Going from wanna-preneur to entrepreneur

[00:00:00] And we are back with another episode of Boss Your Business, and today we are back in Australia. I have right here with me, Suzanne Culberg, which I had to actually train your last name before we started recording the podcast. I’m like, this is so close to the German. Now let’s try to actually do this with an English accent.

[00:00:24] Ooh. How would you say it in German? I’m curious now.

[00:00:26] I would spell it with a K and then it’s Kulberg. Oh, so it’s like, I’m like, I still have the whole sometimes in there a little bit where it’s like, no, this is supposed to be English. So yeah. So for anybody that does not know Suzanne yet, Suzanne is an author and coach to help.

[00:00:51] Suzanne. I’m an Aussie.

[00:00:54] With the actual A. With the actual A. See guys, for everybody that does a [00:01:00] podcast, do me a favor, don’t embarrass yourself like I do. Just ask your guest beforehand how to pronounce it right.

[00:01:07] Oh, people always ask me, still say, Susan, I’m never offended. But the reason I interrupt is cuz my people, when they listen to it, it’s like, why did you just listen to Susan for like 45 minutes?

[00:01:15] I’m like, okay. Next person I will. I will get in there . It’s all good.

[00:01:23] And I should be better because nobody ever knows how to pronounce my name or they make going to Starbucks grabbing a coffee. It’s always Evan rather than Yvonne.

[00:01:31] Really, Evan? That’s like a dude’s name, isn’t it?

[00:01:35] Yeah, but they don’t know how to spell Yvonne.

[00:01:37] And even when you then spell it, they still spell it E V A N and then turn it into Evan, so, yeah.

[00:01:46] I grew up with a friend’s mom whose name was Yvonne, so I know how to pronounce it.

[00:01:50] And have the French waiting too. So guys, anybody that’s listening, do me a favor. Just ask people how to pronounce their name rather than calling [00:02:00] them Susan.

[00:02:00] Well, that’s okay. Call them. We get used to it.

[00:02:03] Hey, at least we got it out right away, right? Um, because you also help people pleaser, which usually I am, which why I should be asking. And you help over givers and people pleasers, set boundaries and say no, which by the way is a full sentence without feeling mean, and you are known for your straight talking.

[00:02:29] Welcome to the Club and your wacky t-shirts, which you guys gonna see on the thumbnail. And you live in Sydney, Australia, with your hubby and two amazing cats.

[00:02:42] I sure do. Wacky t-shirt. What have I got on today? I didn’t even look. So today, I think I’ve got a perfect one for this podcast. Respect My Boundaries.

[00:02:50] Oh, that bunny all day is so cute too. Oh my God, yes. And I think the picture you send me for the thumbnail…

[00:02:59] [00:03:00] Not slim, kind, shady?

[00:03:01] Yep. The slim shady one.

[00:03:03] I love that one too.

[00:03:05] It makes life so easy though. I’m like, I have my whole branded t-shirts. I have a couple of them. It’s like I don’t even have to worry about it.

[00:03:12] I just grab one out of the closet and I’m done. Simples. So Miss No Bullshit, how did you get here?

Becoming an entrepreneur

[00:03:24] Through a lot of bullshit.

[00:03:27] How did I know something like that is gonna go?

[00:03:31] What’s that saying? You teach what you most need to learn so that you can learn it. Oh yeah. So I think it’s funny when you come across somebody who has really good boundaries, um, it’s like, what did you have to go through to get those?

[00:03:44] Oh God, yes.

[00:03:45] So as a premier people pleaser, I am the youngest of four by a significant margin. When I was born, my oldest sister was 17 and 17, 14, 10. And then surprise! So I kind of learnt really early to [00:04:00] blend in, to not speak up, to just kind of, you know, follow the flow of the family. And I remember my mom always like, oh, Suzanne’s just always been such an easy kid and kind of priding myself on, not here. Yeah. And also what we learned growing up was never to ask for anything.

[00:04:20] Oh God.

[00:04:20] And I remember once when I went to someone’s house, my mom was at work, my sisters were moved out by then, and I left my drink bottle in the car. And anyway, when mom came to get me, I ran out the door.

