Support at The Uncommon Way 8/26/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 8/26/25

Ep 163: The 7-Week Reset: A New Way for Women Entrepreneurs to Remove Mindset Blocks and Go from Forcing to Flow

If you’ve ever felt like you’re the one standing in your own way—pushing harder, trying more strategies, but not seeing the breakthroughs you crave—this episode will inspire you and change how you see your next steps. You’ll hear why so many traditional tools like affirmations or mindset hacks fall flat, and how one simple but powerful step could reset the entire game for you.

Episode Summary

You will learn:

The surprising reason most affirmations, mindset advice and even therapy falls flat — and how tuning into what actually works for your unique wiring can unlock breakthroughs faster than you’re probably expecting.
How one of my clients found that producing LESS content created better results in her business--because of what she focused on instead.
And I’ll reveal my newest offer, which is the first full offer I’ve released in 3.5 years.

Press play now to uncover how to unlock your next level of success and growth.

Links Mentioned

Get your 7-week reset:

Pay in full option:

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Questions? Book a coffee chat with me: https://theuncommonway.as.me/?appointmentType=14162313

Resources Mentioned:

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

This podcast dives into the potential of balancing a business and life without sacrificing revenue or impact. It helps women business owners and mompreneurs overcome overwhelm, decision fatigue, and the guilt of working less and stepping away from hustle culture while increasing leadership, strategic decision making, alignment and delegation / team building. Learn to build powerful habits and mindset, embrace smarter and higher vibration work methods, and master time management by streamlining tasks, implementing business systems, and even prioritizing self-care. We explore efficiency and energetics, productivity and filling your cup, automation and where to personalize your efforts … all to reduce overworking, and finally take time off—without the fear or shame—whether that is with high-ticket offers, scalable offers, or passive income. Say goodbye to imposter syndrome and people pleasing while running a small business: It's time to shift your mindset, reclaim your work-life balance, and thrive!

Full Episode Transcript:

[00:00:00] In this episode, you'll discover how you can simplify the path from forcing to flow in your business and life in just seven weeks. Welcome to The Uncommon Way where high achieving women, entrepreneurs and leaders ditch the rule, book and design success on their own terms. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, a top ranked business coach sharing business growth strategies of mindset, mastery, and power boost to help you attract ideal clients, leverage your unique genius and scale with freedom.

Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome to the Uncommon Way. Oh, do I have some wonderful things to reveal today? I just wanna gather everyone around like we're having a little huddle and whisper. It's not as complicated as you might think because get this, it's like I imagine the first woman who ever realized you could just count backwards and your child will let go of the dog's tail.

She must have been giddy running to the playground and sharing it with the other moms. And they were like, really? That's it. 3, 2, 1, and [00:01:00] it works. So what I'm gonna share with you today isn't that simple, full disclosure, but it is fundamentally a very simple concept and very easy for you to implement. So get ready in this episode.

I can't wait to share. The surprising reason most affirmations, mindset, advice, and even therapy falls flat. How tuning into what actually works for your unique wiring can unlock breakthroughs faster than you are probably expecting. And how? One of my clients found that producing less content created better results in her business because of what she focused on instead.

And I'll reveal my newest offer, which is the first full offer I've released in three and a half years. So I didn't undertake this lightly. I have a feeling you're gonna be really surprised and delighted when you hear the details. So let's dive in. Last [00:02:00] week I shared how an olive tree thrives naturally when it has the right conditions.

Rocky, well draining soil and long hot dry summers. But that same tree would wither in the textbook perfect growing conditions of the Mississippi Delta, and that is such a relief. Because it means in nature of which we form a part, you inevitably thrive in the conditions that suit you, and you can bounce back very quickly when you find them.

That's why in business you can see incredibly talented women start to sputter and stall out, and even question whether they're cut out for entrepreneurship, not because they lack ability or smarts or drive, but just 'cause they're not fully in their right conditions. I worked with a woman who was a coach for corporate leaders who had these fantastic insights that could really shake up corporate America.

But when it came time to publish her ideas, she [00:03:00] kept watering them down because what would people think? Some people for sure would get angry about what she was saying, and did she really want that backlash? Or to lose a bunch of followers and turn off prospective clients? Also what if people refuted what she was saying?

Wouldn't she look foolish? She spent a lot of time therefore thinking about content, writing content or rewriting content so much that she didn't have much space for other things she wished she could do to grow her business. And when her revenue declined, she thought she needed to be more visible and create more content, which we all know how that feels.

She was really drained. She even wondered if she wanted to keep going in a business where it felt like she was putting so much in and not getting that much out. When I asked her what she thought would create her breakthrough, she got quiet and then said, I need to be bolder and say the [00:04:00] things that need to be said.

She was right deep down. She knew her issue wasn't about spending even more time on LinkedIn. She needed to stop pretending that she didn't have brilliance to offer. And start showing up in a way where people would take notice. The real turning point, it didn't come from doing more. It was in creating the right internal conditions so that sharing her message felt energizing instead of exhausting.

She needed an internal landscape where she trusted herself and felt safe no matter what, so that she could be bold, really bold. In a way she hadn't dared to before, but also in a way that was true to her rather than what seemed more like posturing or acting as if by being safe in her own skin, she could finally show up fully and magnetically.

So once we cleared the beliefs and patterns that had been getting in the way and replace them with what she truly needed, the shifts were visible [00:05:00] right away. She started writing differently, sharing the hard, impactful truths that she hadn't before. She found she could create less content because each piece was more powerful.

Now, the leaders who were called to her new messaging were really excited to work with her because they said they wanted exactly what she was talking about. She even began dressing differently because she enjoyed standing out when she entered a room that was totally new. People started gravitating towards her at networking event saying something just made me wanna come, introduce myself.

And now that she was actually allowing her ideas to flow, she downloaded this whole new framework in a single day. That was such a captivating shift in thinking versus how most people think that well-known companies were inviting her to come in and speak to their leaders. Then those leaders wanted more and started signing up to be on her list and part of her community in rates that blew past industry [00:06:00] standards.

Plus she had time and energy again. So her personal life changed too. It was so clear to her how much that old way of being had drained her and how much cognitive load she'd been carrying that she didn't even realize she was carrying. And now instead of thinking and worrying about her business day and night, and then feeling guilty when she wasn't working.

She was trying new things, picking up new sports and hobbies, and experiencing more joy. She said so many people came up to her and would say, wow, Lisa, you look great. What have you done? Breakthroughs like that are possible for you too, but here's where they don't come from some generic formula for confidence or for visibility, or a copywriting course or a money mindset course.

They come from creating unique right conditions, starting from the inside out. That domino is the key piece that initiated all the other [00:07:00] change. The biggest breakthroughs in your business never come from doing more of what's not working. Producing more content wouldn't have helped Lisa because it wasn't fully landing anyway.

Your clarity, power, and genius are always available. They just need some air and sun. But how you create that right environment is different for everyone. We all have different experiences and different wiring that have led us to this point, so we all need unique solutions. What creates effortless decision making for one person Can feel like nails on a chalkboard to someone else.

And what lights a fire for one woman's creativity might leave another Totally. Frozen with tight shoulders and her chest, feeling constricted in her stomach and nuts. I had a client whose business had stalled and fear was consuming her. The panic and helplessness she felt during the day seeped into her [00:08:00] dreams and in one, her dad was telling her, see, I told you to stick with a real job.

She told me it felt as if she could actually end up living under a bridge. That's how scary it felt. And by the way, she was earning hundreds of thousands of dollars, so it wasn't an actual number in her bank account that was scaring her. So I'm curious, what do you think she needed in that moment? More hope, more power, or maybe less pressure.

Maybe she needed less of something. Take a second to feel into your answer. It could have been any of these. That's the point. Different people need different things. And honestly, that's what makes this work so endlessly fascinating for one person asking, but what have you signed a client today? Someone who's been circling and suddenly says, yes, let's do this.

And that could be the very spark that shifts all the momentum, right? Suddenly their chest [00:09:00] lifts and their shoulders relax, and this sense of excitement tingles down their spine and new ideas start flowing. Like a geyser, I don't know. But meanwhile, that same question could make someone else tense up.

They'd have thoughts like, I have to make this happen today. I need to do everything perfectly, or I've blown it again. And their jaws tighten up and their breathing get shallow, and they just feel that pit. And of course from there, they don't really wanna do anything at all. They're just forcing it and their audience can feel it.

This is why affirmations often backfire. One thought can send two different people in completely opposite directions, and if just repeating affirmations or acting as if or going to therapy, were enough. Wouldn't most of the ambitious women, you know, be billionaires by now? Because most of the women I talk to are doing these things.

They've been [00:10:00] doing them for months or even years. And yet they're still that quiet or not so quiet sense of, I know I'm holding myself back. They can sense attention and an internal resistance that keeps them from fully stepping into their power. For the client I mentioned whose business had slumped the key didn't have much to do with thinking at all.

Her body was so spun up with anxiety that she couldn't really think straight. She needed tools to settle it and to cope with high stress situations. Once she could do that, she felt grounded and calm, which gave her a totally different perspective on her business and reignited her confidence. She remembered who she was and all of her accomplishments, and got a download to make a special offer to some past clients, bringing in tens of thousands from one email.

The best part is that her newfound calmness spread into everything. How she treated her children, whether she reached for a glass of wine at night. [00:11:00] Even how she drove through traffic. Her daughter told her Mommy, people are better drivers now, aren't they? Because she noticed her mom wasn't complaining about them each morning on the way to daycare.

So this was very much a body-based issue, but for someone else, the shift might be in what they do. Maybe they thrive in conversation and connection, and once they allow themselves to prioritize more interaction, they're going to light up. They'll feel energetic, and they'll see their mos of magnetic communication start to flow with ease.

Or maybe they need to step back from overloading on trainings and tactics because that's been clouding intuition and leaving them feeling confused in adrift. This is why chasing solutions that work for other people rather than tuning into what actually works for you, leaves you doing everything right except what actually works without someone who sees the full picture, the mindset, the nervous system strategy, and energetics, [00:12:00] and who has cultivated intuition rather than following cookie cutter formulas.

It's easy to waste energy fixing the wrong things. You want someone who can spot what's really going on under the surface, whether that's a deep-seated belief, a nervous system trigger, an unnatural identity, you've adopted an unfortunate pattern you're caught up in, and who has the range to work with all of it.

Because honestly, you can't build the business you want from a state of constant forcing. And I can say this with certainty because I've been living and running my business this way for years. The difference in results and in how it feels is night and day. Ugh. I remember when I kept trying to convince myself with little post-Its all over the house that I earned $250,000 last year.

It was like I had one of those little devils on my shoulder holding a whip, pointing at that post-it and saying, come on, step up, be better. It's just so [00:13:00] much better when you create the internal landscape that supports your unique genius. To naturally and inevitably create your results, even if it doesn't look like what you expected, even if it's not the textbook version of how you should think in order to be a successful entrepreneur, you become the woman whose body, mind, and intuition becomes sources of power, not detractors from your power.

It's all about the who before the how. And once you do, everything else can start falling into place. When your internal conditions are clear and aligned, you stop wasting energy fighting yourself, and you start operating from the steady renewable source of your alignment. That's when you're able to create wildly different, which is what you really want, right?

It's why an olive tree in the wild can endure for centuries or even [00:14:00] millennia. It has the right conditions to be what it's meant to be. And I know you know what this alignment feels like. You felt it before. Think about being on that awkward date with that guy or girl and you're searching for conversation topics and everything just felt off and they're saying something that was supposed to be a joke, but it just went right over your head.

And then you're like, do I laugh now a second later, or would that be weird? And that person's totally dressed up and you thought it would be more casual, and the whole night is just weird, but you've all been on a perfect date too, where time flies and you don't even have to think about what you're going to say because everything's flowing so quickly.

You come up with brilliant things to say and the banter is just so lighthearted and funny. It doesn't even matter how you're dressed because the night just takes you all over the place doing different things and everything seems to just fall into [00:15:00] place. Those synchronicities one thing after another.

You have so many stories to tell afterwards that is alignment. We've all felt what it's like to be in flow. Imagine that in your business too. When you have what you need, you feel confident and certain and light, you show up with conviction. And all of that is so compelling. You become magnetic to others.

The truth is that flow, it's already inside you. My role is simply to help you clear the static that's interfering with it, so it becomes your default setting in business. And that's exactly why I created this new offer. The first full offer I've put out since the Clarity Accelerator launched three and a half years ago.

I am committed to getting more women into this flow state and living life uncommonly, because it changes households, it changes communities, it changes countries, it changes the world. So this is a [00:16:00] private coaching experience designed to clear the single biggest block or unhelpful pattern standing between you and your natural flow.

Because when you're no longer weighed down by fear or spinning into overwork. Pushing through the fog of overthinking, that's when you regain your power and your inspiration. Recently I reached out to people on my email list, which make sure you're on it, and I asked them what was going on in their business and where were they feeling challenged, and the most popular answer was some variation of, I feel like I'm getting in my own way.

So I wanted to make it really easy for you to get back in your game. We can stack all the best strategies and refine your offers and polish up your messaging. But if your inner conditions are off, it's like having a racehorse with a limp. The potential is there to win, but the conditions aren't right.

That's why this work isn't extra. [00:17:00] It is the essential piece that makes everything else click. It's the internal strategy that ignites all the others, and here's how it'll work. First, we'll identify the one core issue that's really running the show, whether it's imposter syndrome, money, scarcity, visibility, fears, or something else.

And if you're not sure, don't worry. I'll help you find it. Then we'll have seven weeks together where we work on that and only that. So you get this done and done quickly and efficiently. You'll have full support over WhatsApp during that time, so you're never waiting for our next call. You'll have this focus time to work daily based on your availability, of course, kind of like language immersion.

