business model and how toscale without sacrifice.
I think there's gonna be a verypowerful discussion that I think
a lot of women need.
amy_birks (03:02):
I agree.
I think it's the overcomplication thing is not just
limited to what we as women doin business.
I think it's, it's like theoverthinking and all those
things.
I think it's just part andparcel to being a woman,
especially in the Western worldfor sure.
So I'm very excited about ittoo.
Track 1 (03:20):
So what inspired you to develop a simpler, business
model?
amy_birks (03:24):
Oh, I love that question.
I'm so glad you asked it.
So, about, gosh, almost fiveyears ago now, I went through a
divorce and it was really,really traumatic and awful as
divorces.
You know, often can be.
And a couple different thingshappened when that went down.
So, number one, I was in thisplace where I was going through
all this trauma and it wasreally, like I said, awful
(03:45):
debilitating.
And it made it very, very, very,very difficult for me to run my
business effectively.
I'd had my business at thatpoint for, gosh almost five
years, I guess, something likethat.
And, Trying to generate newbusiness work for my clients in
the ways that I knew that Iwanted to and show up for them
effectively.
Like all of that just reallywent out the window and so my
(04:05):
business got to the brink whereI was about to go under.
I was like looking at the bankaccount and I'm like, how am I
going to pay rent?
Next month, like, what am Igonna do?
And so being in that place isno, it's like not a good way to
try to generate anything, as I'msure you know, right?
Like living in this like fearlack mindset.
So that was happening, but thenat the same time, I was also
(04:26):
hearing the end of the divorceprocess and now being faced with
this new reality where mydaughter.
Who's the life of my life, whowas about two and a half at the
time.
Three years old, was only goingto be with me for half of her
life.
I was gonna have 50 50 custodywith her dad.
And so suddenly I'm in thisplace where the business has
(04:47):
gotta do well, like I have tokick it into gear and make some
stuff happen.
And at the same time, I am now.
Like, only gonna see my kid forhalf of her life, so you better
be damn sure that every singlemoment that she's with me was
gonna matter from now on.
And so it felt like, oh my gosh,how could these two things even
coexist in the same reality?
(05:08):
Like spending more time with mykid and being more intentional
about that and like generatingall the revenue that I need in
order to, you know, save mybusiness and support our life on
a one income salary.
Like, what are we gonna do aboutthat?
And so, It became, what do theysay?
Necessity is the mother ofinvention.
It became absolutely right.
It became absolutely necessaryfor my business to work twice as
(05:31):
hard so that I could work halfas much because there was
nothing that was gonna keep mefrom spending time with my
daughter, and I most certainlywasn't gonna let the business go
under.
And so simplicity became thething, like it absolutely had to
be.
I had to find the most.
Leveraged way to generate themost revenue possible and do it
as quickly as I could in as fewsteps as possible so that I
(05:53):
didn't have to sacrifice anytime with my daughter and create
what I needed in order to savethe business and support our
lives and.
and.
ever since then, that idea ofkeeping things simple has been
the thing, like it is the drumthat I constantly beat for
myself and for my clients.
And, and what I really did waslike, I had to just drill it
down to one offering, like allthe shiny objects had to go
(06:16):
away.
All of the things that I wasconstantly doing to try to like,
oh, I have this idea and I coulddo this thing, or maybe this
workshop or maybe this course,or, you know, whatever I could
create, create, create.
I had to stop with all of it.
To create this opportunity tohave one offering that was super
leveraged.
I only needed to sell five orsix of them to get us in a place
(06:37):
where we could be consistentlylike creating consistent revenue
and, and feeling like we had anabundant life again.
And that was it.
And I'm like, okay, well that'sthe shortest path to the goal
line, and that's where we'regonna go.
And that is exactly what I did.
And I didn't deviate for thelast, like I said, you know, for
almost five years.
I can, can't remember when itwas four, four and a half years,
something like that.
And, um, and everything changedonce I started doing that.
(07:00):
And, and it's not, and it's not,like I said, I haven't deviated,
you know, I've been working inthis way like, You know, the
last several years, like 15hours a week, something like
that, and generating six figuresa year from it.
And I have all the time that Iwant and need to spend with my
daughter.
She's my priority and everythingelse just kind of filters out
from there.
So, Yeah, I hope that answersyour question,
Gianna Diggs (07:22):
Yeah, definitely.
amy_birks (07:23):
what inspired me to simplify.
And I think sometimes that's howit works.
You know, like my clients whofind me, they come to me in this
place where they're a like alittle bit feeling in
desperation.
Like they're working too hard orthey've got too much going on
and they really want to grow.
They see all this potential intheir business.
They've created something that'samazing and it works and they
wanna serve more people, butthey don't, they've out, they're
(07:44):
outta capacity or you know, theycan't figure out what the.
Most strategic steps are to takeas they feel like they've fallen
into their success, maybe alittle bit in spite of
themselves.
And so they're in that same kindof place where they're like, all
right, well, something's gottagive.
I'm sure it could be easier.
I'm curious about what thatmight look like, and I really
want it to be that way, so let'sfigure it out.
You know?
(08:04):
So I think it's, I think it's acommon, a common place for
entrepreneurs to find ourselvesfor sure.
Gianna Diggs (08:09):
Yeah, I think there was a few, there was a few
things you said that that stoodout to me.
And I love how you said like, mybusiness works twice as hard so
that I don't have to.
And I think a lot of times, likethat statement stood out a lot
to me because I think that welive in this hustle culture
where it's like, you gotta workhard.
If you don't work hard, youwon't get anywhere.
And then everyone is, they'relike, I gotta work these 15 hour
(08:30):
days.
And you know, even sometimes,even though I know I'm not
supposed to, you know,especially.
With human design as aprojector.
Like I know I'm not supposed to,but even I fall back into that
of like, well, this has to getdone and I have to do this.
And I love that you said, youwas like, Nope, my business is
gonna work twice as hard so thatI don't have to,
amy_birks (08:49):
yeah, it would, it became so necessary.
Like my business has to worktwice as hard so I can work half
as much because I absolutelywon't give up time with my kid,
and I don't think I've ever feltthat that Critically compelled
to make a change in my life likeI did with that one.
And it just was like, it justbecame so unbelievably
necessary.
And I think you're right.
I think that we, you know,hustle culture is such a thing.
(09:11):
Six years ago I wrote a bookcalled The Hustle Free Business
and it like kind of started thefoundation for this philosophy
that I bring to the work that Ido with my clients.
But I think that, you know, thething that I'm constantly trying
to do for myself and for myclients, and for my audience and
everybody that I need is toreally see that.
We shouldn't be using our livesas the foundation for our
business.
(09:31):
Which is so often the thing likewe work, work, work, work, work,
work, work, and then we earn avacation or we earn the weekend,
or we earn the right to relaxand enjoy our lives eventually.
And I just think that that'stotal nonsense and that really
our businesses, we should bebuilding them.
I don't like should, but like Ifeel like this is a good should,
right?
Like we should be building ourbusinesses so that they can be
(09:51):
the foundation for our livesinstead, because this moment is
all we have.
We don't, we don't likeprojecting into the speaking of
projectors, right?
Like projecting into the future.
About like what could be andwhat's out there and you know,
it's great to have vision, butto postpone our fulfillment, our
enjoyment, our ability to loveand laugh and, you know, live is
(10:13):
so crazy to me.
And I think that, you know, forme as a, also as a projector, I
think that's a big part of itbecause I'm here and I'm like, I
got, I gotta like, Be in thismoment.
I gotta li, I gotta like enjoyall of it.
And then we also have to likemoderate and
Gianna Diggs (10:26):
Right rest.
Mm-hmm.
amy_birks (10:28):
to rest.
Right, Like, that is really,really important, you know?
So, yeah.
I, I just, I love this question.
I'm so glad you asked it.
Track 1 (10:36):
So when we spoke before, you said something that,
another thing that stood out tome and it's, it's that you are
your best strategy.
So like, I wanna know, how doyou define that and, you know,
why do you think it's importantfor mom entrepreneurs to really
embody that mindset?
amy_birks (10:51):
Yeah, so I, I love this question too.
So this idea was something thatcame to me.
I think it was, you know, like agod shot moment that I had so
many years ago.
Probably like, you know, in thefirst year or two in my
business.