[00:04:33] I was like, let’s go now. I’m so thirsty. And the lady was like, oh my God, why didn’t you, why didn’t you ask? And, and was like, we don’t ask for things. Like, that’s what we were taught growing up. And it’s funny because I have two children of my own now and I live interstate from my family. But a few months ago I sent them down and they had a holiday and they went to my sister’s house and my husband had packed them snacks and everything. And they wanted pancakes. They’re like, [00:05:00] hey, auntie Kathy, can we have pancakes? And she made them. And then she rings me. She’s like, your kids ask for stuff. And I was like, yeah, I know. Like, isn’t it great? But, um, I said, didn’t Jeremy pack them a lunch?

[00:05:11] And she’s like, I don’t think so. And I remember ringing my husband cuz my husband and kids went on, went to see the family. I stayed home. It was sweet. Didn’t you pack them lunch? He goes, yeah, I did. So I asked them and they’re like, oh yeah, we didn’t want that. We wanted pancakes.

People pleasing as a form of manipulation?

[00:05:27] So great. Like, because for me as a kid, oh my goodness, asking for things and even my sister was like, they just asked and I was like, yeah, I know. But you know, my life changed when I came across personal development and somebody said at an event I went to, people pleasing is a form of manipulation.

[00:05:53] And I was like, excuse me? And I remember listening to ’em. They’re like, when you have gaslighters, [00:06:00] narcissistic, that’s overt manipulation. People pleasing is covert manipulation because you don’t wanna rock the boat and you want everybody to like you. And I was like, oh, they’re right. Like, and then people, they liked me, but did they really like me cuz they didn’t know me at all.

[00:06:16] Like, no, they don’t. They already know a version of me that I let them see.

[00:06:23] Damn.

[00:06:27] Uh, which, which goes along with a conversation that I literally had yesterday with a friend of mine where it’s like, same thing. People pleasers are not asking for things and no matter if it’s in the personal and the business level. And I was like, girl, I literally challenged her. I’m like, start asking for things and just little things.

[00:06:48] Ask in the office if somebody can grab you a coffee, something, something easy, simple, just to get into this habit and building those strategies of asking and I’m like, you are taking away, first of [00:07:00] all, the chance for somebody to feel good because they get to help you. Yeah, because it’s fun to help somebody, right?

[00:07:08] You not asking means you are taking away from somebody that enjoyment to be able to help you. Yes. And second of all, you are also taking away their choice. Your kids. Heck yeah. We didn’t want snacks that daddy packed me. We wanted pancakes. What’s the worst that can happen? Auntie says, no, you have your snacks.

[00:07:30] But yeah, been there, done that, which is why we probably get along so well. I’m like, yeah.

[00:07:38] And I think it’s so true because as you said, if you don’t ask, you are taking away the opportunity for someone to help and my chance for anyone listening to this, if you recognize yourself or identify as a people pleaser, you would be the first to offer. Oh, let me do this. Let me help, let me this, but then if you won’t turn around and ask him return, because you don’t wanna be a burden, what are you [00:08:00] saying to the people that you are offering to?

[00:08:04] That that just hit right there. That right there, the whole you don’t wanna be a burden.

[00:08:09] Oh, that’s, that’s, that’s, that’s my work in progress right now.

[00:08:13] Yes. You don’t wanna ask, because don’t wanna be a burden, but you are offering, are you saying other people are burdening you?

[00:08:20] And it’s like, oh, oh my goodness. So, and also, why do we wait until we are burnt out and desperate and at the end of the tether to ask like, you know, I remember I was carrying groceries in and I asked Jeremy and my mom said to me like, aren’t you capable of doing it in your own?

[00:08:38] I’m like, yeah, totally am. He’s there playing the Xbox. It’s not like I’m interrupting his work saying, come home to help me carry the groceries, and like, that’s diva. I get that, but like, just because I can. He could say no. Like the other day he had to, we’ve got one car cuz we live in Sydney and we don’t normally need to.

[00:08:58] Yeah. And it was a really hot [00:09:00] day and um, he was gonna drop the kids off to school and anyway, he had to go early and I was like, oh, I don’t really wanna walk them in like the belting heat. So I asked a few people, hey, can Jeremy drop the kids there on the way to school? They weren’t available.

[00:09:11] They had stuff on, but if I didn’t ask the answer, it was always gonna be no. Yeah. So I didn’t feel offended or that they didn’t care about me or whatever. I was like, oh, well slap some sunscreen on, woman. Go for a walk. It’s good for you. But you know, just ask. Yeah. Totally worth a try. And sometimes, you ask for stuff and they say yes.