I wanted to make sure we could capture whatever's going on for you in real time, and I could give you guidance in a way that lets you really reflect and digest it before you respond, because that's what helps our brains learn and [00:18:00] integrate new information. And we'll meet privately on Zoom for 2 45 minute sessions.

Some tools work better in that format, and I wanna make sure you get to experience the sensation of profound transformation from a single call. This is not a surface level think positive advice. It's precise targeted intervention where we are focused on what's actually working for you. Nothing more, nothing less, every step of the way.

It's a mindset done with you. If I could do it for you, I would. It's a kind of inner work that honors your unique brain so your mind and body can trust the change. And you don't have to wonder if this is just the way you'll always be or if the solution you're currently trying will even work for you.

And the even bigger value is that when you create the right conditions for you, like plants and animals, make use of all around the world. You [00:19:00] bounce back quickly, get into alignment and get to feel what it's like for things to flow naturally. And what you're looking for is a way to stop forcing yourself and just take a breath, right?

I am in love with the structure I just outlined because what do we so often end up doing when we suspect we are the ones getting in our own way? We go buy a bunch of courses on different things, money, scarcity. Or no, maybe it's imposter syndrome or maybe it's a visibility issue, and rarely do we actually get through those courses.

Right? Plus it's a generic advice, and as we've already talked about, that's like the lottery. If it works, you got lucky, but usually it's not exactly what you needed. Or we go the other way and we invest in higher level coaching, which is amazing. That's my personal preference. I'll be honest, it's not always laser focused 'cause one [00:20:00] day you're asking for help with this thing and then another day I'll show up asking for help with something else.

But with this seven week sprint, we are both going all in to create real results in this one area, which means you see and feel real results quickly without dragging it out and without piling on extra cost. The whole point is speed and leverage. Because here's the thing, when you dissolve the right block, it's not just one shift.

It unlocks dozens of ripple effects in your business. In life. It restores right conditions. Isn't that so cool? I learned about this in EMDR work. It's like you have one made thread and once you pull it, the whole knot unravels. So if imposter syndrome has been whispering, not yet. Suddenly you are showing up.

You're leading naturally pricing differently and [00:21:00] selling with integrity and conviction. If fear of success has been slowing you down, suddenly you're aware of an excited about every opportunity you're playing to win, and your results come faster because you are moving fast. If it's hard to remain resilient and cope with emotions in your business or with what's going on in the world outside of your business, suddenly you're responding to challenges calmly.

You're feeling steady, even when things feel messy and making decisions from a grounded place. One shift doesn't just move that one piece on the chessboard. It resets the whole game, and that is the big idea that I want to shout from the rooftops. And I hope it gives you a pep in your step today, regardless of whether we ever work together, you don't always need to work through a laundry list of all the different ways in which you're getting in your way.

Sometimes [00:22:00] it's one that lifts the weight and the doubts and returns you to the place where your thriving feels natural, where you don't have to force. Where there's no wall, you need to climb over or push past or find the secret key to let you through, and you deserve a life that feels right where your life gets to belong to you and your daily way of thinking, believing and acting honors you look blocks of all kinds are totally natural.

They're part of every entrepreneur's journey. Lord knows they've been a part of mine. I used to have a big block around sales conversations, but then once I got over that and got booked out, then I was afraid of making too much because what if I separated from my husband when I got rich? And there's so many more that have popped up over the years that I've talked about in prior episodes, and I wish there had been an offer exactly like what I'm offering now, so [00:23:00] that I could have just worked through it and moved on.

Blocks aren't a sign that you're broken or behind, it's just something that tends to show up in different forms depending on where you are in business. Each time. It's just the next layer asking to be cleared so you can step into that next level. I've seen this again and again with women from five different continents and all different industries and all different revenue levels.

What comes up is different, but the pattern is the same. You release the thing that's keeping you from thriving, and that's when you get to see the breakthroughs in your business, and it often happens faster than you think. I've seen clients experience a complete turnaround in one conversation because once your mind and body adopt a new perspective, it doesn't take weeks of convincing.

You simply start operating from it. Interestingly, I asked chat GPT for a very conservative [00:24:00] estimate of what the lifetime value is to an entrepreneur from clearing even one block, and it said an extra 10 to 50,000 per year every year for 10 to 20 years, although I for one plan to be in business for longer than that.

But anyway, that comes to a hundred thousand dollars to $1 million in lifetime revenue from one shift. And like I said earlier, I wanted to make this very easy for you. So I've set the price at just $2,100. This is the most accessible way to work with me. And yes, I will also be offering payment plans too.

And yes, there is a guarantee. If you don't feel a real shift by the end of our time together, I'll refund you again, easy. Let's get more women into this way of being. Watch how that transforms everything. So if you wanna stop circling the same issue and get your groove back without extra [00:25:00] time or money in a way that works for you, dm me the word mindset on Instagram or head to the link in the episode description to book your spot.

If you have questions and you wanna talk first, that's cool too. You can book a 30 minute coffee chat, which we'll also link to below. This is your moment to stop working against yourself and create the inner landscape that explodes what was previously possible for you. So feel into the yes in your body.

And before Halloween, you can be living a very different experience than you are now. I can't wait to talk. Okay. In this episode, you learned the surprising reason that most affirmations of mindset, advice, and even therapy falls flat. Because you're not tuning into what actually works for you and your unique wiring in ways that span the mindset, the nervous system energetics, and your daily routines.

You [00:26:00] heard about how one of my clients found that producing less content created better results in her business because she focused on her internal landscape and that allowed her to create the bold statements. That called in her Ideal clients, and I told you about my newest offer, which is business and life changing work at the most accessible price that we can work together.

And the most important idea of all is that sometimes it's one shift that resets the whole game. And you deserve a life where the conditions feel right and everything is honoring you. So that you can do the work that you're here to do. Alright, if you know somebody that needs to hear this today, please forward this episode and let's talk again on Tuesday.

Support at The Uncommon Way 8/12/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 8/12/25

Ep 162: Want to Get Out of Your Own Way? Create More Ideal Clients, Revenue and Work-Life Balance Using 'Right Conditions Theory'

If you know you’re capable of so much more—but have a feeling you're the one standing in your own way—this episode will show you how to shift that.

Episode Summary

If you know you’re capable of so much more—but have a feeling you're the one standing in your own way—this episode will show you how to shift that.

What if the key to unlocking more ideal clients, revenue and work-life balance is all around you in nature? This episode dives into the most effective and important method for thriving without restraint.

This is the episode where you will:

1) Learn what Right Conditions Theory is and how it can transform your business, how you feel about your business, what you’re prioritizing in your business, and the results you see in your business

2) Discover what most entrepreneurs are doing that wastes their time and energy and how to avoid that pitfall

3) Discover why that thing that worked wonders for someone else might be the very thing suffocating your growth—and what to do instead

Press play now to uncover the simple, natural shift that can unlock your next level of success and growth.

Resources Mentioned:

Clarity Accelerator: Schedule a call with Jenna about joining the Clarity Accelerator--the same mastermind that we talk about in this episode--to unlock your inner genius, streamline your strategies and offers, and dial in the inner world that lets you work smarter, not harder.

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

[00:00:00] What if the simple key to having ideal clients booking into work with you, running your business with plenty of time for the things that make life worth living and becoming richer than you've ever been before, all comes down to you cultivating a very specific set of conditions for yourself. Welcome, welcome back to The Uncommon Way.

I've got something new to introduce today, and if you really absorb it, really let it settle in. You're going to see that this one thing is the difference between a path that is wrought with friction and lag and feels really frustrating because it's like you keep banging your head against the wall and still there's something that just doesn't let you break past it, versus a path of just much more lightness and freedom.

Where your business grows and unfolds very organically, you [00:01:00] have plenty of opportunities and clients coming your way and the right kinds of people seem fascinated by what you're saying and doing, and you feel like you are powerfully in control of all of this rather than confused or burned out or stuck.

This is the episode where you will learn what right conditions theory is. How it can transform your business, how you feel about your business, what you're prioritizing in your business, and the results you see in your business. You'll discover what most entrepreneurs are doing that waste their time and energy and how to avoid that pitfall.

It's very simple. And discover why that thing that worked wonders for someone else might actually be the very thing suffocating your growth and what to do instead. So for this episode, I recommend you get out of the house, go for a walk, move your body, and just listen without multitasking so you [00:02:00] can really let it sink in.

This is a very simple but profound and life-changing truth. Okay, let's dive in, shall we? The concept that I wanna share came alive for me in the most unexpected way recently. I have a beloved fur baby named Skye. She's plastered all over my website. I love her to pieces and in fact, she was a deployment present from my husband.

I don't know if you know this. So a deployment present is what deploying soldiers get for their partners to help ease the difficulties of separation. And Ben got me a puppy, so she and I had a year together where she was my sole focus. I didn't have a human baby yet, although we've been trying. So I had so much love to pour into this dog.

Now she's 10. And over the last year or so, my husband and I noticed her really slowing down and each time she lagged behind us coming up a hill, my husband and I, we'd [00:03:00] exchange these glances like, ugh, old age. You know? It's inevitable. It is what it is. Until one day she ate something that made her really sick, poor thing.

And so we put her on this special protocol of rice and boiled beef, and a couple of days later, I took her out to play. And after retrieving the ball, she promptly dropped it for another throw, and then it happened again and again, and she just wouldn't stop. Each time she was looking at me like, what are you waiting for?

As if this were really normal like it used to be. Okay. So it goes without saying. Obviously we got rid of our old food and now we have a companion who just trots along beside us when we're climbing hills and plays ball until we drag her back to the house and nudges my leg with her toy when I'm working.

As a matter of fact, I have the door closed right now [00:04:00] 'cause otherwise she'd be in here doing exactly that. Watching her bounce back so quickly made me think of how long we continue with suboptimal conditions in our life because we excuse it away or put it off or tell ourselves that's just how things are and we forget what feeling amazing and totally on our game even feels like.

We get used to a bit of anxiety here and maybe feeling a little down over there and perhaps running a bit low on energy until it all blends into the background and you start believing this is just normal, but it's not. What it really is, is your biology reacting to something that is quietly draining your capacity, and that thing can be external or internal.

I know you've experienced this. Think back to your twenties when that person you liked didn't wanna date you anymore. And you start [00:05:00] wondering if you'll ever find someone and you're depressed and you just feel blood and maybe your skin breaks out. It's been hard to sleep. Your hormones are out of whack.

Your skin's looking s your shoulders are kind of slumped. Then, I mean, when you do meet people out and about, they aren't all that interested in you, and that just confirms to yourself your growing belief that you won't get what you want in life. When you're in that place, you are not on top of your game.

You know that. And that is simply a more pronounced version of what many of us get used to and start tolerating in much milder doses that maybe take you out for the count, but maybe they just are dragging you down. We're not wired to operate like that permanently. Our biological norm is actually vibrant and lit up and energized and clearheaded.

In other words, powerful. That is how you feel when you're not [00:06:00] getting pulled off course, and often it's you pulling yourself off course, unfortunately, I mean, we do get in our own way. Just like my puppy sky. Your system can bounce back fast when you give it the conditions it truly needs. And this is what right conditions theory is.

It states that the surest path to you thriving is leaning into who you really are and how you really are. And coming back to that relentlessly and we're weeding out anything that is getting in the way of that. Now the right conditions for you might not be the right conditions for someone else. Just like how one person thrives with keto, but someone else does not.

We see this all the time in nature. What works for one plant might totally kill off another plant. One thing that I love doing here in my new home is to go on hikes in the mountains and they drop straight down to this glistening blue sea. I love [00:07:00] stopping and looking out over coves. I look for like the prettiest cove with the most deep emerald color, and I just stand there and inhale this beautiful smell of warm pine and rosemary.

I love it so much and something that I've noticed on these hikes, and I've started to actually look for it specifically 'cause it's so cool, are these olive trees that grow right outta the cliff faces. I probably have 25 pictures of this on my phone. 'cause I mean, how, right? How is it possible? How tenacious, how scrappy does that little seedling have to be to grow there?

And not just grow, but Thrive Green, full leaves and so many olives that the tree can't hold them. They're dropping off onto the rocks below. It turns out olive trees thrive with stress. They do really well on cliffs. It goes against all reason. But if you plant them in [00:08:00] textbook perfect farmland, let's say a place with moist, dense soil with lots of nutrients and steady natural moisture in the environment is after all that is what plants need, right?

They need sun and good soil and water. So let's say the Mississippi Delta, which is called the most fertile land in the United States 'cause of all those conditions I just described. But if you plant an olive tree there, it's gonna wither and die. The roots could rot, the olives wouldn't really be able to open and it would be prone to disease.

Olive trees do really well though in rocky, arid soil that drains well. With a hot, dry summer, that gives them plenty of time for the fruit to ripen. So a rice plant would shrivel and die here in Myorca, and an olive tree would wither and drown in the delta. But in their own environments, each one thrives [00:09:00] naturally and abundantly.

It's not about watering it more or giving it more fertilizer, it's about finding the right conditions. When you do, it's not just possible to bounce back quickly like Sky did. It's inevitable because that's who you are designed to be. You are created to thrive. Even if you're on the face of a cliff, you don't really need much at all.

But we're not taught to problem solve in this way, especially in business and our professional life. We're not taught to think, oh, exactly what works for me and brings out who I'm really meant to be. How do I get back to that? How can I bring forth more of that? Right. We don't grow up with right conditions theory.

We grow up with topiary theory. Now, a topiary is a tree that is meticulously trimmed in order to form different shapes. It'll be round like a ball and then [00:10:00] have a bald stock coming up, and then there'll be another ball of another size on top of that. All different shapes. Just to paint the picture, so Topiary theory states that you need to mold yourself in some specific way, in fact, to be more like the other topiaries.