And, and it's remained as partof the philosophical, you know,
frameworks that I bring to myclients, which is that you are
your best strategy, right?
(11:12):
Like, we spend all this time asentrepreneurs and especially as
women entrepreneurs, I think,looking for formulas and
frameworks and, you know,business in a box, ideas and all
the things that we can just likewe can fit ourselves into, like
stuff ourselves, into theseboxes and these frames.
And the reality is that so manyof these tactics and activities
and, you know, ways of beingeven are built for and by others
(11:36):
because they work for them inthe way that they're built.
Right?
And so, right, like speaking ofhuman design, like, I'm not
gonna try to implement, or if Idid try to implement something
that was, you know, created fora manifesting generator, I'm
gonna be like, oh my God, I'mexhausted.
Like, I can't even, right.
And so, So I think that that theidea of you are your best
strategy is really like knowingyourself and being willing to
(11:57):
apply that to how we build ourbusinesses and how we create,
especially around like thebuyer's journey, the customer
journey.
Like any of those elementswithin there where we're
marketing ourselves, where we'reselling ourselves.
I spent so many years trying sohard to learn all the right ways
to do all this stuff and liketesting everything and you know,
taking the advice of gurus and,and advisors and coaches who
(12:21):
were like, do it just like meand you'll be great.
Like you'll have this, you know,half million, million,
multi-million dollar business.
And then I'd try all this stuffand I'm like, this sucks.
I don't wanna do any of thisstuff.
Like I have no interest inwriting, you know, a 65 email
nurture campaign.
None, right?
None like a regular newsletter.
(12:41):
I don't know.
I mean like, I don't know, likemaybe an occasional right, like
you'll hear from me sometimesish.
But like any of that stuff justdoesn't work.
But the stuff that does work forme is creating content on the
regular.
And by the way, I went through aperiod of two years where I was
like, I'm not into that.
I'm just not.
so, Being willing to challengethose statements of, do it this
(13:03):
way, or, you know, this formulawill work for you or whatever.
And like, I think we, we spendall this time and energy trying
to force ourselves into thoseboxes and then we're really mean
to ourselves when it doesn'twork.
And that's just another waste ofenergy too, you know?
And so I spend a lot of timedoing that to myself and then
finally realized that like, Igotta find my way.
And by the way, my way for me,Is gonna create better results
(13:26):
than anything else because I'mnot gonna be efforting so hard
to do something that sucks.
I'm gonna be doing the thingsthat feel right for me that are
most leveraged, aligned with myvalues, feel easy and fun, and
are simple to execute so that Ican go and get better results
from it.
And that is what I help myclients find.
I'm like, I'm a generalist whenit comes to activities and
tactics.
I'm never gonna say to somebodylike, You go and do Facebook ads
(13:48):
because that's the thing that'sworking right now.
The trends say right, eventhough it's not, but like
that's, I'm not right.
I'm not gonna say that tosomebody or to like everybody.
I'm gonna help each and everyone of my clients ask the
critical questions of themselvesto figure out, okay, well what's
most important and how do wecreate a trajectory to getting
there?
That also allows you and yourteam.
To enjoy the work that you'redoing and that resonates best
(14:09):
with your audience and that getsbest results and is the shortest
distance to the goal line anddoesn't require 600 gazillion
steps.
And what if it could be easierand like, how might we make it
so and so?
I think that all of that iswrapped into this idea that you
are your best strategy.
It's like this very simple wayto remind ourselves that it
actually can be easier.
(14:29):
And that the way to make growthand scaling easier is to look
inward and to be curious.
Just to be willing to be curiousand to say like, do I have to do
it that way?
Like why?
Why am I doing it that way?
Why do I have all thiscomplexity in my business model?
Where did all that come from?
And that was judgment.
Just cur genuine curiosity sothat then you can challenge what
(14:50):
doesn't really work and comeback to this is what does work
for me.
This is who I am and how I alignbest with my business.
Track 1 (14:55):
Right.
Uh, again, you said a few thingsthat that stuck out to me.
And that's, I think becausewhen, when we're looking, and
I've been a victim of this too,right in the beginning when
you're looking at people whohave this six figure business
that you crave so much and they,you see all their success and so
you've, you think that they knowbetter than you.
Like, you're like, well, you gotthat, and I'm not there yet.
(15:18):
So that means that whateveryou're doing works and I need to
follow what you're doing when,like you said, I'm the same way
with you, with my clients, whereit's like, let's look at the
strategies.
What feels good to you?
I'm not gonna tell you, uh, doFacebook ads cuz I don't even do
it myself.
Right?
It's like which ones, whichstrategies do you do you like?
Okay, now let's look at yourenergy.
That's where the energeticscomes in.
(15:39):
For me in particular.
Let's look at your energy andsee, you know, what could.
Work for you energetically, andlet's also just experiment and
let's try something that maybeyou're not sure if it's gonna
work.
And then we create the plan thatway as opposed to, you know, you
gotta do it this way.
Like if someone ever tells me Ihave to do something, I tune
them out right away.
It's like I have to do it.
(16:00):
Oh, you know, my mom's like,that's the rebellion in you.
You just rebel.
Oh, I have to do that.
Okay, I'm gonna do the opposite.
But that's because.
You know, sometimes I don't likebeing told what to do.
That's, that's probably like a,you know, thing of mine.
Um, but, but also because I'mvery much aware of when I feel
it in my body that it doesn'tfeel good, I'm not gonna do it.
And, you know, if I don't getthat quote unquote success, cuz
(16:21):
I didn't follow your model, youknow, I have to find my own
success.
So that's why I'm glad you yousaid that cuz I think what came
to mind is that we always wannagive our authority and give our,
our power away to someone elsebecause of whatever they've
achieved
amy_birks (16:35):
Yes,
Track 1 (16:35):
of.
amy_birks (16:35):
know.
Gianna Diggs (16:36):
You know, instead of realizing that, you know
what, like I can achieve, okay,I can, I love this strategy.
I take this one strategy thatyou do that I really love, and
I'm gonna combine it with thethings that I love.
And then I can say, okay, here'sthe success.
You know, everyone's showing,oh, this person, they, they
implemented my strategy and thenin four weeks they brought in
$10,000.
You hear all that, right?
And then, and then there'snothing wrong with sharing
numbers of how your clients did,don't get me wrong.
(16:57):
But sometimes it's kind of likeyou're trying to entice people
to be like, yeah, it's gonnatake you.
You know, in 90 days theybrought in$50,000, and that's
not the typical
amy_birks (17:06):
Mm-hmm.
Gianna Diggs (17:08):
Right.
amy_birks (17:08):
wild what we, what we do.
Right.
Like that, exactly what you'resaying.
Right?
Like looking at others andsaying, you've done the thing
that I wanna do, so I'm gonna.
I'm gonna do it too, right.
I'm just gonna like follow inlockstep and like do all the
things and, and I think that issuch a rabbit hole because then
we end up in this place wherenow we're like doing all these
things that really stink, likethey're not us.
(17:28):
And so I love that you aresomebody that people can come
to, to say, help me figure out.
You know, energetically, likewhat is the best way for me to
show up in my business, for mybusiness with my business?
Because I think that's such agift to be able to know that in
all these different ways.
Right?
Like you, you bring it from the,the energetic, I bring it from
(17:49):
the tactical, like for me, thethings that I'm constantly
looking for when it comes to thetactical stuff is what feels
good, like you said, right.
How can we make it even moreleveraged so that we can get
from here to there in as fewsteps as possible and get the
best result out of it.
And then number three, is itgetting results?
So right.
So does it feel good?
Is it leveraged and does it getresults?
Those are the three measuresthat I'm constantly looking for
(18:10):
with my clients to determine ifAnd do they have capacity, by
the way, that's
Gianna Diggs (18:14):
Mm-hmm.
amy_birks (18:15):
we'll like take on all these things and be like,
I'll fit it in somewhere andthen we, and then we end up
working 20 hours a day, right?
Like, Come on.
That's crazy talk.
So I think being able and beingwilling, again to get curious
and just to pause for a momentand say like, are these things,
does it feel like me?
Can I feel that in my bo I knowI feel it.
(18:35):
I have a physical sensation thatI feel in my body when I know
something's not for me.
I'm like, Ugh.
I feel it literally in my gutbutterflies.