[00:09:30] So I remember very recently, Halloween’s not normally been a big thing in Australia, but the last few years it has been. And my daughter’s nine and she goes, I wanna go trick or treating with my friends. And I was like, is there gonna be an adult with you? And she’s like, yeah, sure. So I went, dropped her off, met the mum, got the phone number.

[00:09:46] She’s like, yep, I’ll take Sandy. I was like sweet. Walking along with my son and he’s like, my legs are tired. And we just happened to come past a house of a friend from school. They’re like, hi Kasmir. And she, the mom heard and said, do you wanna leave him here? He can hand out candy with [00:10:00] us. Found myself inadvertently child free.

[00:10:03] So I said to Jeremy, quick, let’s go to a restaurant that doesn’t serve chicken nuggets.

[00:10:09] Oh, I love it. Oh yeah, I know that. I know that too. Well, it’s, yeah, I’ve always been been paying attention to other people. Again, no matter if it’s business or if it’s private, but yeah, it’s like, hey, I wanna take you out for dinner.

[00:10:26] I’m like, hey, I don’t wanna leave the house. I’ve been busy. I’ve been talking to people. I don’t wanna have to, to be nice to a server. I love server. I love hospitality guys. Don’t, do not jump into the comment section and bash me. I’ve been a server myself long enough, but it’s like some days you just don’t wanna deal with people.

[00:10:45] And all I did was like, I don’t, I don’t wanna put my face on, I don’t wanna have to jump in a car. I don’t wanna deal with people that I don’t know, would love to spend time with you. But how about we just stay at my place? He got his, I got mine. [00:11:00] Perfect. And it’s like, yes, learning this, that saying what you want doesn’t mean the other person doesn’t get what they, they want.

[00:11:12] It just means they can adjust their wants to your wants. And you can find a middle ground or you can say, hey, I’ll see you, see you next week when you get your shit back together and we can go out.

Giving yourself freedom

[00:11:23] I think there’s so much freedom in that. Like to say, for example, you get invited to the movies, hey Suzanne, do you wanna go see Avatar?

[00:11:30] Thank you for inviting me. Not really a sci-fi fan. What else is showing that you want to see? So it’s not just saying no, cuz sometimes we don’t wanna offend the other person, but if you say yes, then they’re gonna keep inviting you to that type of movie. Like I don’t like actually do like Avatar, but I don’t like the period drummers like Downton Abbey or that kind of thing.

[00:11:49] They’re just, they’re not in my, yep. They’re not my wheelhouse. But I’d go and see them with my mom because I know she loved them. But it reached a point and I was like, is there anything else on that [00:12:00] you wanna see? Because we watched one, I can’t remember what it was called. Oh, she, I’m gonna have to ask her later, but I literally fell asleep, about 10 minutes into the movie, and then she was like, you were snoring.

[00:12:12] I was like, I was so bored because I don’t like the Jane Austen-y type. Yeah. Just not in my pleasure. Other staff and I think sometimes we’re so afraid to say no, but then we go along and fall asleep, it’s probably more rude than if we’re like, thanks for inviting me. What else is showing? Or what else could we do?

[00:12:30] I don’t like mini golf, but I like bowling. Yeah. Or you know, there’s other things you, when we say no to someone and we are worried that we are gonna offend them, what they’re really asking, are they really asking for that thing or are they asking to spend time with you? And if you’re available for that, as you said, if you are, if you’re tired, like someone said to me they wanted to do something tonight, it’s Friday.

[00:12:50] And I’m like, I’m knackered. It’s been a week. Uh, after the Christmas holidays, I’m totally down for catching up, but this time of year I’m trying to shove everything [00:13:00] in so I can take time off. So, uh, not right now. I was like, cool, then they can go ask someone else.

[00:13:07] Oh, I feel you on that one. It’s like, I have that with business right now.

[00:13:10] We are so deep in implementation where some of my, my business associates were like, hey, you wanna do this? You wanna, I’m like, no. I love you. But no. My calendar is so full right now with book writing and group coaching planning, and I’m like, I, I love you all, but no.

[00:13:30] Now what’s your book about? I’m intrigued.

[00:13:33] I am writing project management with ClickUp, so super supercharged. Wait, the title is going to be, oh my God, now you caught me. The title is Supercharged. Your Project Management using ClickUp or with ClickUp, something to that extent.

[00:13:49] That’s so cool.