Your success is dependent on how well you play the game and force yourself to be something you're not. You expect this to be super high maintenance, right? You expect to work really hard at it, and if any natural part of you doesn't fit the program, if that starts showing up. You wanna trim that back immediately, and there's really no reason to question it because, I mean, these trees have had proven success and what works for them should work for you, which is exactly why we run after the trends, or we assume what it is that our people want, or we lock away that new idea that we have, that brainstorm that we have because [00:11:00] it's probably not realistic.

But wow, it's exhausting to do business like that. It makes entrepreneurship feel like such an uphill battle. You know, maybe you go to networking events, trying to be the polished, credible version of what you think people want, but you're tense the entire time. And that suit costs a fortune too. And oh, by the way, those heels, they really hurt.

And sure, they say you should just write content authentically. But what you really wanna say, it's pretty blunt. And so you meticulously write and rewrite everything you produce, or maybe you did speak up in the past, but now you feel like you have to keep saying that same stuff in order to keep your audience warm, when really you wanna be saying something else completely now, and that weighs on you and it makes showing up feel so tiring and draining.

It's just like. An olive tree trying to grow in the [00:12:00] delta. So I have got a question for you. First picture, an olive tree there in the Mediterranean branches, twisting and untwisting in total free form. Basking in the sun. Roots deep in the earth. It has everything it needs. It has its own power source, and those right conditions will help it thrive for 600, 2000, even 4,000 years now, picture a topiary.

It gets trimmed into shape every few weeks, trying hard to become exactly what the viewer wants. Growing with constant correction and tight reigns. Maybe it could grow on its own, but that's risky. Yeah, who knows how it would turn out. So you make sure to keep a tight grip and try to force it into the way you want it to be.

Which one are you right now? Do you feel like you are more olive tree [00:13:00] or more topiary if it feels like you've been trying to push through and make success happen, or you've been hearing a lot of internal have tos or shoulds you are working against yourself? That includes things that seem like there can't possibly be anything wrong with them, like saying the affirmations that other people are saying or reframing everything to the positive or acting as if you're already there, because growth isn't about force, it's about alignment.

If you agree and you want help cultivating that for yourself, I've got a brand new offer dropping next week designed to help you create the right conditions for you. It's simple, effective, and totally guaranteed. So block out a time now on your calendar so you can make sure you listen in to next week's episode and get all the details.

Now, let's recap what you learned today. You now know [00:14:00] what right conditions theory is. You know that most people naturally default to topiary theory, but that is the source of so much exhaustion, frustration, and wasted time and money, and it completely explains why. What worked wonders for your business bestie might be the very thing suffocating your growth.

And whether this is the first time you've heard about this, or the 30th or the hundredth time you've heard about this. Now is the time to reorient yourself to the truth that cultivating the conditions that are right for you to thrive makes the most sense and has the highest likelihood of guaranteeing your success.

Alright, if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who could benefit from it too. And let's talk again on Tuesday.

Support at The Uncommon Way 8/5/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 8/5/25

Ep 161: Sneak Peek into My Private Coaching Containers + Why Is Our Legal Name EsCap LLC?

Ever wondered what it’s really like to have a private coach in your back pocket—giving you personalized guidance, real-time support, and mindset breakthroughs as you build your business?

Episode Summary

Ever wondered what it’s really like to have a private coach in your back pocket—giving you personalized guidance, real-time support, and mindset breakthroughs as you build your business?

If you’re curious whether a voice-based coaching model can deliver real-time breakthroughs (or if you’ll just get generic responses), this episode pulls back the curtain on my very own WhatsApp coaching sessions—warts, wins, and all—so you can see for yourself.

In this episode you will get:

A sneak peek into the private coaching experience
To hear an actual audio that I sent to a client recently
Learn the story behind my company’s legal name (EsCap LLC)

Press play now to pull back the curtain and step behind the scenes of my coaching containers and my business.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

[00:00:00] In today's episode, you'll discover what private coaching over WhatsApp is really like. At least when I do it. Welcome, welcome to The Uncommon Way. Oh, it feels so good to say that I mentioned in an earlier episode that I was going to keep the three-day work week, but no, something kept nudging me back to total brand consistency and here we are. And with a lighter, brighter cover for summer 'cause a girl should be able to switch things up when she wants. Speaking of keeping it light for summer, today's episode is for you. If you've ever wondered what private coaching would be like or what WhatsApp coaching would be like With all of my private coaching at the moment, I offer WhatsApp support and sometimes I offer just WhatsApp with no calls.

And it's becoming more and more common, but not everyone has really experienced it. In fact, some people who have purchased these offers have said, I [00:01:00] wasn't sure what this was going to be like, but I ended up really liking it because it gave me time to really digest what it was that you've said and reflect on it, and then say something back.

And plus, I get to keep all the recordings and just listen to them whenever I want. So in this episode, you will get a sneak peek into the private coaching experience. You'll get to hear an actual audio that I sent to a client recently and also get to hear why my company's legal name is spelled E-S-C-A-P.

I got this ping to download an actual audio message that I sent, and when it came time to listen to a few, in order to select one, I realized just how specific and personal they are. I'm mentioning their services and offers by name. I'm referring to past situations, past ways of thinking that would probably be confusing for someone listening in, which is why we sign up for private coaching, right?

We want a coach who knows [00:02:00] us and our business to. So that the conversations can be really targeted and you don't have to repeat the backstory, and then you can get the coaching you need and then go out and implement that guidance, that guidance that was tailor made for you rather than a training that you've listened to that hundreds of other people are listening to and may or may not apply to this specific moment in your business.

But I realized, you know what? It's okay. It's okay if I didn't find a coaching sample that maintains the privacy of my clients because we talk about other things too. And what my clients have told me over and over is that they love that they can just ask me anything. And I am an open book. They tell me.

It's really helpful to hear how I think about situations how. I react to things past and present and that it's in those moments, those conversations that they sometimes get [00:03:00] the biggest breakthroughs. 'cause it either helps normalize things that they're going through or prepare them for things to come.

And I know for myself when someone shares their story, I also get to see how I'm not thinking right, or not being by seeing that difference between me and them. And that gives me. Not just clarity on me, but an insider pass on how to get there. Myself, just before recording this, in fact, I got a message from a client who said, I'm so grateful that I get to learn from you and that you put yourself in uncomfortable growth situations so that then you can tell me about it, and then I can try it and feel it for myself on the other side too.

But those moments only come through being really candid and really transparent. And that's just how I've decided to be in life. I mean, with everyone really. One of my new friends told me the other day that she was so taken aback when I first arrived here, and I was like. Yes, and my son has a DHD. And yes, I get my face lasered for [00:04:00] youthfulness and vitality and oh my gosh, for the first time, the family's depending on my income because we only maintain our visa if the government decides I'm earning enough.

And that's kind of freaking me out. And I just laid all the cards on the table. But I mean, why hide anything, you know, that would be hiding a piece of me too, which only blocks connection, not invites people into connection, which is what we all want. So without any more preamble, I hope you enjoy this audio.

Which answers the question, why is the legal name of my business Escap, LLC? So Escap, it's actually two words. It's in Catalan, the language Catalan, and so a place in for Terra, the island I used to live, my very favorite part of the island was an eska, means like the head, you know, or the highlands. And so from there you could see both sides of the island like see on both sides.

So magical and it was a big turning point [00:05:00] in my life because, ooh, maybe I should tell this on the podcast. It's a good story now that I think about it. Thank you. I had gotten a scholarship. For University of Chicago Business School, my MBA, and the way it was was they were taking like students from the top liberal arts schools because they were known as a very quantitative school and they wanted to round out their image.

So they wanted to attract these like top liberal arts students. And so I won the scholarship and I got to go for a summer between my junior and senior year, so hadn't even finished college yet. And I was taking MBA classes and. It really left a sour taste in my mouth after the rigors of Swarthmore. I felt like the work was just way too easy.

It was everyone I talked to, it was just all about networking. Like they don't even care about the classes. They're just going there to meet people, which were mostly Chicago. It was still a very regional school. I'm like, I'm never gonna live in Chicago and need to have all these contacts, you know, so why am I gonna pay?

At the time, it was a lot of money. It was a hundred thousand dollars, [00:06:00] or was it, I think it was 50,000 back in the day. But anyway, it felt like a lot of money back then. Exactly the same amount as whatever they cost now. Like that's how it felt. And I was like, is this really what I wanna do? And I was gonna do it just 'cause I thought it was a good thing to do.

But my dad, who had always promised me. That he would pay for my undergraduate and then loan me money for my graduate school because I had gone off to live in Spain. I think he lost faith in me or something because we had this pivotal conversation where he was like, oh, and if you keep doing this, how do you expect to pay for grad school?

And I was like, huh. I just just never been a thing. And so I'm actually really thankful I did that now in hindsight, because it really had me considering, okay, if I'm gonna take on student debt to pay for this, because I think I would get, yeah, I think I would get the first year free and have to pay for the second year.

[00:07:00] Or maybe it was just the first quarter free and then I'd have to pay for the rest. I don't quite remember, but I was like, if I'm gonna take on student debt, is this really worth it to me given what I've just me mentioned to you before? And so. Here I am, of course, with this completely alternate life in Spain.

You know, where no one cares, could care less, which MBA you went, you got your MBA from, or even if you got an MBA, right? It's like just a completely different world about really living in the moment, really living life for the joy and the community and not caring what your job is. And of course that was not my thing either, because as I found out after years of living there, when I did turn down grad school and decided to stay there.

Or go back there after my undergraduate is that I need meaning in my life and just like selling my hours just to work and then without having, meaning wasn't for me either. Like just working in a restaurant and then, you know, smoking joints at night or something. Like, it just, you know, but I didn't know that at the point, right, where [00:08:00] I'm making this consideration about do I wanna pay for grad school or do I want something else in life?

And I'm standing there looking at the, in this favorite place, which is the highlands. I see a for sale sign, and there was this piece of property, like it would've cost a fortune to redo, but it was like a abandoned house. So the stone structure was there. It just was all grumbly, you know? But that meant that if you, you didn't have to get like a permit for a new place, right?

Like there is a house there that you could then just get a renovation permit for. But anyway. So this land was for sale in the place that I've always loved, and it was the exact same price, and it just seemed like a question from the universe, right? I'm gonna give you two, like, I'm gonna put a monetary value on this and I'm gonna give you two choices.

What do you want, Jenna? And the rest is history, right? I turned down the University of [00:09:00] Chicago, said thank you, but no thank you. I went back to Spain after college and I lived a absolutely wonderful, you know, few years that ended up changing the course of my life, and so I'm very, very happy with that decision.

But anyway, these highlands are called Escap, and I loved the fact, like I loved the play on words that when you put it together in English, it looks like escape, right? It looks like freedom, and that obviously is what the uncommon way is all about. It's about. Really creating your uncommon way, daring to be different, doing things differently and escaping from all of these have dos and all of these shoulds and creating the thing that you're here to create and making it meaningful, making life count, and then. Yeah, I've continued with it until this day.

Thanks for joining us here at The Uncommon Way. If you want more tips and resources for [00:10:00] developing clarity in your business and life, including the clarity first strategy for growing and scaling your business, visit the uncommon way.com. See time.

Support at The Uncommon Way 7/29/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 7/29/25

Ep 160: 3 Breakthroughs That Take You From Getting in Your Own Way to the Business You Really Want

Ever get the feeling that no matter how hard you work, the thing secretly holding your business back might be … you?

Many women entrepreneurs feel driven by a cycle of overwork and frustration, thinking the right strategy, hire, or software will finally free them. But what if the real reason you’re not getting the results you want is a hidden pattern you can’t yet see—and breaking it is the difference between staying stuck and finally creating the business you actually want?

Episode Summary

Ever get the feeling that no matter how hard you work, the thing secretly holding your business back might be … you?

In this episode you will discover:

How to identify if you’re getting in your own way and whether or not that is the problem you need to be focusing on in your business
3 breakthroughs that stop you getting in your way so you can have the business you really want
The neuroscience-backed reason why insight alone rarely changes behavior—and what does.

Press play now to shift from “Why is it always like this?!” to your own clear path to success.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: (0:00 - 0:22) It's a fact of life that often we are the ones getting in our way. Today, I'll show you how to identify when that's happening, and three breakthroughs that move you past this and into the business you really want. Welcome to the three-day workweek, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like, without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth.

(0:22 - 0:32)

I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo to help you work smarter, leave early, and find true balance. Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome back.

(0:33 - 1:26)

I'm Jenna Harrison, and in this episode, you are going to discover how to identify if you are getting in your own way, and so that's the problem you need to be focusing on in your business, and if so, three breakthroughs that shift you out of that and into the business you really want, and the neuroscience-backed reason why insight alone rarely changes behavior and what does. So yes, welcome back to another truth-telling episode, where I give you the hard truth and nothing but the truth to help you cut through the noise, focus on what actually moves the needle for your business, and get you living in alignment with the uncommon life of your choosing, the one that is really meant for you. I want to tell you a story today about a woman named Lindy, who is experiencing something I am sure you can relate to.

(1:26 - 1:47)

Lindy is a woman with very big dreams. She has a strong desire to do something very meaningful in her life, and lots of smarts, and a very strong work ethic. I have a feeling this is sounding familiar, and she brought me on as her coach so she could get help and an outside perspective on this big problem she was up against.

(1:48 - 2:09)

She was stuck and couldn't grow because, frankly, she just didn't have time. But this episode is not about creating more time. It's about identifying when it's true that what's really getting in your way is you, no matter how that might be showing up, and no matter what appears at first glance to be the problem.