My, I feel it in my throat.
Like there's, it's like a set ofsensations and I immediately
know, oops.
That's not for me.
That's not my thing.
And then, and then I figure outwhat the things are and if it's,
again, if it feels good, if it'sleveraged, so it's fewer steps
(18:57):
to get to where I want to go,and it gets results and I have
room for it, then it's a yes,and it feels great.
You know, I love having thatmodel and being able to share
that model with my clients tohelp them figure it out too,
because I think it's tricky.
Sometimes to find that forourselves because we have all
this self-doubt, especially, youknow, starting out like, well,
who, you know, this person saidand they'd done the thing and
(19:19):
they're an expert, but they'renot built like you.
That's why you are your beststrategy.
Go inward, look at it foryourself, find your own way, and
then you know it, and then thesuccess comes from there.
For sure.
Gianna Diggs (19:29):
right.
So, I guess you can let me knowif what you just, the three
steps you just gave actuallyanswers this question, but I'm
still gonna ask it.
so
amy_birks (19:37):
Yeah.
Gianna Diggs (19:37):
how do you go, how do you go about creating a
simplified business model foryourself?
amy_birks (19:42):
Yeah.
I mean I think that's, that'sdefinitely part of it.
I think that the first thingthat I do, yeah, the first thing
that I do with clients reallythough, is to help them get very
clear on what's most importantright now.
Because, you know, we can talkabout vision, we can talk about
long-term stuff, and like thetrajectory that we're creating
to get to somewhere way outthere.
But at the end of the day,there's some internal motivator.
(20:03):
There's like some thing that isthe most important thing right
now, and we need that and thelong-term vision to line up in
order for us to be able tocreate a path that they're gonna
wanna stay on.
So for me, the most importantthing, Is my daughter, time with
my daughter.
And so basically like with verylittle deviation, every decision
that I'm making, I filterthrough this question of, okay,
(20:24):
well is this thing gonna take mecloser to or further away from
time with my daughter?
And it's tricky sometimes.
Like I got invited to thisamazing, like really intimate
private dinner with LinkedIninfluencers in the city, last
month or the month before.
And I wanted to go so bad, like,so bad.
It would've been so great for,for my brand, for my business,
(20:45):
the connections, all of that.
And I didn't go.
It was just like a hard no rightaway because it was on a Monday
night and Monday nights arealways nights with my daughter.
Like she's with me every Mondayand Tuesday.
So if something's happening on aMonday or Tuesday night, it's
just not, it's
Gianna Diggs (21:00):
You can't do it.
Mm-hmm.
amy_birks (21:01):
thing.
I don't get a babysitter.
I'm not into that.
I want my time with my kid.
And so I have this hierarchy ofwhat I call a hierarchy of
priorities, and I help myclients create one too, where
we're looking at what is themost important thing that's the
filter for decision making.
So for me, it's my daughter,time with my daughter, time for
me, and then my business.
My business comes below timewith my daughter.
(21:21):
And time for me, because I knowthat I gotta be at my best.
I know that.
Time with her is absolutely themost important thing, and is the
reason that my business existsis so that I can have more
freedom and time and a life withher.
And so that kind ofintentionality, I think is the
very first step.
Like that's the very first thingthat we tackle, is really
getting clear on what that is,so that then any activities that
come from there gets filteredthrough that decision making
(21:42):
process.
And so, yeah.
Then from there, you know, we'relooking at, really what I do
with my clients is I start bylooking at the entire business.
Like I sit on the 50,000 footlevel and I have what I call a
GPS brain.
So people like they tell me whatthey're trying to create and
then instantly I can see a map
Track 1 (21:57):
Oh, me too.
amy_birks (21:58):
like, right?
Yes.
Right.
So we see a maps, but like otherpeople don't have that.
And I had no idea that that wasnot a thing that other people
had, and it's so valuable.
Right?
So we see the map and then likeI can see all the.
Most leveraged, easiest, mostenjoyable, and fastest ways to
get to the result that they'retrying to create.
And from there we're looking atlike all the pieces and parts of
(22:20):
the business that are effective,ineffective, the things they
like, things they don't like.
How can we optimize the thingsthat are working well that they
also enjoy doing so that theycan get better results?
You know, that sort of thing.
But we're also, I'm also lookingfor all of that complexity, and
I think that those are reallythe questions to ask.
Like when things feel toocomplex, how can we.
Simplify down to the mostleveraged, you know, offerings,
(22:43):
services.
Products that are, you know,most profitable, you know, are
easiest to sell.
You sell as few of them to getthe most bang for your buck.
You know, those sorts of things.
I'm always looking forlow-hanging fruit like that.
But yes, it really all comesdown to what's most important,
using that as the filter.
And then for our activities,being sure that they feel good,
they're leveraged with fewsteps, they get results, and
(23:05):
that we have the room and thecapacity to actually take them
on for sure.
Gianna Diggs (23:09):
Hmm.
I love that.
And I'm glad you said the factthat there was an opportunity
that you could have taken,right?
That that could have probably 10x, you know, your reach and you
said no because it was time withyour daughter.
Like, I applaud you because Idon't know, I know a lot of
people who would've been like,you know, I'm gonna sacrifice
this one Monday, right?
(23:30):
And, and what comes to my headis like, If you sacrifice that
one, that one Monday, how manymore sacrifices will you make
just because of that.
Right?
That's, that kicks it off.
It's like, okay, I'm gonna go tothat thing and then something
else comes up on a Monday.
Okay, I'm gonna go to that onetoo.
Right?
And so I'm glad you said like,Nope, like I, I'm, you know, cuz
maybe that opportunity can comearound again and I think that's
(23:50):
a good, you know, a good thingto to think about is, like I
said, no, but maybe somethingbigger and better will come
later on and you know, but I'mnot sacrificing this time with
my child.
amy_birks (24:01):
Thank you for that reflection.
Yeah, I, I really believe that.
And trust, which is, which hasbeen a difficult muscle to
develop over the years, butgoing through, I think what I
went through, through my divorceand like almost losing the
business and everything else,like I think that created.
The opportunity for me to likehit rock bottom, absolutely
surrender, and then be able towork my way up to a more
(24:23):
trusting space from there.
But like I absolutely trust thatsaying no to something or
something not working out that Imight have wanted.
I.
Means that there's like so muchmore opportunity and potential
out there.
And that for me, if I can showup unattached to outcomes, if I
can show up without demand orexpectations that anything be,
you know, anything at all.
Right?
Like, like then the magic justunfolds.
(24:45):
Like I had a conversation withsomebody that I was connected
to.
Just the other day, actuallylast week, my, one of my clients
was like, you should talk toso-and-so.
He's a sales trainer.
Cuz I'm talking about trying todo more in corporate
environments and, you know, youguys should talk.
And I'm like, okay.
And I had really had nounderstanding about like, what
she was seeing for us in theconversation other than this guy
(25:05):
happens to work with the typesof companies that I wanna be
connected to and wanna beworking with.
And so I was like, all right,cool.
Well, I'm always like, I loveconnecting with people.
I love talking to people.
I'm always open to do that, soI'm just gonna show up.
And I have no expectations, nodemands, no nothing.
And by the end of theconversation, this guy's like.
I wanna embed you in my programand I'm gonna like, I'm going on
this like crazy marketing thingand I'm gonna introduce you to
(25:25):
all these people and blah, blah,blah.
And I'm like, oh my God.
Like I had no, no expectation,no demand, no nothing, and just
Gianna Diggs (25:33):
was just a conversation, right?
It
amy_birks (25:34):
Yeah.
right.
Like trusting and, and knowingthat we live in an abundant
universe and that we're alwaysprovided for has been such an
enormous gift because all theanxiety that I used to have
about money, about the businessdoing well, like all of that,
just created such a vice on myability to create
Gianna Diggs (25:50):
Mm.
amy_birks (25:51):
way.
And now that I've able to likeloosen, surrender, be open,
unattached, I have my.
Hand open.
If you're listening, you can'tsee this, but like, I have my
hand open as opposed to likeclenching the fist.
I'm not, I'm, we're not incontrol of anything anyway.
Like nothing.
And I think the last two years,if nothing has
Gianna Diggs (26:08):
Has shown us that
amy_birks (26:10):
have been confronted with that and the biggest way
possible.