On setting boundaries

[00:13:50] And that actually interesting story. Um, I had to set boundaries, where I [00:14:00] tell people that I work with straight up.

[00:14:02] Life happens, things happen. It’s all good. Simply do not go MIA on me. My co-author went MIA on me for a month and a half in the prep, in the prep moment before we even started writing the book. I’m like, my whole Q1 planning is based around the launch of the book and getting this done, and I cannot trust you.

[00:14:26] So now I’m, I’m behind schedule two, simply because getting sick in between and needing to crunch out a chapter a week to meet our deadlines. But again, this is not my fault, and just setting those boundaries because again, so much on my business and my planning and the promotion, all the things that are happening around it is build around those dates where it’s like I needed to set the boundaries because it’s impacting my business so much that here [00:15:00] we are with a crazy Q4 trying to get everything ready, speaking at the ClickUp conference, putting together a group coaching program that launches simultaneously with the pre-announcement of the book. Yeah. I’m like, guys. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. If there is not stuff that’s really interesting to me, or you feed me and make my life easy, it’s not gonna happen in Q4.

[00:15:24] I love that so much. And the thing is, sometimes we don’t see the knock on effects. Like I had a client recently and she is um, in a business and she needed this stuff by this date. This is the end of year for us. Yeah. For Australians, we tend to go on holiday, and the person didn’t provide the stuff on time and I was like, so now you’ve just gotta tell them the consequences of that.

[00:15:45] Yeah. So I’m not overworking because you didn’t tow the line. Like this is, you know, when you’re in a business that you know, you in other people’s businesses providing mm-hmm. , you know, VA or executive assistance type services, if you’ve allocated this lot of time to work on their stuff [00:16:00] and they need to have it to you by then and they don’t, they miss the window.

[00:16:03] And sometimes I think sometimes people think, well, I’ve spot this time. And it’s like, yeah, but it needs to be here by then. Like I run a live group coaching program. If you don’t turn up for it and the program’s over and it happens almost every round, somebody will be like, oh, well can I transfer to next round?

[00:16:18] And it was like, if you go to the restaurant, don’t eat your food and it gets cold, you don’t go, hey, can you give me another meal? Yep. You’re like, you, you missed out. If you buy tickets to see Beyonce and then you don’t actually go, you don’t ring up and say, hey, can I have my money back? Like you missed out.

[00:16:32] And I think sometimes we don’t have the boundaries with that in entrepreneurs because we don’t enforce them. But it’s like I get that life happens and I totally understand. But you know, no.

[00:16:45] And it’s like, I, I also can’t blame them for asking if they don’t ask.

Asking for what you want

[00:16:48] No, I never blame anyone for us. 100% percent ask for what you want and then we can negotiate.

[00:16:54] There’s a difference between asking for what you want and demanding and then getting [00:17:00] annoyed when you don’t get it, and it’s like, no, you can totally, ask. You can ask me anything, but doesn’t mean I’m gonna say yes. Same with my kids. Ask anything, then we’ll negotiate. But asking is not the same as getting what you want.

[00:17:11] And I think that’s sometimes where we get a bit messed up.

On overgiving

[00:17:15] Oh my God. Yeah. Or putting, putting yourself in the situation of thinking what your client expect. Again, personal story, mind reading, you’ve learned over the last couple, couple of, um, months where it’s like, my clients have a business too, so when they come with something or I need answers from them, and it’s an email or it’s a ClickUp or whatever it is, it takes them 24 to 48 hours to reply, and I’m in my damn email inbox and replying within an hour.

[00:17:47] I’m like, what the hell, Yvi? What? What are you doing? Why are you dropping everything else? And they didn’t expect me to reply within an hour. They are fine [00:18:00] with the same kind of timetable, and I’m like, oh yeah. It has taken me a month to finally get into the habit of not jumping at every single email and replying within half an hour.

[00:18:15] Yeah, that’s overgiving and then it’s, it leads to burnout and resentment. And it’s funny, the other day, I honestly don’t do a lot of DM in my business. I prefer email. Because it’s streamlined, it’s all kept together. I don’t have to be going, which platform was I talking to this person on? Yep. I’m like, just email me.

[00:18:30] And anyway, someone DMd me on Instagram. I’m new to Instagram. So anyway, I responded. They sent me another one and I’d gone to have a shower and then I was picking my kids up, so I wasn’t. And when I came back though, they’d responded. And then question mark, question mark, question mark, and then question mark, question mark, question mark.