(2:10 - 2:43)

First, though, let me backtrack a bit and tell you her story. See, Lindy had grown up in the Midwest in a time when towns were really bustling, and she has memories as a little girl of bumping into neighbors on Main Street, and having an ice cream cone, and strolling along, and going about life, and just this wonderful community aspect. But fast forward to now, and many of those same small towns are just really dead when you drive through them.

(2:43 - 3:20)

Yeah, everybody's at home, you know, there are people living there, but they're in their houses, and there's no actual nucleus where people can congregate. And she had realized that the thing that had changed was that there was no longer an anchor point on Main Street that would draw people in enough to then have other businesses open around it, and that anchor point was the supermarket. Now, when Walmart came along, all of the mom-and-pop supermarkets closed, and she could see how that correlated to other businesses closing, and eventually, the crumbling of the community.

(3:20 - 3:50)

Really, people were having to drive half an hour in some of these towns to go get their groceries, rather than being able to not just buy them five minutes away, but also see so many of their friends and neighbors, and just interact and feel that sense of community. And her vision really was to roll out her current two supermarkets throughout the country. Again, she had big dreams.

(3:51 - 4:13)

But when I first talked to her, she said, there's no way I'm going to roll out more supermarkets. I wish that I could be working on the big vision of the business and the big strategy that needs to happen, but I'm out here, like she called it, putting out dumpster fires. There's always something erupting that I have to step in and take care of.

(4:13 - 4:34)

Maybe there's some staffing issue. Maybe I'm cleaning up an aisle because, you know, there's some mess or somebody knocked some glass jars over, and all the green beans spilled out. I'm working on scheduling.

I'm looking at inventory. I'm just doing all the things. There's no way that I have time to really step into this vision.

(4:35 - 4:44)

And of course, that wasn't the business Lindy wanted. She didn't leave her great job in Chicago or Minneapolis. I'm drawing a blank now.

(4:44 - 5:01)

But she didn't leave that to now be all stressed out all the time, running around, have even less time with her kids, be working with her partner. And of course, they're squabbling because there's all different things going on. They both have to manage and juggle.

(5:01 - 5:19)

And just so tired by the time she would finally lay her head on her pillow. Let alone having a moment to just breathe. And the reason I'm sharing this is because so many of you out there are caught up in this same situation like Lindy was.

(5:19 - 5:43)

But there's something that's like preventing you, that's holding you back from getting to that bigger vision that you desire. And the pain that you're in because of it is real. Or let's say you have a coaching business where you really want to bring on a team that can help you with the day-to-day operations and free you up to write this book that you have inside you.

(5:43 - 5:58)

You've been longing to write it. And you know that's going to be the thing that captures so much interest and attention and really just skyrockets your visibility and allows you to help so many more people. Because I just don't trust them not to mess it up.

(5:58 - 6:19)

And I really have to be in there doing it myself. And it's in the same way that Lindy was really pointing outwards at everything going on as a source of her problem rather than turning that lens around to herself. And what I want to do in this episode is highlight how important it is not to stay in this kind of status quo.

(6:20 - 6:27)

Not to continue doing business this way. Because that kind of gridlock serves no one. It doesn't serve you.

(6:27 - 6:34)

It doesn't serve your clients. It doesn't serve the world at large. And it can linger for years.

(6:34 - 6:53)

You know, I've been doing a podcast tour and appearing on different podcasts talking to different business owners. So as I'm talking to them, I can just see how there are these unexamined assumptions they have that have created this whole way of thinking around their business in which this is the way it has to be. Right? This is how business is.

(6:54 - 7:12)

So I want to help you learn to not only identify when it's happening to you, but move past it. So that you don't find yourself 10 or 20 years from now talking about how this is just the way business is and always has been. And you're still just scratching the surface of your potential.

(7:12 - 7:45)

Because when you change that, that's when you get to step in to deciding how you want your life to be, how you want your business to be, rather than letting the world happen to you. So really, the first step, the first breakthrough is when you have an uncomfortable conversation with yourself, where you stop looking to the outside circumstances, and you turn that lens back on yourself. And you say, what if I am the common denominator here? Now, I am not saying that you are always the problem.

(7:46 - 8:18)

Many times there are circumstances beyond our control that are just really bad luck or poor timing, and it has nothing to do with you creating that for yourself. But after nearly a decade of working with over 100 women, bringing in close to a million dollars in coaching revenue, in which no matter what the client has come to me for, we invariably end up working on mindset as well. Because it's what guides every decision, every action.

(8:18 - 8:44)

Our brain, after all, is what determines everything that we do. And after all this, I can tell you that 8 or even 9 times out of 10, this is the hidden saboteur that is keeping women from creating the uncommon life of their choosing. Not their busy schedules, or their underperforming employees, or their wishy-washy clients.

(8:44 - 9:06)

And this, that fact alone, is just so... Ugh. Right? Because it can keep you stuck without you even realizing that you're in it. Here you are, banging your head on the wall, comparing your current reality to your dreams, and thinking, ugh, I should be way closer by now.

(9:06 - 9:11)

I'm working so hard. I've been at this for a while. It's not that I'm just starting out.

(9:11 - 9:44)

Or maybe you are starting out, but you're looking at and hearing about other people who were starting out and blown past you with their results. And it's like, what do they know that I don't know? You're racking your brain trying to compare. Is it that she's a better writer? Or more creative? Maybe she's more magnetic or prettier than I am? What gives? But you see how all of those thoughts I just mentioned are a symptom of that same external focus? Thinking it's about, it's you looking outside.

(9:45 - 10:31)

You're trying to look outside of yourself, gather data from out there to solve the problem, rather than being like, hmm, what is my role in this? If you just heard my voice go, I was like tapping my chest as I was talking. What is my role in this? And by now you might be thinking, okay, if there are things going on I'm not happy about, and I'm willing to bravely have the hard conversation with myself and look at taking responsibility for what's going on, because otherwise you'll just be wasting your time and money and solving for the wrong thing. Like Lindy had already tried other things, she'd invested in expensive inventory management systems and several other things to try and help the situation.

(10:32 - 11:04)

Just like maybe you find yourself thinking the solution is, oh, I need to, whatever, invest in Facebook ads, redo my website, learn to overcome objections, invest in fancy project management software, which don't get me wrong, all have their place. And I'm not saying you're never going to work on those or that there's not room for actual skill building and bringing in smart technology, of course. And you lean into them with a very different energy.

(11:04 - 11:28)

When you don't think that your whole business is dependent on you, having that, you recognize that those are just the tool set you are choosing out of many different options that you could choose to create a next result from a really clean place. When your mindset is stuck, your strategy doesn't matter. You've got to make sure you're solving for the root issue.

(11:28 - 11:41)

Then what's the next step? The second breakthrough is when you realize that this is a recurring pattern. It's not a one-off circumstance. It's something you've seen for yourself again and again.

(11:41 - 12:01)

That is the key that lets you know if you need to work on something about your mind rather than on something tactical in your business or something strategy related in your business. Because this main issue coming up for you is something that's happened again and again. And you will feel a recognition when you think about that thing.

(12:01 - 12:16)

You'll feel a sagging of your shoulders and like, oh, that again. It's the kind of thing that almost doesn't surprise you when it happens. You're so used to it happening that you're kind of like, of course, and now this.

(12:16 - 12:37)

And those are the most energy-draining, demoralizing parts of business and life when you're feeling that weight and it's put you into that victim state of something that you can't change. So first, you want to turn the lens on yourself. And then second, you just want to confirm.

(12:37 - 12:52)

Is this a pattern? That's your next breakthrough. Sometimes it's a pattern that seems like outside occurrences or circumstances, like what I've been describing here with Lindy. But other times, it's a pattern of behavior that you see in yourself.

(12:52 - 13:17)

Maybe it is over-functioning, where you spin into overdrive when you get stressed. And you know that that's when you start dropping balls and the quality of your work declines and you start snapping at the people you love. Maybe your fears and doubts repeatedly run the show and they block you from doing the things you know you need to do in order to grow your business or step back from your business, depending on where you are.

(13:17 - 13:31)

Maybe you have a pattern of overthinking and uncertainty. And as much as you love to move through life decisively and powerfully, you just can't seem to do so. If you have a recurring pattern in your life, get help for that right away.

(13:32 - 13:49)

Because these don't just drive your behavior, they drive your outcomes, your results. They infiltrate the way you show up, the decisions you make, and the way you see the world. And the longer you remain the puppet in the show rather than the puppeteer, the longer you suffer the consequences.

(13:49 - 14:22)

Now for you, that might look like squashing your most brilliant ideas and overthinking before they've even seen the light of day. Or making yourself sick because you're so stressed all the time that your immune system is completely suppressed. Or getting all weird in sales moments because all you can think about is what if this doesn't work? For Lindy, she was stressed, exhausted, and didn't feel like she had the energy to pour into that store even one more day, let alone start rolling out other stores.

(14:23 - 14:40)

And so of course she wasn't rolling out your stores across the nation and reviving all of those areas and small towns that so desperately need it. And becoming silly rich, I'm sure you can imagine. So instead I asked her to fill in the blanks on this sentence.

(14:41 - 15:10)

If only I could just fill in the blank, then I could fill in the blank. And guess what she said? If only I could just get out of the weeds, then I'd finally have time to focus on the bigger picture strategy. So I'm going to pause a moment because she revealed a lot right there, and you can reveal a lot for yourself by asking yourself this very question.

(15:10 - 15:45)

She had been thinking that there were all of these other things outside of her control that made it impossible for her to move forward. When we started to talk, she realized that this was all part of a bigger pattern, keeping her from this dream of impacting small town America, and specifically keeping her from being able to do the big strategic thinking that she needed to do, the higher level thinking. She already knew that's what she needed to do if she ever wanted to achieve her dreams.

(15:46 - 16:08)

She just wasn't doing it. And so in that very sentence, we revealed both where a part of her brain felt most comfortable and wanted to stay, which was in the weeds, and what a part of her brain wanted to avoid, which was becoming the strategic thinker. This is not about logic, y'all.

(16:08 - 16:23)

This is about deep patterning, subconscious patterning. That doesn't have to be logical. I see that so often with women who really want to create that business that lets them go, huh, job well done, go me.

(16:24 - 16:39)

And the good news is they are just a few breakthroughs away from that. Once they realize, wait, I am being cleverly distracted from the real issue. This is about me and not really about today's brush fire.

(16:40 - 16:59)

And then they realize, wait, I can clearly see that this is a pattern. And then they realize, wait, I know exactly what feels scary to my brain and therefore why I've been using this pattern. It's because it keeps me in what I know.

(16:59 - 17:28)

The hard truth that Lindy was finally able to see clearly and freely admit to once the blinders were off is that she was scared to death of having to think strategically, of having that responsibility, and from being found out that she just wasn't very good at it. This is a woman who had excelled her entire life. She was a local girl who went off to the big school and worked at the big deal corporate job and now had come back to make this grand difference.

(17:28 - 17:52)

It's so much safer to say, oh, it's just impossible to juggle everything on my plate than it is to say, I tried to do this, but I suck at it. And as soon as I start meeting with all the vendors and investors and whomever else I'll need to make this vision a reality, they're going to be giving each other side-eye and chuckling behind my back and being like, yeah, right. Dream on, baby.

(17:53 - 18:04)

I mean, why change when your brain's getting all the dopamine hits from everyone around saying, oh, Lindy's trying to do the right thing. Oh my God, look how hard she works. Wow, I admire her.

(18:05 - 18:37)

But if she actually had the time and could make the big moves her business needed and then failed at it? Ugh. Now, on the one hand, if you were in Lindy's position, you might be tempted to just shake yourself. Are you kidding me? I have been doing all this cleaning and having these late nights and being stressed out by these dumpster fires to myself? Are you fucking kidding me? What is wrong with me? But my friend, we all go through this.

(18:38 - 18:59)

Despite what you hear in the shiny origin stories that you hear on podcasts or that you see on Instagram, every entrepreneur has been through this. And in fact, it's necessary to create real change. Entrepreneurship pulls it out of you, and your business succeeds as you work through your crap.

(18:59 - 19:15)

I've seen it over and over again. And so when you identify something like this, you need to say, good, now I have a clear issue to work on. Now I can get down to solving it rather than continuing to live in the situation I've been living.

(19:16 - 19:42)

You hire a coach or you get a mentor who's been there themselves and you pick their brain. Or if you want, you can just cross your fingers and listen to a bunch of podcasts and hope it just naturally resolves without having to actually do uncomfortable work or take any time or without having to invest money. Because after all, you should be able to figure it out for yourself, right? Which always makes me scratch my head, because even a brain surgeon can't do surgery on herself.

(19:43 - 19:58)

And trying to see things in new ways and see the tricky tactics and patterns and distractions your brain will come up with from inside the very brain that's creating them. I mean, I don't know. I personally choose the one of the first two.

(19:59 - 20:29)

I always have a coach to help me and I seek out mentors whenever I can as well. I want people who will help me zoom past and keep performing at my highest level. I surround myself with colleagues who are also working on themselves so that I can see that it's possible, so that I can learn from people who've gone through what I'm now going through, and I can also deepen into the new knowledge I've created by sharing it with others.

(20:30 - 20:41)

Other women who are just now starting to work on that thing that I worked through. Working on your brain is a lot like working on your body. You need to put in the reps.

(20:41 - 20:49)

You need to put in the right reps in the right way. I'm a person who has done decades of yoga. I have an extremely strong core.

(20:50 - 21:12)

And if I'm on my own at the gym, I'll do a lot of core work and leg work because it's easy for me. It feels right in my body when I'm doing it. But work on those super small muscles in my upper body where I'm lifting a little bag of nuts or something, and yet somehow I'm all tired? No.