And so like leaning into theidea, well that, you know, gosh,
if I'm not in control anyway,then I might as well just like.
Ride the flow, like be in it andjust be willing to be surprised.
And every time I let go more andmore and more and more, The
universe opens to me and moreand more and more possibility
(26:32):
and amazingness just shows up.
It's so awesome.
Like I, I've heard it for years,right?
And I'm, and I'm starting toreally sink into that over the
last couple of years and reallystart to see the fruits of that
work and that my willingness tojust be like, I don't know
what's gonna happen, but I'msure it's gonna be awesome.
So like, there may be bumps inthe road, but even the bumps are
gonna be awesome.
(26:52):
So, yeah, exactly.
Let's just do it.
Yeah.
Gianna Diggs (26:55):
And I, and I gotta chill.
Like my body always reacts whensomeone says something or does
something that is like, like, ohyeah.
And it's like surrender, right?
When you was like surrendering,literally, like it's intuitive
for me, so I'll feel it in myback and I was just like, oh
yeah, that's, that's it.
That's the thing right there isthe surrender.
Cuz we, we wanna be in control.
And especially if you have that,if you know your chart and you
have Capricorn energy, thatCapricorn energy will make you
(27:17):
not want to surrender.
But Yeah, but surrendering is, Ithink the, the key that we, that
no, a lot of people don'tnecessarily talk about because
we wanna be in control so much.
Um, we think that we can con,you know, go ahead.
amy_birks (27:30):
I know it's like the hu I'm No, you Oh, I'm sorry.
It's like the human in us, thislike little human inside of us
is so it's, it's a, it's our,just our brain.
Like it's just our brain andhow, and it's like evolution
hasn't caught up yet.
Right.
Our, our brains are still wiredto think that a saber tooth
tiger is hiding around everycorner.
Gianna Diggs (27:48):
Right.
amy_birks (27:48):
relate to every possible scenario that might
induce a little bit of fear asif we're going to die.
The little human inside of us iscertain that we're gonna die.
And I think it's so wild andfascinating how we allow that to
dictate how we show up in theworld and what we choose.
It's wild too.
I, I don't know if I, I am notfamiliar enough with my chart to
(28:09):
know if Capricorn's in there,but I would not be surprised if
there is, because I had such ancontinue to have such a hard
time with surrender.
It's so much like, I thought itwas this intellectual thing that
like I was gonna learn how andread all the books and then
figure it out and then like oneday the skies were gonna part
and the angels are gonna sing,and it was gonna be like, oh,
(28:31):
surrender.
And I was like so floored whenmonths and months and months
later, like as I just continuedto relentlessly do the practices
that would allow me to get tothat place.
When I finally started to lookaround my life and go.
Wow.
I haven't felt that likeanxious, like roiling in my
(28:54):
belly and like I haven't worriedabout money for the last several
weeks, and I haven't beenfeeling that way anymore.
There was no like thunderboltlightning bolt moment.
That like at the snap of thefinger, I was just suddenly, oh,
I surrendered.
Got it.
No, it was like,
Gianna Diggs (29:11):
just happened
amy_birks (29:12):
up on you.
And it's because of therelentless pursuit of the
practice and the willingness tojust say, I don't know what's on
the other side of it, but I'mjust gonna keep trying and keep
doing the thing and I'll keepstubbing my toe and that's okay.
And, you know, let me justcontinue doing it and, and see
where it takes me.
Gianna Diggs (29:29):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I love that.
Track 1 (29:32):
so if there's a mompreneur out there who is
really struggling with the ideaof scaling without sacrifice
what piece of advice would yougive her?
amy_birks (29:42):
Yeah, so I think first I would say, oh mama, I
see you and I have been thereand my clients have been there.
So just know that you are numberone, you're not alone.
This is such a thing.
And that if you can be willingenough to get curious about how
things can be easier, then.
My sense is that if you'relistening to this podcast, then
(30:04):
you already are, that thenyou're just, you know, you've
already done like half the work.
And that really, I think thatthe, the main thing is to just
remember that even if it feelslike you're out of capacity and
bandwidth or you know, oh myGod, there's so much potential
and there's ideas everywhere andI'm overwhelmed by it all.
Or like, there's so much that wecould be doing here that really.
(30:25):
Um, you know, being willing tojust ask yourself the question
of, you know, how easy can thisbe?
How simple can I make it?
And what's most important rightnow?
I think those three questionsare, are so unbelievably
powerful so that then you canreally align with what the
answers to those might be.
And, you know, once you knowwhat's most important, I think
(30:46):
that then creates a whole newopportunity to create a
trajectory towards ease andsimplicity because, You know, if
it's for you, something like itis for me it is.
Which it is with most of myclients.
It's really like time freedom,and especially time with our
family.
Then I think it just creates awhole new opening to the
potential for ideation aroundwhat the simpler, easier path
(31:07):
might be that allows you to.
Scale without having tosacrifice those things that are
really important, like ourfamilies and you know, time
freedom and life.
Life.
You know, like let's build ourbusinesses so that they're the
foundation for our lives insteadof having our lives be the
foundations for our businesses.
For sure.
Gianna Diggs (31:25):
Oh yes.
I love that.
I love that advice.
So before we wrap up, can youtell the audience where they can
find you online?
amy_birks (31:32):
Yeah, absolutely.
Best ways to find me are eitheron my website, which is amy
burkes.com, a m y B as in boy, ir k S as in sam.com.
And I've got a cool newsletterthat I send out sometimes ish.
It's like, you know, every otherweek-ish.
That is pretty fun and has lotsof value in it.
I've also got a cool freebie forfolks that wanna.
(31:52):
Learn how to, improve theirconversions.
It's a really cool likeconversion hacks guide that you
can download there as well.
and then I'm also on LinkedIn,which is a great place to find
me.
My moniker, whatever, like theback half of the, of the
LinkedIn thing is StrategyNinja, so you can find me on
LinkedIn and I share contentthere five days a week, Monday
through Friday without failevery day that I'm very
(32:14):
consistent about and theconversations are always really
fun and lively.
And, tons of value.
So those are two great ways tokeep in touch with me for sure.
Gianna Diggs (32:24):
All right, Amy, thank you so much.
I, I really love thisconversation.
I feel like I got a lot out ofit.
I'm sure the audience is gonnaget a lot out of it.
So thank you so much for beinghere.
amy_birks (32:32):
Uh, thanks so much for having me, Gianna.
I love curious people like you.
Conversations like this are myfavorite.
Gianna Diggs (32:37):
Thank you thank you for tuning in to today's
episode of the MompreneurMindset Podcast.
I truly hope that ourconversation has inspired and
motivated you to take charge ofyour entrepreneurial journey.
If you found today's episodevaluable, please take a moment
and, and subscribe and leave usa review on your preferred
(32:59):
podcast platform.
Your support means the world tome, and it's vital for helping
me to reach more entrepreneurslike you and empower our growing
community to thrive.
Until next time.
Keep pushing boundaries.
Never settle.
And remember, the world iswaiting for your unique gifts
that only you can offer.
See you in the next episode.
You are listening to the Mompreneur Mindset
Podcast, a show that empowersyou to create a business that's
authentically yours.
Say goodbye to stressful days,juggling multiple priorities,
and feeling like you're neverenough.
I'm your host, Gianna Diggs, acertified mindset coach and
business guide for women and momentrepreneurs.
I'm here to empower, guide, andalign you with the tools and the
(00:27):
mindset needed to build athriving business that's true to
your purpose.
In each episode, we'll explorestrategies, tips, and success
stories designed to help yourise above your obstacles and
level up your mompreneur game.
So whether you're a first timeentrepreneur or a season
professional, grab a cup of tea.
Some quiet time away from thekids, and let's dive into the
(00:48):
mompreneur mindset together.
Are you ready?
Let's get into today's episode.
Welcome back to the mompreneur.
A mindset podcast.
So today we have another guestepisode and we're going to be
talking about how's hissimplify, your business model
(01:10):
with Amy Burks.
So, if you are struggling with acomplicated business plan, this
episode is going to be perfectfor you.
Please get a notebook and a penbecause you're going to want to
take a lot of notes because Amydrops a lot of gems.
So a little bit about Amy.