[00:18:47] And I was like, bless and block because I’m not available. I’m not on call. I left the medical field for a reason. There’s no emergencies in coaching. And I figure if they realize that, I don’t understand how the blocking of Instagram works was the first person I’ve [00:19:00] ever done it with, but they can send me an email and say, and we can have a discussion and then if they wanna go further, we can coach on this.

[00:19:06] But like, if, if you are wanting instant responses, I’m not the person for you. Um, and where are you doing that in your life and why, how is that leading to you feeling burnt out and overextended? So as soon as I see question mark, question mark, question mark, I’m like, we’re done.

[00:19:20] Nope. We all got a life. We all got things to do.

[00:19:24] It’s like, yeah, I’m, I’m in there with you. So we’ve already talked, uh, you already started talking a little bit about workflows and processes. Guys, if you didn’t catch it, the whole sending potential clients and clients over, just email me. There’s a process for you. There’s a specific workflow where it’s like, okay, I decided I’m not gonna be bouncing around DMs, so my response, my workflow is going to be pop into my email and then we’ll respond there. That’s a workflow. It [00:20:00] can be as simple as that. What other workflows and processes do you have to make your life easy in your business?

Suzanne’s workflow

[00:20:08] So I, as I said, I like everything via email, as you said, cuz then it’s streamlined for me.

[00:20:14] Then I can mark it in terms of how I’m gonna respond to it, like have the star system. So there’s, you know, the, the most important to do today. I have a list of things and then other things, you know, if I get time to. The other systems I tend to like is I have a spreadsheet for when I like pitch podcasts or, um, coming up with content ideas, like the name of the person, the link to their thing, the date that I sent the pitch, that kind of thing. I have streamlines for that. And, um, like onboarding clients into my business. So if somebody signs up for my program, they get an email, um, with the, you know, thank you for registering. Here’s the dates for your diary.

[00:20:57] Here’s the different type of calls that we have. [00:21:00] Here’s what to expect just so that they feel comfortable with it. And then I don’t, I don’t do a lot. Like I know some people send a lot of emails. I get overwhelmed by too much communication, so I send them the basics. Then I send them a reminder just before we begin.

[00:21:17] And then when we begin, I conduct the program in a Facebook group. I open it. I let everybody in at the same time so they can request to join at any time, but I only let them all in at the same time. Then I begin with a welcome video. This is how it’s gonna be run down with all the boundaries and expectations, and then if there’s ever anybody who’s unsure or forgets, I just tagged them back in that video. So I’m not reexplaining myself again and again and again because I love coaching, I don’t like admin. So I noticed that when people, when our emotions are high, our intelligence is low. So sometimes we’re like stressed. I’m like, when’s the next call?

[00:21:54] And if you message me to say, when’s the next call? I don’t know off the top of my head. So then I have to go and look and [00:22:00] then tell you when it is and it’s like, or you could just look. So it’s just kind of framing for people, this is how it happens. This is normal. Like, I’m not making it bad. I do that, too.

[00:22:09] Like, what time was this call this morning before we hit record? I was saying, um, it’s been a moment today, but it’s just kind of like reminding ourselves that we have everything that we need and then when we are stressed, it’s common for us to forget or get, you know, um, and just making it really easy.

[00:22:25] And I have it all in the one place. And some people like, I don’t like Facebook, which is, you know, fair enough, but that’s where I run my program cuz it’s easiest for me. As much as a lot of people moan about it. We all tend to have one. We know our password and if they forget that’s them and Facebook’s problem, not my problem.

[00:22:40] I had an external situation before, um, I used Kartra and people are like, I don’t know my login. I forgot this. And I was like, oh, this is just test drives me up the wall.

[00:22:50] Reset password.

Surface drama

[00:22:53] When we get really stressed, we tend to ask the person and like as I said, I [00:23:00] love coaching, but we tend to have surface drama to avoid the deep stuff.

[00:23:05] Oh God, yeah. Let’s just keep busy so we don’t have to figure out what actually the problem is. Yeah.

[00:23:10] The times don’t work for me. I can’t find my password, this, this, this. And it’s like, yeah, because this is our subconscious keeping us distracted from the real stuff.

[00:23:21] Oh my God, yes. And I’m just laughing over here because it was, it was probably like three weeks ago, a month ago or something like that.