(21:13 - 21:27)

No, thank you. Right? I will only do that stuff with a trainer, let alone identifying which muscle I need to work on. I remember once my back was hurting, and then the physical therapist was like, oh, no, no, no.

(21:27 - 21:38)

It's your left glute that's the problem. I'm like, huh? How is that even related? Which is the same thing I have people ask me. Because this is my area of expertise.

(21:38 - 22:00)

And so it makes sense to me, I'll assign a client something to focus on or do in their business, and they'll be like, but wait, wait, wait. How is that related? Or aren't I supposed to X, Y, Z? Right? Didn't you tell me six months ago that I should be working on this? And yes, in that moment. But now you've got your glutes firing the way they need to be.

(22:00 - 22:25)

And what we need to be working on now is this part over here, because that's what's going to set you up perfectly later to hit that goal over there. So many business owners try to work on something up here, metaphorically, I'm like holding my hand in the air now, without realizing it's not going to create the results they want unless they first work on this other piece over here. Now, often we can work on things in tandem.

(22:26 - 22:37)

For instance, mindset. Really, we should always be working on our minds. They are the single greatest asset and are our single biggest revenue potential.

(22:38 - 22:49)

Single biggest. So that's why in my programs, with the curriculums that I have, I always have mindset training at the beginning of each module. In the Clarity Accelerator, it is set up perfectly.

(22:50 - 24:08)

The training is always related exactly to the things that tend to trip people up when they're working on that specific part of their business. Whether it is clarity on your next level zone of genius that's ready to be unleashed into the world now, or how exactly that's going to determine the next moves that you're making, or if it's refining who your best clients really are, whatever it is, I have seen the issues and the objections and the self-sabotaging beliefs that tend to appear as we consider these different aspects of our business and as we move forward in the deeper and deeper declaration of what we're really about and what we're going after and how we're going to get there. Because look, if your deeper operating system is telling you to always be a nice person, but what's called for in your business is to stop letting people take advantage of you, then when it comes time to do the actual doing of that, such as having the tough conversation or whatever it may be, your brain is going to come up with objections, right? Because it wants to bring you back into what you know to be true, what has worked for you, and that is being a nice person, even if it's to your detriment, even if it's sabotaging your business.

(24:09 - 24:26)

The problem is we don't see it when we're in it. It always sounds like a perfectly logical reason to not do the thing we need to do or not do it in the way we need to do it. Now, the good news is that once you are onto yourself, you can create change.

(24:27 - 24:45)

Lindy did. I have this iconic moment of her stuck in my head where she was telling me about it. Now remember, this is the woman who was in her oldest clothes because she never knew what she was going to have to get into at work, cleaning up green beans in the supermarket aisle.

(24:46 - 25:26)

Fast forward several months and she's wearing this very elegant but powerful sleeveless black top, seeing herself as the strategic visionary thinker she is because, of course, you don't get into a business like that creating that kind of vision without being that way. It's just that for several reasons, things that had happened throughout her life, she had never come to think of herself in that way and had never given herself a chance to think in that way. Once she actually created the space to do so, it was so funny because she just offhandedly referred to like, well, obviously I can't do that because I'm the strategic thinker here.

(25:26 - 25:41)

I'm the one that needs to be thinking about this next thing coming down the road and she'd just be rattling this stuff off to me as if she had always thought that way. It is a beautiful thing to see. Now you can hear her tell her story herself in an early episode of this podcast.

(25:42 - 25:55)

We're going to link to it in the episode description. Go take a listen because when we're growing a business, anyone's growing a business, we really need to just hear, hey, this happens to everyone. No big deal.

(25:55 - 26:15)

What separates out the people that move forward the fastest from those who stay stuck are the ones who can spot it the most quickly. Either they spot it or someone spots it for them. And of course, if you're having someone help you spot it, then you also want to make sure they understand the science of brain change.

(26:15 - 26:40)

Hopefully the latest neuroscience-backed methods that have been shown to create the most effective change using the whole brain because of course back in the day, all we had was therapy, right? We'd go to therapy for 20 years and hope we saw some sort of measurable result. As we know now, insight alone rarely changes behavior. There's a default mechanism that keeps us repeating the past.

(26:40 - 27:13)

And that operating system directs all of our perceptions, our preferences, our decisions, our desires. But nowadays we can test tactics and then we can go look at them in an fMRI and actually see the brain changing, which is such a gift and a blessing and is allowing more and more women to move into the 2.0 or the 3.0 version of themselves. You know, if someone in the future is listing out the greatest milestones or breakthroughs of mankind, womankind, this is going to be on there.

(27:14 - 27:31)

How we learned that we have so much power to reinvent ourselves and create change with our minds. Our brains are not only malleable, they are self-malleable. And this is the most useful work in our lives, not just for business owners.

(27:32 - 27:48)

Because no matter what you do, you can't outwork a belief system that is wired against your success. You can't diet your way to skinny if your brain is wired against it. You can't hustle your way to ease if your brain is wired against it.

(27:48 - 28:28)

You can't save your way to wealth if your brain is wired against it. Which is why this is such an important topic and why in this episode, I've helped you identify if you are getting in your own way, if that's the problem you need to be focusing on in your business. As evidenced by patterns you just can't seem to get away from, I've shown you the three breakthroughs that shift you out of that and into the business you really want, which are that you realize there's a pattern, and then you realize what the pattern is and what exactly your brain is trying to avoid.

(28:29 - 28:52)

Isn't this stuff fun? I think this stuff is so fun. I get so excited talking about what's possible, especially when it comes to these identity pieces. And once you realize it is possible, then of course you know that every hour spent grinding through resisting change is a tax you pay for not rewiring your brain.

(28:52 - 29:15)

All right, my friend, thank you so much for listening. I hope it has given you a lot of clarity on what's going on in your business right now, whether or not it truly is about you getting in your own way. And if you liked this episode, please share it with a friend, somebody that you think would also like it and that you think could use this little bit of perspective today.

(29:15 - 29:37)

Have a great week, and let's talk again on Tuesday. Thanks for joining us here at The Uncommon Way. If you want more tips and resources for developing clarity in your business and life, including the Clarity First strategy for growing and scaling your business, visit theuncommonway.com. See you next time.

Support at The Uncommon Way 7/22/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 7/22/25

Ep 159: Lady Luck

Press play now to shift from “Why isn’t this working?” to your own unstoppable uncommon way.

Episode Summary

Press play now to shift from “Why isn’t this working?” to your own unstoppable uncommon way.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: [00:00:00] What if there was one simple shift that could get more luck flowing towards you and your business? Welcome to the three-day work Week, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like, without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo, to help you work smarter, leap boldly, and find true balance.

Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome back to the podcast. I've got a little story for you today. It's all about luck. Oh my gosh. We love it when Lady Luck seems to be shining her light on us and hate it when she seems to leave us. It's like there's no room for seasonality. We just want it all the time. Am I right?

Or maybe that's just me. My son, Dylan, has just recently discovered the game Uno, the card game. He's seven and a half. He acts like he's 12. I have [00:01:00] no idea why this didn't land for him before. But anyway, now is the moment. So we have been having some marathon family Uno games here in our home, which is great because it has been boiling hot outside.

But there was the most interesting dynamic going on this morning. We were at a tiebreaker match. My son had won a game. I had won a game, and my husband had won a game. Now, of course, my son is very, very competitive, so he had conveniently forgotten that he had won a game. He was convinced that everybody else was winning except him, as we were heading into this tiebreaker match.

So it was really comical watching him with all of the sound effects that would come along with every card he drew, drew with everything that was played. He'd either be elated or crushed. And by this point, I hate to say it, maybe you're gonna judge me, but I was trying to help him win. I did not [00:02:00] wanna win that match.

Now, not because I'm trying to shelter him from disappointment, but because when we play, I tend to win. And frankly, he's so hyperactive that it's been wonderful having just a quiet family game where we can sit and play. And I know that if he got too demotivated, he wouldn't do that anymore. But I have to tell you, no matter what happened.

It would work out that I kept having to put down a draw two, or my husband would have to put down a draw four when it was Dylan Stern. And so he kept having to collect all these cards, and he was getting angrier and angrier, and I got to the point where I just couldn't contain my laughter because it was like, you couldn't even script this.

Oh, you couldn't plan it this way. Maybe I didn't have a yellow card to put down, and so I went to the deck to pick up a card, and what is the one yellow card? A draw two yellow card. So I had to play the card. I put the card down. Dylan, of course, his face is crushed. He's all crushed, all a drawing his [00:03:00] two cards, but started to become so funny, even when we would reverse and go back in the other direction so that I wouldn't be giving Dylan the bad cards.

The same thing would happen with my husband. As I was reflecting on this, I was thinking about how my husband and I were playing it as if it were a game. We really weren't attached to the outcome. It really doesn't mean that much in our world, whether or not we win or lose, UNO in the family, but for us, it was like we couldn't lose.

Meanwhile, Dylan was so attached to the outcome, and it was as if he was just repelling all of the good cards, and I started to think. This is such a great analogy for business, too. And so today I just wanted to leave you with this one little thing that you can take forward in the week as you're going about your business activities.

Thinking about what if I were thinking of this as just an UNO game, right? An UNO game where it's [00:04:00] actually fun sometimes, where you get down to Uno and then have to draw more cards, and then you're trying to work your way back. That adds to the enjoyment. It prolongs the game. And of course, there are times when there are very dire consequences.

On the other side of our bad luck, I do not wanna minimize that. But most often in the clients I've seen, the stakes aren't as high as our brains are making them seem. We put a lot of meaning into things that really aren't life and death. So if you have been feeling a bit of heaviness. In your business, some frustration, maybe even feeling like luck is turned against you.

Then whatever you're currently doing isn't working. And so what could you lose by just trying this for one week? Let's all do this together. What would I do? How would I play this card? How would I make this move if this were as [00:05:00] light and fun as an Uno game? Alright, one last note before I leave you today.

I would like to apologize for a little snafu. Now, in the episode last week, I said that we were going to put a poll on Instagram that day, and I encourage you to go over and choose your favorite title. Well, unfortunately, that poll did not get posted on Tuesday when this episode drops. So if you'll gimme a second chance, I would be so grateful to hear what you think.

All right. Thank you so much for tuning in today. I look forward to being with you again next week. Let's talk again on Tuesday.

Thanks for joining us here at The Uncommon Way. If you want more tips and resources for developing clarity in your business and life, including the Clarity first strategy for growing and scaling your business, visit the uncommon [00:06:00] way.

Support at The Uncommon Way 7/15/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 7/15/25

Ep 158: How to Fix a Broken Lead Gen Strategy in 3 Simple Steps (aka How I Booked Out a Podcast Tour in 6 Weeks) : Business Streamlining for Work-Life Balance

Have you ever followed expert advice to the letter… only to feel more off-track than ever?

If you’ve been trying to “market smarter” and follow all the right strategies—but something just isn’t clicking—this episode is for you. I grabbed my voice recorder on my morning walk (recorded right from the Mallorca countryside) to reveal how I broke my own lead gen strategy… and the powerful steps that fixed it fast.

Episode Summary

Have you ever followed expert advice to the letter… only to feel more off-track than ever?

In this episode you will:

Find out what happened when I followed expert advice—and how it nearly derailed things.
Discover the hidden cost of trying to “market smarter”—and why your energy might be more powerful than your strategy.
Learn the subtle mindset shift that helped me go from podcast pitch rejections to a fully booked guest lineup in one month.

Press play now to shift from “Why isn’t this working?” to your own unstoppable uncommon way.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: [00:00:00] In this episode, I'm taking you on my morning walk and sharing how I lost my way figuratively in the business, not literally as I was walking. I'll be sharing how you can fix a broken lead generation strategy and how using this formula allowed me to turn a podcast tour that had totally flopped. Into a booked out success in just six weeks.

Welcome to the three day work week, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo, to help you work smarter leap boldly and find true balance.

Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome to the three day work week. I've got a little something different for you today. I was taking a morning walk after dropping my son at summer camp, and I just thought I'd pull out my phone and record something on my voice recorder. So obviously you'll notice a difference in audio quality, but I hope you [00:01:00] still enjoy it because I hope that this story helps you learn from my mistakes and this strategy helps you create great success.

Starting today. You're gonna find out what happened when I followed expert advice. How it nearly derailed things. You'll discover the hidden cost of trying to market smarter and why your energy might be more powerful than your strategy, and you'll learn the subtle mindset shift that helped me go from podcast pitch rejections to a fully booked guest tour in about a month, six weeks before we dive in.

A point on that. In my audio, I said it was about a month, but I think it was more like six weeks. Just full transparency. And also something that I forgot to mention that is so important. It's not just that I booked more guest spots, it's that I booked more aligned guest spots. When I made the change, the people that came back and said, [00:02:00] yes, please come on our show.

Were actually people whose show I would wanna be on. In fact, I was just on one. It was so good. It just felt like pure alignment. It was a guest panel and every other entrepreneur on there, I, we were just, there was this man, he was so wise, he was sharing so much wisdom. And then there was just a lot of fun, rapport and laughter.

And I'll share that in my newsletter sometime after it finally comes out. It led to good things all around, not just the numbers. Numbers are important, but in my mind, quality over quantity. This other piece is even more important. So without further ado, I hope you enjoy this morning, walk through the Mallorca countryside.

Welcome. Welcome everyone. I thought I would try something different this morning and bring you with me on my morning walk. So I dropped my son off at summer camp out in the countryside, and I saw a trail and I thought, oh yeah, I'm gonna [00:03:00] do it. And oh, it's so beautiful. I wish you could see it. I'm gonna.