She is an award-winning businessgrowth strategist opportunity,
hacker and author of the hustle,free business, helping purpose
(01:33):
driven, conscious companies andfounders simplify their models
and scale without sacrifice sothey can grow their impact in
revenue without giving up theirnon-negotiable free time.
After leaving the corporatehustle, this single mom prenuer
restructured her entire businessto sustain its profitability to
work part time all the time soshe could dedicate her single
(01:54):
mom time solely to her daughter.
Known for our dad jokes andpuns.
Amy superpower is in her GPSbrain to now in like a missile
on where her clients are missingopportunities.
She also facilitates exponentialgrowth with the foundation of
simplicity and fun.
With a 20 plus year track recordof success.
Amy's work has been featured inus news and world report, keep
(02:17):
and fast company.
She's also been known to risklife and limb to pet a cute dog
and rap the entire lyrics tobust a move upon request.
And just so you know this is apart of her bio, but Amy is
legit funny and you will hear melaugh a few times.
So without further ado, let'sget into the interview.
Hi Amy.
Welcome to the show,
amy_birks (02:38):
Hello, Gianna.
I'm so happy to be here.
Gianna Diggs (02:41):
So, I'm so excited for our talk today because, um I
feel like we, people in general,women especially, we
overcomplicate our business, inthe beginning.
And so I'm excited to talkabout, you know, how to simplify
your business model and how toscale without sacrifice.
I think there's gonna be a verypowerful discussion that I think
a lot of women need.
amy_birks (03:02):
I agree.
I think it's the overcomplication thing is not just
limited to what we as women doin business.
I think it's, it's like theoverthinking and all those
things.
I think it's just part andparcel to being a woman,
especially in the Western worldfor sure.
So I'm very excited about ittoo.
Track 1 (03:20):
So what inspired you to develop a simpler, business
model?
amy_birks (03:24):
Oh, I love that question.
I'm so glad you asked it.
So, about, gosh, almost fiveyears ago now, I went through a
divorce and it was really,really traumatic and awful as
divorces.
You know, often can be.
And a couple different thingshappened when that went down.
So, number one, I was in thisplace where I was going through
all this trauma and it wasreally, like I said, awful
(03:45):
debilitating.
And it made it very, very, very,very difficult for me to run my
business effectively.
I'd had my business at thatpoint for, gosh almost five
years, I guess, something likethat.
And, Trying to generate newbusiness work for my clients in
the ways that I knew that Iwanted to and show up for them
effectively.
Like all of that just reallywent out the window and so my
(04:05):
business got to the brink whereI was about to go under.
I was like looking at the bankaccount and I'm like, how am I
going to pay rent?
Next month, like, what am Igonna do?
And so being in that place isno, it's like not a good way to
try to generate anything, as I'msure you know, right?
Like living in this like fearlack mindset.
So that was happening, but thenat the same time, I was also
(04:26):
hearing the end of the divorceprocess and now being faced with
this new reality where mydaughter.
Who's the life of my life, whowas about two and a half at the
time.
Three years old, was only goingto be with me for half of her
life.
I was gonna have 50 50 custodywith her dad.
And so suddenly I'm in thisplace where the business has
(04:47):
gotta do well, like I have tokick it into gear and make some
stuff happen.
And at the same time, I am now.
Like, only gonna see my kid forhalf of her life, so you better
be damn sure that every singlemoment that she's with me was
gonna matter from now on.
And so it felt like, oh my gosh,how could these two things even
coexist in the same reality?
(05:08):
Like spending more time with mykid and being more intentional
about that and like generatingall the revenue that I need in
order to, you know, save mybusiness and support our life on
a one income salary.
Like, what are we gonna do aboutthat?
And so, It became, what do theysay?
Necessity is the mother ofinvention.
It became absolutely right.
It became absolutely necessaryfor my business to work twice as
(05:31):
hard so that I could work halfas much because there was
nothing that was gonna keep mefrom spending time with my
daughter, and I most certainlywasn't gonna let the business go
under.
And so simplicity became thething, like it absolutely had to
be.
I had to find the most.
Leveraged way to generate themost revenue possible and do it
as quickly as I could in as fewsteps as possible so that I
(05:53):
didn't have to sacrifice anytime with my daughter and create
what I needed in order to savethe business and support our
lives and.
and.
ever since then, that idea ofkeeping things simple has been
the thing, like it is the drumthat I constantly beat for
myself and for my clients.
And, and what I really did waslike, I had to just drill it
down to one offering, like allthe shiny objects had to go
(06:16):
away.
All of the things that I wasconstantly doing to try to like,
oh, I have this idea and I coulddo this thing, or maybe this
workshop or maybe this course,or, you know, whatever I could
create, create, create.
I had to stop with all of it.
To create this opportunity tohave one offering that was super
leveraged.
I only needed to sell five orsix of them to get us in a place
(06:37):
where we could be consistentlylike creating consistent revenue
and, and feeling like we had anabundant life again.
And that was it.
And I'm like, okay, well that'sthe shortest path to the goal
line, and that's where we'regonna go.
And that is exactly what I did.
And I didn't deviate for thelast, like I said, you know, for
almost five years.
I can, can't remember when itwas four, four and a half years,
something like that.
And, um, and everything changedonce I started doing that.
(07:00):
And, and it's not, and it's not,like I said, I haven't deviated,
you know, I've been working inthis way like, You know, the
last several years, like 15hours a week, something like
that, and generating six figuresa year from it.
And I have all the time that Iwant and need to spend with my
daughter.
She's my priority and everythingelse just kind of filters out
from there.
So, Yeah, I hope that answersyour question,
Gianna Diggs (07:22):
Yeah, definitely.
amy_birks (07:23):
what inspired me to simplify.
And I think sometimes that's howit works.
You know, like my clients whofind me, they come to me in this
place where they're a like alittle bit feeling in
desperation.
Like they're working too hard orthey've got too much going on
and they really want to grow.
They see all this potential intheir business.
They've created something that'samazing and it works and they
wanna serve more people, butthey don't, they've out, they're
(07:44):
outta capacity or you know, theycan't figure out what the.
Most strategic steps are to takeas they feel like they've fallen
into their success, maybe alittle bit in spite of
themselves.
And so they're in that same kindof place where they're like, all
right, well, something's gottagive.
I'm sure it could be easier.
I'm curious about what thatmight look like, and I really
want it to be that way, so let'sfigure it out.
You know?
(08:04):
So I think it's, I think it's acommon, a common place for
entrepreneurs to find ourselvesfor sure.
Gianna Diggs (08:09):
Yeah, I think there was a few, there was a few
things you said that that stoodout to me.
And I love how you said like, mybusiness works twice as hard so
that I don't have to.
And I think a lot of times, likethat statement stood out a lot
to me because I think that welive in this hustle culture
where it's like, you gotta workhard.
If you don't work hard, youwon't get anywhere.
And then everyone is, they'relike, I gotta work these 15 hour
(08:30):
days.
And you know, even sometimes,even though I know I'm not
supposed to, you know,especially.
With human design as aprojector.
Like I know I'm not supposed to,but even I fall back into that
of like, well, this has to getdone and I have to do this.
And I love that you said, youwas like, Nope, my business is
gonna work twice as hard so thatI don't have to,
amy_birks (08:49):
yeah, it would, it became so necessary.
Like my business has to worktwice as hard so I can work half
as much because I absolutelywon't give up time with my kid,
and I don't think I've ever feltthat that Critically compelled
to make a change in my life likeI did with that one.
And it just was like, it justbecame so unbelievably
necessary.
And I think you're right.
I think that we, you know,hustle culture is such a thing.
(09:11):
Six years ago I wrote a bookcalled The Hustle Free Business
and it like kind of started thefoundation for this philosophy
that I bring to the work that Ido with my clients.
But I think that, you know, thething that I'm constantly trying
to do for myself and for myclients, and for my audience and
everybody that I need is toreally see that.
We shouldn't be using our livesas the foundation for our
business.
(09:31):
Which is so often the thing likewe work, work, work, work, work,
work, work, and then we earn avacation or we earn the weekend,
or we earn the right to relaxand enjoy our lives eventually.
And I just think that that'stotal nonsense and that really
our businesses, we should bebuilding them.
I don't like should, but like Ifeel like this is a good should,
right?
Like we should be building ourbusinesses so that they can be
(09:51):
the foundation for our livesinstead, because this moment is
all we have.