[00:23:28] I had a week where everybody asks me simple question. Nothing super technical, nothing crazy, and I got so many of those. I was about this close to literally just send them, let me Google that for you. Links. Have you ever seen those?

[00:23:44] No, but I, something I’m gonna look up now.

[00:23:47] So for, for everybody, for everybody out there, it is hilarious.

[00:23:51] Do not do it as a business owner if you do not know that your clientele has the same kind of sick humor I have. There is a [00:24:00] website called, Let Me Google that for you. You type in the question, they ask you and it will generate a little video, a little how to, that you can send. It gives you a link I think at the end that you can send and that person asking the question will be guided through how to go to Google and Google the damn question.

[00:24:27] I love you all. And I tell, I tell my clients it’s like, I don’t want my clients to spend hours and hours researching something. That’s why they have me. But take five minutes. Take five minutes, type it into Google and see what you can figure out. If you can’t figure out your problem within five minutes on Google, message me.

[00:24:50] That’s what you have me for. Yes. But if you come to me with something that takes five seconds to Google, we have a problem. [00:25:00]

[00:25:00] And I think that is so true. And also two, sometimes people will be like, oh, but it was, it didn’t, it only took five seconds or it was only this, well, there’s twofold. One, if only took five seconds, then why didn’t you do it?

[00:25:12] Two, everybody in the program does that, or every client that you have, does that. Then all you’re doing all day is responding. And also I run a group program, so I’m like available for any coaching in the group. Don’t send it to me, email or private, because that’s for one-to-one clients.

[00:25:28] Everybody else will benefit from it in the group. And chances are, someone has the same question, but you are just the one with the stones to ask it. And everyone’s gonna appreciate you so much for that because so often we think I’m the only one, and then someone says it and you see this nodding around the room and it’s just like, oh my goodness, it’s so healing.

[00:25:45] Or they didn’t even know that they have the crush. They didn’t know what they don’t know. So that’s the nice thing about group containers where you are exposed to things that you might not even have thought about.

[00:25:58] Oh, a hundred percent. [00:26:00] Yes. Yes. So I think, you know, sometimes it’s about like putting ourselves out of our comfort zone.

[00:26:05] Yep. And yeah, and looking at why is this surface drama coming up? Like, I’m like, I could coach you. I’m, I’m, I’m un, I’m unavailable for surface drama. Like, but the deep drama, let’s go.

[00:26:18] You know, when, when the surface drama comes up, you know, they’re trying to not deal with something.

[00:26:25] And the thing is, it happens to all of us.

[00:26:27] For me, when I’m having my surface drama, I can’t even find a link. I’m like, I know the person sent me the link to join the Zoom call to join StreamYard. It’s like I can’t find it. And instead of being like messaging them, I literally like, I take a moment, I take a breath, I start again, I close my email. I search for their name, and I’m like, it’s going to be here somewhere. And other thing too is making sure I’m available 10, 15 minutes before I get on a recording. Cuz sometimes it is a little bit of detective work to find it or have found it when they first thing and add it to my Google Calendar. So that’s another system. [00:27:00] You’re talking about systems I have? Different podcast guests use, the hosts use different things. You use this StreamYard, some people use um, Riverside or something. Some people use Zoom. Some people use Anchor. So it’s like me spending a few minutes familiarizing myself with their platform, cuz as the guest, I believe that’s my thing to do.

[00:27:18] And then making sure that my headphones and my microphone and stuff connect to it, and then putting the link somewhere. So on the day, cuz like on the day, I might have a few lined up and I don’t necessarily have the time, but I know where I’m going because I don’t wanna be that flaky guest who turns up five minutes late and sweating going, I can’t find anything.

[00:27:36] Like nobody wants to work with them.

[00:27:39] Oh, five minutes late is nothing. I had a guest back in the day at, at my old live show. He showed up half an hour late. And you’ve seen mine. It’s like when with my guests, you get a Google Calendar entry, you get reminders, all the things. I try to make it as simple as possible because it also makes it simple for me.

[00:27:59] I just [00:28:00] look at my calendar, there’s the link. I go. Done. Yes. Um, oh yeah, he, he was, he was half an hour late and I was pretty much done pulling off the show by myself. I’m like, you are lucky I love you. I knew the deal and we are still joking about it, but it’s like, yeah. You already talked about, uh, about a couple of the tools you are using.