Actually, I'll take a picture. I'll put it on, uh, on the socials. But I thought today I'd just bring you as I'm thinking about something that happened recently that I know can serve you as well, because it has to do with really going back to your roots, which is what I'm, the theme that I'm getting is I'm walking here through the country with the olive trees, and even though it's like smack dab in the middle of summer, there are still these gorgeous little blue wildflowers, like a corn flower blue that are hopping, popping up.

In the middle of stones, right in the middle of this kind of mm, sort of dusty path that I'm on walking through a, looks like some orchards of some sort. I can't tell what these trees are, but they're definitely olive trees that just grow natively around here and getting back to our roots. [00:04:00] What happened is I hired some consultants, which.

I love their great people, but they were helping me grow the podcast. And what happened is that it wasn't growing as quickly as they would've liked and as quickly as my retention time would indicate. So retention time is how long somebody spends actually listening to your podcast if they listen to the end or if they drop off in the middle.

And so usually when you see that people are actually listening to the end, then. It grows over time because as more and more people come on, they start also sticking around and listening to the end. So they suggested that I narrow the focus, which is when the three day work week was born. I still love the three day work week.

I think that it is just. Emblematic of what you can do when you stretch your mind and really [00:05:00] lean into an imagine possibility and then reverse engineer your way there. I also love that it's not. Money focused because while we all love money, there's just too much meaning put on it, too much scarcity around it.

It creates a lot of destructive behaviors. If you haven't done your work around money, I. But time is so much more precious than money, and while of course we don't have to work a three day work week, what is interesting is this idea of creating more life even outside of your business. So I. With that, we started looking at ways to, of course, niche down the podcast, uh, so that people would have a really burning pain point specifically of feeling overworked, feeling overwhelmed, which a lot of my people do, but a lot of my people are also feeling.

Uncertain or [00:06:00] stuck, and so many things that come up as a general business coach, as somebody that helps with a lot of things. You know, I help with the tactics, of course, the strategies, but also mindset, but also energetics, but also the nervous system. And this is something that drives the pro marketers.

Crazy, right? They want to really niche us down and put us into a nice little box that can be tied up with a bow. So you all, I really lost my way because I, of all people should have realized that this was what was starting to happen. But I told myself in the moment, this is a fun experiment. Let's just see.

Well, guess what? The numbers started going down on the podcast, not up as predicted. And I'll tell you another thing that happened as I was pitching, um, to be [00:07:00] guests on other podcasts, we had crafted a really like dynamic pitch letter and they'd helped me come up with these titles that were very like bold and attention grabbing, right?

But they were. Also a little click Beatty, I have to say a little bro. And we were not seeing the positive response rate that they had seen with other clients of theirs. Now, other clients of theirs are maybe selling a very specific niche like. Gut health or something. And I of course am talking to a really, really saturated market business coaching for women.

And I have a very general approach. So we started implementing this three day work week pitch with really targeted, powerful pitch topics, three of them. And we weren't seeing the, the results that we would've expected. So I [00:08:00] finally kind of had a. Come back to my roots moment and I thought, I am just going to, I'm gonna craft a letter that is to these people that I'd like to be on their podcast.

That's really more speaking from the heart, and I'm just going to tell them a few different aspects of my story that I could be sharing with their listeners that I really think would bring value, right? And. Guess what I am now booked out on as a podcast guest through September with one to two podcasts a week, and I'm, I have some sporadic ones that go all the way through February.

I. And this was within one month maybe, of having changed the pitch letter. So the moral of the story is that what we've all known to be true or hoped to be true. It just got reinforced for [00:09:00] me. Like, we really have to find our uncommon way. And even when the experts and the pros and the specialists tell you otherwise, and you start falling into the mindset or the the thought pattern of I have to right, or I should, let me do it this way.

We give away so much of our agency, of course our power, but also. The energetic touch, right? That frequency that is uniquely ours and it backfires. Um, I've seen it with clients that have come to me from that place and then want something different, and now I really got to experience it for myself in a way that I haven't done since the early parts of my business.

So if this is you. No shame. It happens to all of us. It's tempting. It's tantalizing. Wouldn't it be [00:10:00] great if we just do it this way? And then all of the growth happens immediately, right? Like where is the shortcut? But I also have to tell you some of the topics that I've been talking about lately. I haven't been looking forward to the podcast, to doing, to creating the podcast as much as I used to.

And. They were starting to feel a little forced, which is the opposite of how we wanna spend our days in our business, in this business that means so much to us and lights us up and is our our calling, right? It's the thing that we really wanna be spending our days doing. If our time is valuable, if our life is valuable, we wanna be spending our days doing something that counts and doing something that matters.

And let's all get back to that, shall we? So this is my little pep talk to you if you are on that path, just to keep going, to actually know, to lean in even [00:11:00] further to what you are really about, to believe that you are enough, that that frequency of yours, that gift of yours, that superpower of yours, that is gold.

That is enough, and the more that we go back to that and believe in that, the more success finds us. Hey again, Zoe, in the original title, I promise, the three simple steps for fixing a broken lead generation strategy. Obviously, I don't want clickbait, so I'm gonna give them to you now, but I'm also gonna ask for your help in naming this episode.

I'll tell you about that in a sec. So if you're listening in the future and you wanna see the original title, 'cause you don't know what I'm talking about right now, you can see it in the episode description because I'm curious, would you have been as likely to click play if there wasn't a direct benefit [00:12:00] to you in the title?

You know, a three step formula to solve a specific pain point? This really underscores the line that we need to walk as entrepreneurs nowadays. Our human non-AI generated content is going to be even more important than it ever was. People will want connection even more than before to real humans, and I've seen it over and over and over again that it's really our energy that sells.

And the rest is just supporting documents. Really, it's just supporting tactics. But our brains don't always work in perfect benefits. Focus three step processes, right? At least my a DH brain doesn't I. In fact, I'm sure you heard that in all the tangents I went down as I was wandering along on my walk.

For me, that kind of thinking that comes after the fact, right after the download when I'm been thinking or I've been reflecting for a while, but then by the time I deliver that and then condense it [00:13:00] down so it's concise and actionable, it's never gonna be as raw and real as the original would've been.

So I am going to be playing around with mixing in both and maybe some hybrid models, which is what this episode is like. Those three takeaways at the beginning of the episode that I said you would learn, those were created by chat GPT, and they're really good. Of course, I've taught chat, GPT how to sound like me and exactly what I want in those bullets.

So there's some of me in there too, but it was designed after the fact to help you see the benefit of listening to this episode. So this is just a really fun time to be an entrepreneur. You know, we're in a period of so much change and we're forging new paths on the fly, and really walking that line between sound business practices on the one hand, and our most authentic giving on the other.

Because authentic giving or being real, whatever [00:14:00] you wanna call it, if that's too unstructured, it can lead to a whole lot of output with not a lot of business results. I think most of us have experienced that in the beginning of our businesses. I. But also sound of business practices. If they are taken too far, turn into, you know, this detached sensationalist bro marketing that makes you wanna cringe and look around in amazement and be like, how can this stuff actually work?

Right on the tabloids, on the news channels. There's a, a podcast here. I don't know if it's popular in the States, but so a couple friends, a few different people have told me, I've just got to listen to this, and it's called Diary of a CEO. And this person interviews thought leaders and experts in their field.

And there's a different topic each show, but the titles for these episodes are so sensationalist. Here I'm gonna pull some up. Oh, here's a good one. World War III threat [00:15:00] assessment. The war has quietly started and no one's trying to stop it. Here's another one. Would you still love them if you came off the pill?

Your hormones are controlling you. Like I scrolled through these and I looked at my friend, I'm like, I just would never listen to that. I do not agree with titles like this. And she said, oh, but yeah, no, the titles are really awful. But if you actually listen to the episode, the episodes are really good for me.

I. I'm just not even gonna click on it. I just already don't like the energy of this podcast. Now watch, I'll actually listen to the podcast an episode and be like, I love this. But anyway, right now I'm keeping my distance. So to find out what we like, I am proposing a little fun and a little experiment right now.

Go to my Instagram at the Uncommon Way, pull up the stories, and you'll see a poll with three alternate titles for this episode. Let's see what style [00:16:00] you like best, and we'll see which one wins out and we'll come back and we'll change this episode title. It'll be fun because of course, I have now learned the hard way that I only care about finding the overlap between what my listeners like and what I like that may or may not fit best business practices.

If you have any thoughts on any of this, like if you really liked the ramble part of this episode, more than the more structured, more focused part here at the end, or if there's a point in the past that you really liked when of, you know, when I was doing a certain thing, please shoot me a dm. I would be eternally grateful to receive that inspiration.

I can sense that I'm in a a point of a lot of. Coming together of loose ends of things that have been going on over the year and also this rapid change. And I, of course want you to be a part of it. So let's now dive into those three steps that I promised. Step one, [00:17:00] step away from the have tos. We have been raised since little girls that this is how we have to do things.

And when I see women doing that in business, it just seems like a very old story. I mean, yeah, it's 2025. Yeah. We get to have our businesses and make our own money now. Yay. We're still forcing ourselves into non-natural ways of being. And the crazy thing is that they don't even work better necessarily.

You know, the bro marketers may wanna put us in a box with a bow, but your genius doesn't fit in one. And so as a first step, you gotta be okay with that to fix a strategy that's not working. Brave enough to find your uncommon way. If you don't know how to do that, I'd love to help you unlock it and amplify it through all areas of your business.

Step two, believe that that uncommon way is enough. You are here for something, is a part of you that wants to shine through you [00:18:00] and your work. That's to unearth it and then to lean into it and keep bringing more and more of it. Because you may be at the point where you're like, oh, no, no, no. I'm willing to do things my way.

I don't have to follow any rules. But if you aren't believing that your secret sauce is what they want and will ultimately guarantee your success, you'll not only flounder, but you'll lack the unique and cohesive messaging, and that inspires your audience and clients to make a change. You're not here to fit in.

You're here to bring more of you to the table. In a bigger way and a more impactful way. And step three, be a human connect with humans. When you try to be strategic at the expense of your soul, your audience feels it. There are people researching the effect of AI now, right? Can human subconsciously detect what's written by AI versus a human?[00:19:00]

And do they lean in closer when it's actually from a human? From what I am seeing and the conversations I've been having with other contemporaries of mine, the answer is yes. Human content wins out, and believe me, I understand the draw of ai, especially when times get busy and you're looking for efficiency.

It is extremely useful, don't get me wrong, but use it judiciously. Maybe with some of the time that you would be pumping out all of this AI generated content, you use that to create one quality, whatever, post email, podcast message letter to a human. Because first and foremost, humans buy from humans. They make purchasing decisions based on trust and resonance really, you can't go wrong selling to humans.

Humans are the most likely to buy from you, so sell to them. Okay, my friend. That's it for today. Have a great week. Let's talk again [00:20:00] on Tuesday.

Thanks for joining us here at The Uncommon Way. If you want more tips and resources for developing clarity in your business and life, including the clarity first strategy for growing and scaling your business, visit the uncommon way com. See you next time.

Support at The Uncommon Way 7/8/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 7/8/25

Ep 157: How to AI-Proof Your Business : Business Streamlining for Work Life Balance

Could AI might make your business obsolete?

If you've ever wondered how to stay relevant in an era where ChatGPT can write sales copy and AI “coaches” are popping up for $44, this episode is a wake-up call. But not in the doomscroll-y, panic-inducing way you’re used to. Instead, you’ll explore an unexpected approach to AI-proofing your business—one that goes deeper than tools or tactics and gives you a lasting edge in a rapidly changing market.

Episode Summary

Could AI might make your business obsolete?

In this episode you will:

Learn how to turn fear of AI takeover into your most powerful thought leadership yet
Discover the surprising truth behind just being yourself and what your content might really be missing instead
Hear a personal example of how one moment of, “I don't have time for this right now!” turned into the breakthrough that inspired this episode

Press play now to shift from anxious about the future to lit up by it.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: [00:00:00] In this episode, you'll discover how to AI proof your business. The only way to future proof your business from ai. Welcome to the three day work week, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo, to help you work smarter leap boldly and find true balance.

Let's dive in. Welcome. Welcome back to the Three Day Workweek Podcast from The Uncommon Way. In this episode, we are covering something that is on everyone's mind. With AI's incredible potential, will my business survive? How can I ensure that my business will endure, even though AI will be able to do or perform more and more of the things that I used to sell?

Don't worry, I. In this episode, you will learn to transform fear of [00:01:00] AI takeover into your best thought leadership. Yet you'll discover the surprising truth behind just be yourself and what your content might really be missing instead, and hear a personal example of how, one moment of, I don't have time for this.

Turned into the breakthrough that inspired this episode. Oh, I hope your summer is just going divinely at the time of this recording. We're gearing up for a 4th of July party at our house. This is the first 4th of July since we moved here, which is bittersweet since our country's going through such a challenging and dark time at the moment.

But this is the first July 4th since we moved here. Since we didn't arrive until the 15th, last summer and we found our way into such a beautiful international community, and so we thought, wouldn't it be fun to bring them over and have them experience like a summer [00:02:00] American barbecue? Now I know they're all probably thinking we're gonna get some traditional like.

Smoked meat type of right. Traditional barbecue. But no, Ben is from Texas. You know, that's only acceptable. Barbecue has been smoked for hours and hours in a big iron container. He would not be caught dead serving anything less than that. So, no, we're doing burgers and sausages, keeping it easy. We're having some friends bring side dishes.