We don't, we don't likeprojecting into the speaking of
projectors, right?
Like projecting into the future.
About like what could be andwhat's out there and you know,
it's great to have vision, butto postpone our fulfillment, our
enjoyment, our ability to loveand laugh and, you know, live is
(10:13):
so crazy to me.
And I think that, you know, forme as a, also as a projector, I
think that's a big part of itbecause I'm here and I'm like, I
got, I gotta like, Be in thismoment.
I gotta li, I gotta like enjoyall of it.
And then we also have to likemoderate and
Gianna Diggs (10:26):
Right rest.
Mm-hmm.
amy_birks (10:28):
to rest.
Right, Like, that is really,really important, you know?
So, yeah.
I, I just, I love this question.
I'm so glad you asked it.
Track 1 (10:36):
So when we spoke before, you said something that,
another thing that stood out tome and it's, it's that you are
your best strategy.
So like, I wanna know, how doyou define that and, you know,
why do you think it's importantfor mom entrepreneurs to really
embody that mindset?
amy_birks (10:51):
Yeah, so I, I love this question too.
So this idea was something thatcame to me.
I think it was, you know, like agod shot moment that I had so
many years ago.
Probably like, you know, in thefirst year or two in my
business.
And, and it's remained as partof the philosophical, you know,
frameworks that I bring to myclients, which is that you are
your best strategy, right?
(11:12):
Like, we spend all this time asentrepreneurs and especially as
women entrepreneurs, I think,looking for formulas and
frameworks and, you know,business in a box, ideas and all
the things that we can just likewe can fit ourselves into, like
stuff ourselves, into theseboxes and these frames.
And the reality is that so manyof these tactics and activities
and, you know, ways of beingeven are built for and by others
(11:36):
because they work for them inthe way that they're built.
Right?
And so, right, like speaking ofhuman design, like, I'm not
gonna try to implement, or if Idid try to implement something
that was, you know, created fora manifesting generator, I'm
gonna be like, oh my God, I'mexhausted.
Like, I can't even, right.
And so, So I think that that theidea of you are your best
strategy is really like knowingyourself and being willing to
(11:57):
apply that to how we build ourbusinesses and how we create,
especially around like thebuyer's journey, the customer
journey.
Like any of those elementswithin there where we're
marketing ourselves, where we'reselling ourselves.
I spent so many years trying sohard to learn all the right ways
to do all this stuff and liketesting everything and you know,
taking the advice of gurus and,and advisors and coaches who
(12:21):
were like, do it just like meand you'll be great.
Like you'll have this, you know,half million, million,
multi-million dollar business.
And then I'd try all this stuffand I'm like, this sucks.
I don't wanna do any of thisstuff.
Like I have no interest inwriting, you know, a 65 email
nurture campaign.
None, right?
None like a regular newsletter.
(12:41):
I don't know.
I mean like, I don't know, likemaybe an occasional right, like
you'll hear from me sometimesish.
But like any of that stuff justdoesn't work.
But the stuff that does work forme is creating content on the
regular.
And by the way, I went through aperiod of two years where I was
like, I'm not into that.
I'm just not.
so, Being willing to challengethose statements of, do it this
(13:03):
way, or, you know, this formulawill work for you or whatever.
And like, I think we, we spendall this time and energy trying
to force ourselves into thoseboxes and then we're really mean
to ourselves when it doesn'twork.
And that's just another waste ofenergy too, you know?
And so I spend a lot of timedoing that to myself and then
finally realized that like, Igotta find my way.
And by the way, my way for me,Is gonna create better results
(13:26):
than anything else because I'mnot gonna be efforting so hard
to do something that sucks.
I'm gonna be doing the thingsthat feel right for me that are
most leveraged, aligned with myvalues, feel easy and fun, and
are simple to execute so that Ican go and get better results
from it.
And that is what I help myclients find.
I'm like, I'm a generalist whenit comes to activities and
tactics.
I'm never gonna say to somebodylike, You go and do Facebook ads
(13:48):
because that's the thing that'sworking right now.
The trends say right, eventhough it's not, but like
that's, I'm not right.
I'm not gonna say that tosomebody or to like everybody.
I'm gonna help each and everyone of my clients ask the
critical questions of themselvesto figure out, okay, well what's
most important and how do wecreate a trajectory to getting
there?
That also allows you and yourteam.
To enjoy the work that you'redoing and that resonates best
(14:09):
with your audience and that getsbest results and is the shortest
distance to the goal line anddoesn't require 600 gazillion
steps.
And what if it could be easierand like, how might we make it
so and so?
I think that all of that iswrapped into this idea that you
are your best strategy.
It's like this very simple wayto remind ourselves that it
actually can be easier.
(14:29):
And that the way to make growthand scaling easier is to look
inward and to be curious.
Just to be willing to be curiousand to say like, do I have to do
it that way?
Like why?
Why am I doing it that way?
Why do I have all thiscomplexity in my business model?
Where did all that come from?
And that was judgment.
Just cur genuine curiosity sothat then you can challenge what
(14:50):
doesn't really work and comeback to this is what does work
for me.
This is who I am and how I alignbest with my business.
Track 1 (14:55):
Right.
Uh, again, you said a few thingsthat that stuck out to me.
And that's, I think becausewhen, when we're looking, and
I've been a victim of this too,right in the beginning when
you're looking at people whohave this six figure business
that you crave so much and they,you see all their success and so
you've, you think that they knowbetter than you.
Like, you're like, well, you gotthat, and I'm not there yet.
(15:18):
So that means that whateveryou're doing works and I need to
follow what you're doing when,like you said, I'm the same way
with you, with my clients, whereit's like, let's look at the
strategies.
What feels good to you?
I'm not gonna tell you, uh, doFacebook ads cuz I don't even do
it myself.
Right?
It's like which ones, whichstrategies do you do you like?
Okay, now let's look at yourenergy.
That's where the energeticscomes in.
(15:39):
For me in particular.
Let's look at your energy andsee, you know, what could.
Work for you energetically, andlet's also just experiment and
let's try something that maybeyou're not sure if it's gonna
work.
And then we create the plan thatway as opposed to, you know, you
gotta do it this way.
Like if someone ever tells me Ihave to do something, I tune
them out right away.
It's like I have to do it.
(16:00):
Oh, you know, my mom's like,that's the rebellion in you.
You just rebel.
Oh, I have to do that.
Okay, I'm gonna do the opposite.
But that's because.
You know, sometimes I don't likebeing told what to do.
That's, that's probably like a,you know, thing of mine.
Um, but, but also because I'mvery much aware of when I feel
it in my body that it doesn'tfeel good, I'm not gonna do it.
And, you know, if I don't getthat quote unquote success, cuz
(16:21):
I didn't follow your model, youknow, I have to find my own
success.
So that's why I'm glad you yousaid that cuz I think what came
to mind is that we always wannagive our authority and give our,
our power away to someone elsebecause of whatever they've
achieved
amy_birks (16:35):
Yes,
Track 1 (16:35):
of.
amy_birks (16:35):
know.
Gianna Diggs (16:36):
You know, instead of realizing that, you know
what, like I can achieve, okay,I can, I love this strategy.
I take this one strategy thatyou do that I really love, and
I'm gonna combine it with thethings that I love.
And then I can say, okay, here'sthe success.
You know, everyone's showing,oh, this person, they, they
implemented my strategy and thenin four weeks they brought in
$10,000.
You hear all that, right?
And then, and then there'snothing wrong with sharing
numbers of how your clients did,don't get me wrong.
(16:57):
But sometimes it's kind of likeyou're trying to entice people
to be like, yeah, it's gonnatake you.
You know, in 90 days theybrought in$50,000, and that's
not the typical
amy_birks (17:06):
Mm-hmm.
Gianna Diggs (17:08):
Right.
amy_birks (17:08):
wild what we, what we do.
Right.
Like that, exactly what you'resaying.
Right?
Like looking at others andsaying, you've done the thing
that I wanna do, so I'm gonna.
I'm gonna do it too, right.
I'm just gonna like follow inlockstep and like do all the
things and, and I think that issuch a rabbit hole because then
we end up in this place wherenow we're like doing all these
things that really stink, likethey're not us.
(17:28):
And so I love that you aresomebody that people can come
to, to say, help me figure out.