[00:28:23] So you are using Facebook as your hub for the group coaching. Mm-hmm. , um, from the Star system. I know you’re using G-Suite. Because I do the same. You are using G-Suite, right? With Star System? I’m like, I’m assuming here, because I don’t think Microsoft has the Star system.

[00:28:39] I don’t know, but yeah. Like Star System? Yes. G-Suite.

[00:28:42] I don’t like Microsoft. Um, what, what are they, what are some other tools that you use?

Suzanne’s tools

[00:28:48] I use Zoom for the recording. So for the call, and then I’ll stream it into Facebook. So I work with highly sensitive people and introverts, so they’re welcome to come into the Zoom room, but some of them prefer to watch it [00:29:00] streamed on Facebook, and some people can come in the Zoom room with the camera off.

[00:29:02] I’m personally never insist on cameras on, that’s just a, a personal choice. Um, so, and then I have my Zoom linked to Acuity. So Acuity is my booking system where people can book calls and everything. And what I love about it is that it’s through Zapier. It zaps one to the other. So when I need to work, I just open Zoom.

[00:29:21] The time start meeting, I don’t need to be running into my Zoom or working out where’s what. It’s just this time, this time, this time for somebody who you know. And then for my group coaching, I just tend to use the same link for the whole round. So the clients are like, what’s the link this week?

[00:29:36] It’s like this round, it is this one for all calls.

[00:29:39] I have experienced that because in, in a group coaching program, because there was two different types of calls. Um, one was more of a training, one was more of of a group coaching mastermind kind of call. And first of all, I never knew which one is which, which one is [00:30:00] happening, and then the Zoom links were different in between.

[00:30:04] No, it’s too much, too much drama. So I have different types of calls. I also run co-working calls. I run the module training calls and I run the coaching calls. They’re all the same Zoom link. And the other thing I set up for the clients is the, is a Google Calendar. Yay. So they can overlay my program’s calendar to theirs and then it’s just their link time and it auto does it to their time zone, which is great because I’m in Australia, I have clients in America, Canada, uh, South Africa, New Zealand, UK. So we are managing a lot of time zones here, and I’m like, just add the Google Calendar to your Google Calendar and Bob’s your uncle. And some people are like, I don’t use Google Calendar. I’m like, well, I’m not making 5 million other calendars, so here are the times like so, they could print it out like an email with the times in their time zone, or make life easy for yourself. Click here. So then they have the choice, especially when we start changing times, because Australia changes like a month offset from the UK, another month offset from the US, [00:31:00] and we don’t know what day it is.

[00:31:02] And then you have the problem. I’m like, with the US, California is changing times, but Arizona is not.

[00:31:09] Australia does that a bit, too. Australia has five different time zones at one part of the year and seven at the other because some places go to daylight savings and some places don’t. And it’s just like, it just makes you wanna cry.

[00:31:20] On one-on-one clients, I don’t even take one-on-one clients that are working at Microsoft. You’re just making my life too difficult. And not, not just my life where it’s like, trying to automate things, trying to, to do asset management and everything. It’s like, yeah. So I hear you and it’s like, if, if you’re not using Google, how do you not use Google Calendar?

[00:31:42] I literally couldn’t live without Google Calendar. My lives happen in there.

[00:31:47] It’s okay, like, that’s for them. But like, then you can, you can find a time zone converting service. And convert it. And I also say to them, make sure you look up when Australia changes and when your country changes [00:32:00] during the round.

[00:32:01] And invariably, there’ll always be somebody each round who misses that and uh, things are recorded so they can watch the replay. Yeah. But I’m really clear on my onboarding. I am passionate about coaching. I’m not passionate about tech. So , here’s where the thing is. This is the best way I try and also run my calls at different times to accommodate the time zones.

[00:32:20] Yeah, so I run some in the morning and some in the evening. Um, so there’s the US in the morning or UK in the evening, but um, I can’t be all things for all people. So sometimes you might be better off in one-on-one. I do do some limited one-to-one coaching, but I think sometimes it’s, once again, this surface level stuff.

[00:32:36] Oh, the call time. Like I know for me, , the call time doesn’t work, means I don’t want it enough. I get up at 3:00 AM to work with my one-to-one coach because that’s when she’s available. So, yeah, if you want it enough, you’ll find a way. Yeah. And I’m not saying that you have to do that, but, or find somebody in your time zone, but don’t tell the person how to change.