Now what I am doing is making my personal summer favorite, which is a fresh berry pie. I cannot wait, especially since here in summer, the fruit is just so good. And I'm also gonna try making, well, actually, I already made them, I just haven't tested them yet. But we're making these red, white, and blue pop, so crushed up fresh strawberries, yogurt, and then crushed up fresh blueberries.

And yeah, we're all just gonna hang out by the pool here and, and chill. [00:03:00] And speaking of chilling, some of us are not really feeling chill about our business in this moment. I've been hearing a lot of little twittering about what's to come with ai? Will my business actually be viable? What if it's not, what can I do to future proof it?

And I'm not saying those fears are unfounded. I saw a headline the other day that says Microsoft has some AI based diagnostic software. That was shown to outperform doctors incorrectly diagnosing a person's issue. Something like four to one. Don't quote me on that, but enough to make a good headline. And in the coaching industry, I've seen people selling these little custom GPTs for like $44.

The promise to incorporate all of this personal information about you, and then you have your own coach forever and ever after just setting it up for just 15 minutes. I [00:04:00] mean, it's crazy. How do we adapt to that and how can we put our minds at ease so that we can enjoy our summer, but also feel calm and secure enough that we can actually tap in to the problem solving and the inspiration that we need right now more than ever.

Because if not, we're creating this cycle of a negative self-fulfilling prophecy where my business is going to, pot times are hard. Everyone sees it, people aren't buying, and then we're showing up with that convincing energy and it just not making a sale. And then it's reinforcing that, see, everything is changing and it serves no one.

It doesn't serve you. It doesn't serve your clients, it doesn't serve anyone else who's looking around to see what everyone else is doing. So here's an invitation to step into a different way of thinking about this, my friend. This is a [00:05:00] great problem to have. The universe is always giving us opportunities to clarify our secret sauce, what we and only we bring into the world.

That is the work that we do At the Uncommon way. If we were never presented with obstacles, we wouldn't reach even half of the growth that's available to us. Half of the greatness that is available to us. Obstacles don't really feel good in the moment. We know this, but luckily we have a higher self, a higher level of consciousness that knows.

That what doesn't kill us, makes us who we are, makes us stronger. This current environment is bringing up great questions for you to ponder. I believe the greatest questions of your life, and even if you've thought of them before, you've thought through them before my friend, are now a different person that you were when you thought through [00:06:00] them with this new brain, with these new experiences, with this new evolved consciousness.

You get, you get to reconsider what is it that I do that no one else, no computer can do, and or where is there an opportunity for me to deepen this in a way, or expand this in a way, or change this up in a way that no person or computer could do it. These are the times when you come up with that deeper clarity for yourself when you lean more fully into belief about what it is that you're selling when you come up with the great offers.

This happened to me just the other day. I went to get a massage and it was the most amazing, by the way, when I had a client come over for a VIP day, I really wanted to get her a massage at this place that I'd heard about, which is in caves right by the sea. You can [00:07:00] hear the water lapping against the rocks the whole time you're getting the massage.

I mean, come on. But unfortunately, they didn't open the caves until after she had arrived because they're never sure if it's gonna be warm enough at that in May. And so I remember just at the last minute, I was like, well, you know what? Let me just book one for myself so that I can experience it and know for sure that this is the place where I would wanna send clients.

And then when it finally came to the day, I had all sorts of things going on. It was just one of those moments where you're like, oh my gosh, I need to take three and a half hours outta my day. Like, I need a hole in my head. You know, this is, I'm not even gonna be able to enjoy it. You know, those thoughts that come up.

But guess what? It was amazing. It was so beautiful. That sea was so relaxing and they just went above and beyond. And then I got to sit out afterwards with this amazing fruit and chocolate plate and a fresh [00:08:00] fruit juice and just enjoy looking at the sea. And it's actually this hotel's right down the hill from my house.

I mean, how am I gonna keep myself from going there every week? I don't know. Anyway, it ended up being just what I needed and on the way back, for some reason I was thinking about how people say, just show up and be yourself. Just show up and be yourself online. And I realized right then it is what it's about, but it's also not what it's about in terms of the work I do.

Because of course there's always room for us to be ourselves and we wanna get to know the people that we're interested in working with. But let me read you what I wrote down, what I jotted in my phone. It's not just be more you. It's bring more of you, right? Tap into that well of potential. Unlock that next phase.

Tap into your greatness. And I have seen it over and over again with myself and with [00:09:00] all the women I've worked with up about a hundred now. And that every hard knock, every conundrum. Presents the opportunity to source even more deeply into your brilliance and understand for yourself as well, right? What am I here to give?

What is my greatest potential? What am I capable of? And those are great questions. And also it's just a great energy to bring yourself into when you feel your mind going down the negativity slide. How is this working for me? What is this here to help me see? And of course, if you would like help clarifying all of that, bringing it into your business in tactical ways and getting outside perspectives to help you accelerate your understanding of it yourself, come join us in the Clarity Accelerator.

There's a link in the show notes for us to have a personal call, and I would love to get [00:10:00] to know you and talk through how you could use. These tools to accelerate your business and personal growth. All right, my friend, sending a big hug and you got this. Let's talk again on Tuesday.

Support at The Uncommon Way 7/1/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 7/1/25

Ep 156: Steal the Game Changing. Takeaways I Learned Investing With 5 Elite Business Coaches : Business Streamlining for Work-Life Balance

What really moves the needle in a business at a high level… and what’s just noise? I’ve tested it all so you can skip the fluff.

If you’ve wondered what it’s like inside the most exclusive business coaching programs and what you’d learn from them—this episode is your sneak peek behind the curtain. You’ll hear my top takeaways from working with five of the industry’s most elite business coaches so you can not only scratch the itch of curiosity, but start applying my takeaways to your business immediately (and for much less)!

Episode Summary

What really moves the needle in a business at a high level… and what’s just noise? I’ve tested it all so you can skip the fluff.

In this episode you you will:

Learn what the top 1% of entrepreneurs are doing in $100K masterminds—it’s probably not what you think
Learn what one of the world’s best ads strategists said is the thing you MUST get right to be successful with digital advertising
Hear the coaching moment that finally freed Jenna from the fear of “saying the wrong thing”—and launched this very podcast

Press play to start designing the intentional workweek that lets you earn, live and enjoy summer on your terms.

Resources Mentioned:

“How Many Hours Could You Gain Back?” Quiz: Find out how many hours you could shave off your workweek and the biggest opportunity in your business for gaining hours right now. Take the quiz

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Power & Potency: Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: (0:00 - 3:34) In this episode, you'll peek behind the curtain into the most exclusive programs of five of the world's top business coaches and find out the most important and business-transforming things that I learned from each one. Welcome to the three-day workweek, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like, without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo to help you work smarter, lead boldly, and find true balance. Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome back to the three-day workweek. I was on a discovery call with a new client last week, and she asked me, who are the coaches I've learned from? And I thought, that's a really good question. But also, the answer to that question and the details behind it are things that my clients have loved hearing about. So, I realized, I'm sure you will too. I am the person who takes my business very seriously, and I always want to work with the best of the best. If I perceive there's some area where I have a knowledge gap, or the business is possibly underperforming, I go find the person who really understands that subject matter, and then I work with them in their most exclusive program, because I want access not only to their knowledge, and of course, their direct assistance in applying that knowledge, but I want to be around them, and I really want to absorb the way they think, and the way they act. And sometimes, I've learned the most from a coach's completely offhand comment, something that I never would have heard otherwise. Now, I've also worked with great coaches for mindset, for energetics, for somatics. Some of you may not even know what that last one is, that's okay. But if I had included all of those people, this would have turned into an epic episode. So, I'm keeping my focus on business coaches, because I want to keep these episodes really bite-sized for you. So, in this episode, you will learn what the top 1% of entrepreneurs are doing in those $100,000 masterminds. It's probably not what you think. And you'll learn what one of the world's best ad strategists said is the thing you must get right to be successful with digital advertising.

And you'll hear the coaching moment that finally freed me from the fear of doing the wrong thing, and is responsible for me launching this very podcast. But before we dive in, thank you to everyone who participated in our Summer Days of Deals. I hope that you had as much fun as I did.

I'm so excited to work with you and to see the results you create. If you missed it, or are listening to this episode at some future date, you can go to theuncommonway.com forward slash D-O-D bonus, that's Days of Deals bonus, to be notified about our next round of really fun 24-hour-only offers that are often one-of-a-kind, may never be released again, or there's just some really cool deal or bonus for one of our other offers. You just never know.

It's just always fun surprises, because I always just lean into my intuition and what I've been hearing from my people, and I just roll with it. All right, that link will be in the show notes. And so now, let's get down to it.

(3:35 - 5:07) Okay, the first coach that I'll talk about is actually my current coach, but she was my first business coach as well. Her name is Louisa Zhou, that's Z-H-O-U. And I came to her after a couple of years in my business.

I had been trying to DIY everything myself. I'd been taking a bunch of different courses and treating them as if they were my full-time job, rather than actually doing client-getting activities. I was really in the consumption and the studying mode.

But then I had my child, and all of a sudden, I realized that I had recreated the life of my mom, because I really wasn't bringing in income, and I'd eaten through all the savings I had from my years in corporate, so I was completely dependent on my husband. And that sent all sorts of alarm bells ringing in my head. I'm sure that many of you independent women can relate to this.

And that was the turning point when I decided everything had to change, and that I was going to hire myself a top-notch business coach. And it was from her that I learned how important mindset was, but also your energy and the energetics behind your business, which is not what I thought I was getting myself into. I sought her out because she was a Princeton-trained engineer, she was very left-brained, and I thought that would be the perfect counterpoint to the way my brain worked.

(5:07 - 9:50) I wanted someone who would really help me be disciplined, be able to do the math and tweak the funnel numbers and really analyze everything down to the T and the I, because at the time, I felt really insecure in those areas, which I now understand is completely part of our conditioning rather than true fact. I have an episode about why only 2% of women entrepreneurs hit the seven figure mark, I'll link to it in the show notes, and it goes into a lot more detail on this. But what happened as we were working together is that there came a point, finally, where I had all of the systems in place, all of the messaging in place, I was doing, taking all the action, doing all the things I was supposed to be doing, and yet I wasn't bringing in clients.

And finally, she's the one that said to me, Jen, I think this might be a mindset issue. And because I'd built that trust with her by that point, I could actually hear what she was saying to me. And I decided to try it out.

I hired a mindset coach, and immediately started seeing changes in my business, that combination of the strategy side, and then the mindset side was so powerful. And so obviously, once I saw how important those both were, I always wanted to bring that to my clients as well. Once she saw that I was really open and really coachable and doing the work, she also started to open up to me about the energetics.

And she was able to tell me, this is one of the great things about working with the best of the best. She was in masterminds that would even cost $100,000 with these top, top earners. And the entire thing would be about energetics, would be about attraction, would be about the energy that you're in as you're doing the work that you're doing.

And I started seeing it for myself. Even though I was the biggest skeptic and never would have believed it, I would see how I would clear a block. And then before I would even take action, I there was no time to take action.

There were already people coming in booking in that were either a different caliber of client or a different quantity of clients. Somehow there was a change just through the inner work that I was doing. So I have an episode on that as well, called How Entrepreneurship Made Me Woo.

And it's talking about this time in my career. And it ended up changing everything for me because back then I was a performance coach. I was not a business coach.

But I was investing in my business in a way that the people around me were not. And so even when I was working with my clients on performance coaching, because of the circles I was moving in tended to mostly be entrepreneurs, of course, I wanted to help them succeed. Of course, I was passing on everything that I was learning.

And then they were starting to get amazing results. When you brought this performance coaching aspect together with the strategy and the mindset and the energetics, it was really explosive. But I still felt a lot of shame about it.

Honestly, I would only talk about energetics with my closest clients. And I did not talk about it publicly until I launched this podcast. Actually, it was kind of a big coming out a big vulnerability moment for me to declare that side of my work.

But anyway, we had a mastermind program and we would meet every two weeks. It was a large mastermind, probably 30 plus people, I think, and we would meet every two weeks. And she would answer everybody's questions on these calls.

So they would be two and a half hours long. Quite honestly, I hated it. I was the mom of a newborn, I felt completely exhausted.

I was working nap times and evening seven days a week. And so I only wanted information tailored to me and I didn't yet understand the power of group coaching, which is a shame because I would turn I would mute the volume of these calls until it was my turn to get called. And so I was missing out on so much great coaching and great ideas from other people in the group.

Now, ironically, I do work with her one to one, of course, for a lot more money. But now that I've seen the power of group work, I wish she had a mastermind. I would love to be in a mastermind now.

But obviously still happy to have her as my coach. We meet once a month for 45 minutes, and then the rest of our work is all through WhatsApp. All right, let's talk about another high end coach that I've worked with Brooke Castillo.

(9:51 - 10:21)

For those who don't know, she is the founder of the Life Coach School, from which I have a coaching certification. And because she has so many thousands of people as clients, she holds these high end, much more private, get togethers and coaching experiences that I've been able to be a part of. The most impactful thing that she really helped me understand is about how much power we have to create who we are to really reinvent ourselves.

(10:22 - 16:30)

There are so many ways of thinking that we adopt and we don't even realize that they're optional thoughts or optional beliefs or that we could be different. We just assume this is the way we are. This is the way we've always been.

These are the kinds of colors I like. These are the kinds of situations that I excel in. What if so much of that is not true? What if you could question all of that and then decide intentionally how you want to be and then step in to creating that? Not just overnight acting as if and not really believing it, but truly becoming that kind of person, that kind of woman.

What would be possible for you? This is some of the deeper transformational work that I do with my private clients. And it's what's helped me personally go from a person who felt very much like a victim to circumstances, had a very strong inner critic, I was a huge perfectionist, really believed that I was not good at math, was not good at business. What else? Oh my gosh.