You know, energetically, likewhat is the best way for me to
show up in my business, for mybusiness with my business?
Because I think that's such agift to be able to know that in
all these different ways.
Right?
Like you, you bring it from the,the energetic, I bring it from
(17:49):
the tactical, like for me, thethings that I'm constantly
looking for when it comes to thetactical stuff is what feels
good, like you said, right.
How can we make it even moreleveraged so that we can get
from here to there in as fewsteps as possible and get the
best result out of it.
And then number three, is itgetting results?
So right.
So does it feel good?
Is it leveraged and does it getresults?
Those are the three measuresthat I'm constantly looking for
(18:10):
with my clients to determine ifAnd do they have capacity, by
the way, that's
Gianna Diggs (18:14):
Mm-hmm.
amy_birks (18:15):
we'll like take on all these things and be like,
I'll fit it in somewhere andthen we, and then we end up
working 20 hours a day, right?
Like, Come on.
That's crazy talk.
So I think being able and beingwilling, again to get curious
and just to pause for a momentand say like, are these things,
does it feel like me?
Can I feel that in my bo I knowI feel it.
(18:35):
I have a physical sensation thatI feel in my body when I know
something's not for me.
I'm like, Ugh.
I feel it literally in my gutbutterflies.
My, I feel it in my throat.
Like there's, it's like a set ofsensations and I immediately
know, oops.
That's not for me.
That's not my thing.
And then, and then I figure outwhat the things are and if it's,
again, if it feels good, if it'sleveraged, so it's fewer steps
(18:57):
to get to where I want to go,and it gets results and I have
room for it, then it's a yes,and it feels great.
You know, I love having thatmodel and being able to share
that model with my clients tohelp them figure it out too,
because I think it's tricky.
Sometimes to find that forourselves because we have all
this self-doubt, especially, youknow, starting out like, well,
who, you know, this person saidand they'd done the thing and
(19:19):
they're an expert, but they'renot built like you.
That's why you are your beststrategy.
Go inward, look at it foryourself, find your own way, and
then you know it, and then thesuccess comes from there.
For sure.
Gianna Diggs (19:29):
right.
So, I guess you can let me knowif what you just, the three
steps you just gave actuallyanswers this question, but I'm
still gonna ask it.
so
amy_birks (19:37):
Yeah.
Gianna Diggs (19:37):
how do you go, how do you go about creating a
simplified business model foryourself?
amy_birks (19:42):
Yeah.
I mean I think that's, that'sdefinitely part of it.
I think that the first thingthat I do, yeah, the first thing
that I do with clients reallythough, is to help them get very
clear on what's most importantright now.
Because, you know, we can talkabout vision, we can talk about
long-term stuff, and like thetrajectory that we're creating
to get to somewhere way outthere.
But at the end of the day,there's some internal motivator.
(20:03):
There's like some thing that isthe most important thing right
now, and we need that and thelong-term vision to line up in
order for us to be able tocreate a path that they're gonna
wanna stay on.
So for me, the most importantthing, Is my daughter, time with
my daughter.
And so basically like with verylittle deviation, every decision
that I'm making, I filterthrough this question of, okay,
(20:24):
well is this thing gonna take mecloser to or further away from
time with my daughter?
And it's tricky sometimes.
Like I got invited to thisamazing, like really intimate
private dinner with LinkedIninfluencers in the city, last
month or the month before.
And I wanted to go so bad, like,so bad.
It would've been so great for,for my brand, for my business,
(20:45):
the connections, all of that.
And I didn't go.
It was just like a hard no rightaway because it was on a Monday
night and Monday nights arealways nights with my daughter.
Like she's with me every Mondayand Tuesday.
So if something's happening on aMonday or Tuesday night, it's
just not, it's
Gianna Diggs (21:00):
You can't do it.
Mm-hmm.
amy_birks (21:01):
thing.
I don't get a babysitter.
I'm not into that.
I want my time with my kid.
And so I have this hierarchy ofwhat I call a hierarchy of
priorities, and I help myclients create one too, where
we're looking at what is themost important thing that's the
filter for decision making.
So for me, it's my daughter,time with my daughter, time for
me, and then my business.
My business comes below timewith my daughter.
(21:21):
And time for me, because I knowthat I gotta be at my best.
I know that.
Time with her is absolutely themost important thing, and is the
reason that my business existsis so that I can have more
freedom and time and a life withher.
And so that kind ofintentionality, I think is the
very first step.
Like that's the very first thingthat we tackle, is really
getting clear on what that is,so that then any activities that
come from there gets filteredthrough that decision making
(21:42):
process.
And so, yeah.
Then from there, you know, we'relooking at, really what I do
with my clients is I start bylooking at the entire business.
Like I sit on the 50,000 footlevel and I have what I call a
GPS brain.
So people like they tell me whatthey're trying to create and
then instantly I can see a map
Track 1 (21:57):
Oh, me too.
amy_birks (21:58):
like, right?
Yes.
Right.
So we see a maps, but like otherpeople don't have that.
And I had no idea that that wasnot a thing that other people
had, and it's so valuable.
Right?
So we see the map and then likeI can see all the.
Most leveraged, easiest, mostenjoyable, and fastest ways to
get to the result that they'retrying to create.
And from there we're looking atlike all the pieces and parts of
(22:20):
the business that are effective,ineffective, the things they
like, things they don't like.
How can we optimize the thingsthat are working well that they
also enjoy doing so that theycan get better results?
You know, that sort of thing.
But we're also, I'm also lookingfor all of that complexity, and
I think that those are reallythe questions to ask.
Like when things feel toocomplex, how can we.
Simplify down to the mostleveraged, you know, offerings,
(22:43):
services.
Products that are, you know,most profitable, you know, are
easiest to sell.
You sell as few of them to getthe most bang for your buck.
You know, those sorts of things.
I'm always looking forlow-hanging fruit like that.
But yes, it really all comesdown to what's most important,
using that as the filter.
And then for our activities,being sure that they feel good,
they're leveraged with fewsteps, they get results, and
(23:05):
that we have the room and thecapacity to actually take them
on for sure.
Gianna Diggs (23:09):
Hmm.
I love that.
And I'm glad you said the factthat there was an opportunity
that you could have taken,right?
That that could have probably 10x, you know, your reach and you
said no because it was time withyour daughter.
Like, I applaud you because Idon't know, I know a lot of
people who would've been like,you know, I'm gonna sacrifice
this one Monday, right?
(23:30):
And, and what comes to my headis like, If you sacrifice that
one, that one Monday, how manymore sacrifices will you make
just because of that.
Right?
That's, that kicks it off.
It's like, okay, I'm gonna go tothat thing and then something
else comes up on a Monday.
Okay, I'm gonna go to that onetoo.
Right?
And so I'm glad you said like,Nope, like I, I'm, you know, cuz
maybe that opportunity can comearound again and I think that's
(23:50):
a good, you know, a good thingto to think about is, like I
said, no, but maybe somethingbigger and better will come
later on and you know, but I'mnot sacrificing this time with
my child.
amy_birks (24:01):
Thank you for that reflection.
Yeah, I, I really believe that.
And trust, which is, which hasbeen a difficult muscle to
develop over the years, butgoing through, I think what I
went through, through my divorceand like almost losing the
business and everything else,like I think that created.
The opportunity for me to likehit rock bottom, absolutely
surrender, and then be able towork my way up to a more
(24:23):
trusting space from there.
But like I absolutely trust thatsaying no to something or
something not working out that Imight have wanted.
I.
Means that there's like so muchmore opportunity and potential
out there.
And that for me, if I can showup unattached to outcomes, if I
can show up without demand orexpectations that anything be,
you know, anything at all.
Right?
Like, like then the magic justunfolds.
(24:45):
Like I had a conversation withsomebody that I was connected
to.
Just the other day, actuallylast week, my, one of my clients
was like, you should talk toso-and-so.
He's a sales trainer.
Cuz I'm talking about trying todo more in corporate
environments and, you know, youguys should talk.
And I'm like, okay.
And I had really had nounderstanding about like, what
she was seeing for us in theconversation other than this guy
(25:05):
happens to work with the typesof companies that I wanna be
connected to and wanna beworking with.
And so I was like, all right,cool.
Well, I'm always like, I loveconnecting with people.
I love talking to people.