[00:32:56] Like my son, um, has a lot of specialist care. He’s a high needs child. [00:33:00] When the appointments come in, I move whatever to go. I don’t say, sorry, that doesn’t work for. No.

[00:33:06] You build your business to support your life, not the other way around.

[00:33:12] Yes, exactly. And when things come up, and I’m also, I’m also too, I’m clear with my clients.

[00:33:17] My children come first always, like just this week I had to move one of the group calls. I don’t do it often and I give as much notice as I can, but there was an award ceremony. Both my kids were being getting awarded. I was like, I am being there.

[00:33:33] And I’m pretty sure you are vetting your clients, your, your group members accordingly, that they have the compassion and the empathy of yeah, that’s fine.

[00:33:46] They love that. That’s what they want. They want to be able to have the boundaries. They want to be able to set that. And like, there’s been times where there was one time I couldn’t run the call.

[00:33:55] I’d had some bad news. I was, I, I just like, this isn’t gonna be the best use of me today. [00:34:00] I’m gonna reschedule, I apologize. And I remember going to have a nap and part of your brain goes to, everyone’s gonna ask for a refund and hate you. You know, because we have human brains. Yes, yes. And I wake up to thank you for modeling self-care for us.

[00:34:12] And I think sometimes, you know, this is what people want. They want desire. I’m not being flaky, I’m not going to the pub. I just, this isn’t gonna be the best today and I want to be the best coach for you. I don’t wanna just dial it. So there are times where things get moved, but it’s in service and I always like to surprise and delight and give more.

[00:34:30] So like on the sales page, that is what is the minimum. There’s heaps more bonuses. But the other thing too that I say is this is a bonus. So don’t sign up for the next round and say, I’m signing up for this cuz I won’t guarantee I’ll do this again. Like the guarantee is what’s on the sales page, everything else is, if I feel like it.

[00:34:50] Yep. Oh my God. Didn’t I tell you guys? Said it in the beginning. No bullshit. No bullshit. I [00:35:00] like my people. Where can people find you? Where can they stalk you? Yes. I call it stalking because I stalk people. I literally Google them everywhere and see where, where I can bug them.

[00:35:11] If you really wanna talk to her, email her.

[00:35:15] You know that already. I love responding to emails. I love it. And people, it’s so funny, they’re like, it’s really you. And I’m thinking, yeah, because online so much of it is bots. Like you’ve gotta say this exact word to get the bot. And I’m like, you know, I know that works for some people and I love it, but for me, I’m like, this is just too complicated.

[00:35:32] Send me an email and I will respond, but not instantly, when I have capacity. So sometimes you’ll hear back from me that day and sometimes it’ll be a week. So the best place to find me is my website, suzanneculberg.com. I’m sure you’ll put it in the show notes cuz as we were saying at the beginning.

[00:35:47] I practiced this, that just made me, I was like, oh my God.

[00:35:50] I practiced the last name. I should have asked about the first name.

[00:35:56] It’s all good. And then, um, my, I have a [00:36:00] newsletter that I send once a week, Wholly Unique Content. I don’t have it anywhere else because one of my pet peeves is, here’s the blog.

[00:36:06] I’m like, I could find that myself. So like, I understand it’s for clicks and all this sort of stuff, but I just like, you know, if you like a bit of a story and uh, you know, adventures that I get up to with my family, I send it out about once a week and then if you respond to my email, I will reply to you.

[00:36:24] Yep. No VA. Suzanne.

[00:36:27] I have one, but, um, I don’t, not for communication. Like it’s something I, I’d like my email to be, to be like, I email the person, so, and if ever they do, like, if it’s a pure admin type thing, there’s a different email and it will say Suzanne’s team or on behalf of. Like, it’s another pet peeve of mine when the person’s pretending to be, it’s like, I can tell in your languaging, this is not you.

[00:36:47] So just own it.

[00:36:49] Yeah. We do the same thing where we have the, the hi there at Ask Yvi, which is like a collector that my VA has. And don’t get me wrong, once in a while I have a clean out my inbox, but replying [00:37:00] happens myself. If I’m in my email, I’m in my email. Yes. And with that people, as already mentioned, all of the links are gonna be easily available for you in the descriptions, in the show notes.

[00:37:10] It’s all right there. Thanks so much for joining me. You enjoy your next hour off just relaxing because I know you had about as many podcasters. I have time for some help here and I hear and see everybody else in our next episode. Stay tuned. Bye everybody.

[00:37:29] Thank you.