I'm always open to do that, soI'm just gonna show up.
And I have no expectations, nodemands, no nothing.
And by the end of theconversation, this guy's like.
I wanna embed you in my programand I'm gonna like, I'm going on
this like crazy marketing thingand I'm gonna introduce you to
(25:25):
all these people and blah, blah,blah.
And I'm like, oh my God.
Like I had no, no expectation,no demand, no nothing, and just
Gianna Diggs (25:33):
was just a conversation, right?
It
amy_birks (25:34):
Yeah.
right.
Like trusting and, and knowingthat we live in an abundant
universe and that we're alwaysprovided for has been such an
enormous gift because all theanxiety that I used to have
about money, about the businessdoing well, like all of that,
just created such a vice on myability to create
Gianna Diggs (25:50):
Mm.
amy_birks (25:51):
way.
And now that I've able to likeloosen, surrender, be open,
unattached, I have my.
Hand open.
If you're listening, you can'tsee this, but like, I have my
hand open as opposed to likeclenching the fist.
I'm not, I'm, we're not incontrol of anything anyway.
Like nothing.
And I think the last two years,if nothing has
Gianna Diggs (26:08):
Has shown us that
amy_birks (26:10):
have been confronted with that and the biggest way
possible.
And so like leaning into theidea, well that, you know, gosh,
if I'm not in control anyway,then I might as well just like.
Ride the flow, like be in it andjust be willing to be surprised.
And every time I let go more andmore and more and more, The
universe opens to me and moreand more and more possibility
(26:32):
and amazingness just shows up.
It's so awesome.
Like I, I've heard it for years,right?
And I'm, and I'm starting toreally sink into that over the
last couple of years and reallystart to see the fruits of that
work and that my willingness tojust be like, I don't know
what's gonna happen, but I'msure it's gonna be awesome.
So like, there may be bumps inthe road, but even the bumps are
gonna be awesome.
(26:52):
So, yeah, exactly.
Let's just do it.
Yeah.
Gianna Diggs (26:55):
And I, and I gotta chill.
Like my body always reacts whensomeone says something or does
something that is like, like, ohyeah.
And it's like surrender, right?
When you was like surrendering,literally, like it's intuitive
for me, so I'll feel it in myback and I was just like, oh
yeah, that's, that's it.
That's the thing right there isthe surrender.
Cuz we, we wanna be in control.
And especially if you have that,if you know your chart and you
have Capricorn energy, thatCapricorn energy will make you
(27:17):
not want to surrender.
But Yeah, but surrendering is, Ithink the, the key that we, that
no, a lot of people don'tnecessarily talk about because
we wanna be in control so much.
Um, we think that we can con,you know, go ahead.
amy_birks (27:30):
I know it's like the hu I'm No, you Oh, I'm sorry.
It's like the human in us, thislike little human inside of us
is so it's, it's a, it's our,just our brain.
Like it's just our brain andhow, and it's like evolution
hasn't caught up yet.
Right.
Our, our brains are still wiredto think that a saber tooth
tiger is hiding around everycorner.
Gianna Diggs (27:48):
Right.
amy_birks (27:48):
relate to every possible scenario that might
induce a little bit of fear asif we're going to die.
The little human inside of us iscertain that we're gonna die.
And I think it's so wild andfascinating how we allow that to
dictate how we show up in theworld and what we choose.
It's wild too.
I, I don't know if I, I am notfamiliar enough with my chart to
(28:09):
know if Capricorn's in there,but I would not be surprised if
there is, because I had such ancontinue to have such a hard
time with surrender.
It's so much like, I thought itwas this intellectual thing that
like I was gonna learn how andread all the books and then
figure it out and then like oneday the skies were gonna part
and the angels are gonna sing,and it was gonna be like, oh,
(28:31):
surrender.
And I was like so floored whenmonths and months and months
later, like as I just continuedto relentlessly do the practices
that would allow me to get tothat place.
When I finally started to lookaround my life and go.
Wow.
I haven't felt that likeanxious, like roiling in my
(28:54):
belly and like I haven't worriedabout money for the last several
weeks, and I haven't beenfeeling that way anymore.
There was no like thunderboltlightning bolt moment.
That like at the snap of thefinger, I was just suddenly, oh,
I surrendered.
Got it.
No, it was like,
Gianna Diggs (29:11):
just happened
amy_birks (29:12):
up on you.
And it's because of therelentless pursuit of the
practice and the willingness tojust say, I don't know what's on
the other side of it, but I'mjust gonna keep trying and keep
doing the thing and I'll keepstubbing my toe and that's okay.
And, you know, let me justcontinue doing it and, and see
where it takes me.
Gianna Diggs (29:29):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I love that.
Track 1 (29:32):
so if there's a mompreneur out there who is
really struggling with the ideaof scaling without sacrifice
what piece of advice would yougive her?
amy_birks (29:42):
Yeah, so I think first I would say, oh mama, I
see you and I have been thereand my clients have been there.
So just know that you are numberone, you're not alone.
This is such a thing.
And that if you can be willingenough to get curious about how
things can be easier, then.
My sense is that if you'relistening to this podcast, then
(30:04):
you already are, that thenyou're just, you know, you've
already done like half the work.
And that really, I think thatthe, the main thing is to just
remember that even if it feelslike you're out of capacity and
bandwidth or you know, oh myGod, there's so much potential
and there's ideas everywhere andI'm overwhelmed by it all.
Or like, there's so much that wecould be doing here that really.
(30:25):
Um, you know, being willing tojust ask yourself the question
of, you know, how easy can thisbe?
How simple can I make it?
And what's most important rightnow?
I think those three questionsare, are so unbelievably
powerful so that then you canreally align with what the
answers to those might be.
And, you know, once you knowwhat's most important, I think
(30:46):
that then creates a whole newopportunity to create a
trajectory towards ease andsimplicity because, You know, if
it's for you, something like itis for me it is.
Which it is with most of myclients.
It's really like time freedom,and especially time with our
family.
Then I think it just creates awhole new opening to the
potential for ideation aroundwhat the simpler, easier path
(31:07):
might be that allows you to.
Scale without having tosacrifice those things that are
really important, like ourfamilies and you know, time
freedom and life.
Life.
You know, like let's build ourbusinesses so that they're the
foundation for our lives insteadof having our lives be the
foundations for our businesses.
For sure.
Gianna Diggs (31:25):
Oh yes.
I love that.
I love that advice.
So before we wrap up, can youtell the audience where they can
find you online?
amy_birks (31:32):
Yeah, absolutely.
Best ways to find me are eitheron my website, which is amy
burkes.com, a m y B as in boy, ir k S as in sam.com.
And I've got a cool newsletterthat I send out sometimes ish.
It's like, you know, every otherweek-ish.
That is pretty fun and has lotsof value in it.
I've also got a cool freebie forfolks that wanna.
(31:52):
Learn how to, improve theirconversions.
It's a really cool likeconversion hacks guide that you
can download there as well.
and then I'm also on LinkedIn,which is a great place to find
me.
My moniker, whatever, like theback half of the, of the
LinkedIn thing is StrategyNinja, so you can find me on
LinkedIn and I share contentthere five days a week, Monday
through Friday without failevery day that I'm very
(32:14):
consistent about and theconversations are always really
fun and lively.
And, tons of value.
So those are two great ways tokeep in touch with me for sure.
Gianna Diggs (32:24):
All right, Amy, thank you so much.
I, I really love thisconversation.
I feel like I got a lot out ofit.
I'm sure the audience is gonnaget a lot out of it.
So thank you so much for beinghere.
amy_birks (32:32):
Uh, thanks so much for having me, Gianna.
I love curious people like you.
Conversations like this are myfavorite.
Gianna Diggs (32:37):
Thank you thank you for tuning in to today's
episode of the MompreneurMindset Podcast.
I truly hope that ourconversation has inspired and
motivated you to take charge ofyour entrepreneurial journey.
If you found today's episodevaluable, please take a moment
and, and subscribe and leave usa review on your preferred
(32:59):
podcast platform.
Your support means the world tome, and it's vital for helping
me to reach more entrepreneurslike you and empower our growing
community to thrive.
Until next time.
Keep pushing boundaries.
Never settle.
And remember, the world iswaiting for your unique gifts
that only you can offer.
See you in the next episode.
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.