Well, I had a lot of money issues. And looking back now, I really didn't trust myself. I really didn't trust that I was supported in any way.

I kind of felt like I was out there slugging through all the hardships of life. And this is sounding dramatic, but only I could take care of myself. No one was going to do anything for me.

I had to make it all happen. And it was exhausting, just an exhausting way to live. Such high standards that had really gotten me far in life, but they weren't going to get me where I needed to go.

And they weren't sustainable because I was going to burn out. In fact, I did burn out several times. We had a few group calls, and then we had a live in-person event that was a day or two.

When it was my turn to get coached by her, I talked about my fears about starting a podcast, actually, funny enough, and specifically this fear about getting it wrong, doing the wrong thing, saying the wrong thing, and maybe then getting called out for it. Somehow, I guess it had felt safe for me to do that with my clients because they had chosen to work with me. They'd kind of adopted this philosophy.

But somehow, if I was out there on the public record saying, Hey, alignment is really the way to go. It will accelerate your results and make your life so much easier. But what if I were wrong? What if somehow there were some way of knowing for sure that I was wrong, and I had in some way defrauded all of these listeners? And I remember she said, Well, if that turns out to be, then just tell them you were wrong.

Isn't it funny how sometimes it's just so easy for someone outside of your head to see the things you just never even considered? All right, let's talk about Tara Zerker. She had a program called Successful Ads Club, and I was in the highest tier of that with the most personalized interaction. She's a very successful Facebook ad strategist.

She had an agency managing millions and millions in ad spend. And then she also had this program teaching people to run ads for themselves, or with the support of her program coaches. And what she taught me is that all of the things that you think are difficult about ads, like the targeting and the pixels and the funnel strategies and retargeting strategies, are actually not the hard part.

They're not rocket science in her language. What is rocket science is figuring out what do your people really want? How do they really talk? How do they really think? And how do you create resonance with them? That was huge for me, because guess what, those were the things I was doing. And that really helped me see I am helping people with the rocket science.

This work that I'm doing is so valuable, but I really struggled with that. Beforehand, it was challenging. When I was first doing business coaching, it was a done-for-you service as well.

So I was writing people's copy. And when I stopped doing that, I had a lot of hang-ups, thinking that what I was doing might not actually be that worth it, might not really be that valuable. Now I had built, I was building up from that, but when I heard her say that, something just clicked for me.

And I was so grateful, because I really saw it in a new light. I'm sure you've had those moments yourself as well, where someone else outside of you can say something about you that feels a little bit like, aw shucks, me? Really? But at the same time, you can see they're sincere about it. She wasn't saying this just to help my ego.

She was just saying it to the group at large. I just overheard her and was able to recognize it in myself. A huge turning point for me.

I don't remember how much I paid for this, but the way the container looked was that there was a curriculum that you studied, and then there was also, there were like five different program coaches, and they would have a call, each of them would have a call on a subsequent day. And so any day of the week, you would be able to hop on and be on a call with a copywriting coach or with a tech coach. And so another reason that was helpful is that I saw how a highly large-scaled program could still be giving people that personal touch, that high touch.

So that was really inspiring for me, because I've always first and foremost, cared about client results. To the point, sometimes even in the beginning when I, where I just wouldn't sell, because I was so afraid of being out of integrity in some way. Okay, let's talk about Stacey Bayman, the sales coach.

(16:30 - 18:48)

I was in her program called the 200k Mastermind for two rounds, I believe. And I have to say, out of all the masterminds I've been to, this, except for my own, of course, but this was the most fun, because at the time, it always started off with an in-person retreat at a really swanky hotel. One year, we were at Cabo in Mexico, and the rooms cost, at that time, some of the highest hotel rooms I'd ever paid for in my life.

But they were beautiful, and the food was amazing. And it just helped you see yourself in a different way, to think, I am a business owner, traveling for business to a business conference in this way, and I can start to see this as part of my life. I can start to normalize this.

From Stacey, I really learned the importance of believing in your offer with so much conviction, and really being vigilant about rooting out any doubts and fears that are lingering in your mind about it, because they will always affect how you speak about the offer, your body language as you show up and talk about your offer, your presence on a sales call. So how you think about your offer, how you think about your people, and how you think about yourself, all the time affect what you're doing. And you can really start to pick it apart and see it with such precision.

Like, when I'm thinking this, I end up doing this, I end up not doing this. And the beauty is just liberating yourself from all of that gunk that's been swirling up in your head, recognizing that the brain will always skew towards the negative. Just because it's having those thoughts, it doesn't mean those thoughts are real.

And it's your job, and nobody else's job, to go out and gather the evidence for the thoughts that really support you, and to practice the thoughts that really support you, and to build your reasoning and your rationale around those thoughts until they become rock solid. And lastly, let's talk about Vicky Louise. I went to her specifically to unravel the thoughts that I had about time.

(18:49 - 22:09)

This was at a point where I'd seen the benefits of not working as much and being more in alignment, but my nervous system and my old mindset would still have me kind of ping-pong back and forth into my old ways. And as I've mentioned before, I did all the things. I did therapy, I did coaching, and one of those things was this work, which was hugely impactful and important to me, because we questioned everything that we had come to believe about time.

And I still have clients asking me to this day, like, but really, do some things just take time? You know, where is that line between it can happen in an instant, and you just got to put in the work? But what's interesting is that we substitute time for work so often. We say, this is just going to take time, when really what it means is this is just going to take work, or this is going to take practice, or this is going to take anything else other than time. Yes, you may need to put in some reps on some things, but also time is not what creates our results, especially as entrepreneurs.

Many other things create our results, such as the value that we're creating, such as the resonance we're creating with people. But when we put time front and center, rather than those things that really count front and center, we're not only delaying our progress, we're really disempowering ourselves. It's almost like they talk about smoke and mirrors.

And so you keep kind of chasing the wrong thing. You know, you keep trying to work more, or work longer, or do harder. But that's a mirage.

That's not the real thing. The real thing is right over here. And you can't see it, because you're so busy chasing this other thing that you've been told is what will create results for you.

So hugely grateful to Vicki for just providing the container for me to do this kind of deep work. And of course, for her leadership and guidance, as we were all working through it. Okay, I hope it was helpful to get that little behind the scenes sneak peek.

I know I always love hearing about other people's experiences, and what their biggest takeaways are, and what it's really like behind the glitzy facade of all those nice sales pages. And just as kind of an overall summary from everything we've talked about, these programs all looked so different. And it's just a testament about how there's no one right way to do anything.

What really counts is what is right for you and right for your customers. And I just want to point out here that I love all of these people. I hear some stories about people that have had negative experiences with coaching.

I haven't seen it. Sometimes I've acted very quickly to move forward with coaches. Other times I've watched and waited for a bit.

But every coach that I've worked with has really cared very deeply about their client's journey and their client's results. And also, I've been the one to step up and get the great results. I've decided beforehand that I was going to get great results, and I've done the things to get the great results.

(22:09 - 23:59)

I've been on many of the people I'm talking about here. I've been on their podcasts as their testimonial client, talking about the wins I was able to get within their programs. Actually, that's a really good point that I didn't talk about.

Tara Zerger, the Facebook ads. I actually did not apply myself in that one. It was at a time when I was involved in other coaching programs, and I kind of didn't really think clearly about what my availability was going to be during that time frame.

And it really helped me see, you can be working with the best of the best, but if you aren't doing the work, nothing happens. It's like a professor in the university, teaching exactly the same thing, has the exact same office hours for everyone, and yet some people get the A's, and some people get the C's or D's. So my advice after all of this coaching that I've done, is just decide in advance that if you want the transformation badly enough that this person is talking about, decide that you're going to be the one to get the A. Because then it's never about trusting the coach, or trusting the process, or trusting, well, will I get my ROI? Because all of the trust is on you.

Do you trust yourself to get your ROI? I hope the answer is yes. If not, then you probably really need a coach. It's like if you don't have time to meditate, you probably need to meditate.

If you don't quite trust that you can get results, you probably really need to work with a coach to learn how to get results. But there you have it, my top five takeaways behind the scenes for five high-end coaching programs. I hope you have a wonderful week, and let's talk again on Tuesday.

(24:03 - 24:18)

Thanks for joining us here at The Uncommon Way. If you want more tips and resources for developing clarity in your business and life, including the Clarity First strategy for growing and scaling your business, visit theuncommonway.com. See you next time.

Support at The Uncommon Way 6/24/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 6/24/25

Ep 155: Help! I Can’t Find Time for the Important Things! : Business Streamlining for Work-Life Balance

Ever feel like you should have time for the big-picture work… but the day keeps disappearing into tasks, emails, and damage control?

You’re not alone—and it’s not just a time issue. If you’re constantly responding, reacting, and rearranging instead of leading with clarity and strategy, this episode was made for you to help move your business forward.

Episode Summary

Ever feel like you should have time for the big-picture work… but the day keeps disappearing into tasks, emails, and damage control?

In this episode, you will:

Find out the common calendar trap high-achieving women fall into—and how to finally break free.
Learn the simple scheduling tweak that creates more clarity, momentum, and room to breathe—even during your busiest seasons.
Discover why your endless to-do list might be a sign of something OTHER than overwhelm

Press play to start designing the intentional workweek that lets you earn, live and enjoy summer on your terms.

Resources Mentioned:

Summer Days of Deals: They;re here! But just for 24 hours each. Sign up for our email list so you don’t miss the best one for you and your business! Sign up now.

“How Many Hours You Could Gain Back?” Quiz: Find out how many hours you could shave off your workweek and the biggest opportunity in your business for gaining hours right now. Take the quiz

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Power & Potency: Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: [00:00:00] In this episode, you will discover how to find time for the important things that actually move your business forward. Welcome to the three day work week, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth.

I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo, to help you work smarter leap boldly and find true balance. Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome back to the three day work week. Wow, episode 155, and that feels really good to say, and I've got a perfect episode so we can celebrate that milestone.

Inspired by a woman who asked me, how do I actually find time for the important things? And when she asked me that, I felt it. I felt it in my bones because I remember longing for CEO time. And let's be honest, we all have moments [00:01:00] where life gets crazy. I've talked about it here a few times in this past year as we've been making this move for the family and uprooting our entire life and moving overseas.

There have been some intense moments, but I'm not talking about those little spikes. I'm talking about situations where. It constantly seems like you just can't get ahead, like you just can't get control of your schedule, and it happens over and over. That doesn't have to look like all sorts of craziness in your life.

It can just look like ongoing business as usual in your business, which is why when someone asks me how do I actually find time for the important things, although I feel it, I also know that honestly, you hardly ever find the time. There's always more that you could be doing, more people, you could be responding to more potential fires you could be avoiding.

So I thought, good, let's create an episode where I can [00:02:00] synthesize what I've learned, and then you can start creating changes sooner rather than later. You will find out the common calendar trap, high achieving women fall into and how to finally break free, and you'll learn the simple scheduling tweak that creates more clarity, momentum, and room to breathe.

Even during your busiest seasons plus discover why your endless to-do list might be a sign of something other than overwhelm. But first, our summer days of deals are on. I have been teasing this for weeks, and it's finally here. Now you need to be on my email list in order to see what these offers are.

So if you are already there, then great. You're getting great tips and tools in your inbox to create more of this life that we're talking about here at the uncommon way. But if not, luckily it's super easy to do so now 'cause we're putting the link right in the description. But I'll give [00:03:00] you a little sneak peek for one of the offers.

It is the coolest. Custom GPT where you can put in the exact number of hours that you wanna work, and then through the power of AI and all of the experience that I've gained working on this issue for years, you'll be able to see exactly how that could work for your business. Very, very customized and bananas useful.

So run, don't walk. Because each one of these offers, it's only available for 24 hours. You do not want to miss them. And if you wanna see what the first deal is, which coincidentally is also the least expensive, then you need to sign up today if you are not already on the email list. Okay? Oh, happy summer.

How is your summer so far? We've got a little heat wave going on here, but I'm excited because this weekend we're [00:04:00] running a large catamaran with a few other families and that is one of my favorite things to do. You can really get to these off the beaten path coves with the like beautiful snorkeling and it's not overrun with all the people visiting Myorca this time of year.

I love places like that. When I used to be a travel blogger, my whole site was about finding the undiscovered places. Probably because I'm an introvert and I've always loved plenty of space, but I also love this idea of renting a a great boat because it's proof that you can start living the life that you wanna live today.

You don't have to wait. I remember so clearly sitting on the beach years ago on my towel. In my little patch of beach real estate crammed in with all the other towels on, with all the other beachgoers, and looking out at the yachts who were getting a, you know, a beautiful pie. Yeah. Brought out to them on a [00:05:00] dinghy thinking I would have to be mega rich to ever be one of those people and experience that.

But no, it turns out you just need to get creative. And then all sorts of worlds open up, and that is exactly the kind of questioning of our own assumptions that we're gonna do in this episode, and the kind of enjoyment we'll create by bringing our future into our present. You ready? I've got three big takeaways for you today.

If you've been wondering how to actually find time for the important things. The first thing I do with a client who feels like she has been running around like a chicken with her head cut off, or she's simply reached capacity each week with the tasks that she needs to do in her business. First thing I do is to help her ground into her power and realize that she controls her calendar.

It's so [00:06:00] amazing how we go about our daily lives recreating old habits and old decisions. Without even realizing. Just yesterday I was messaging a private client with an example of this very thing. I was remembering a time when I never seemed to have a moment to get to the important stuff. And when I looked back at my calendar, I realized that I just, I had a lot of appointments and things outside of the house, and when I got really real with myself, I realized that when I would call the doctor to make an appointment and they would say, okay, we have an opening on such and such a day.

I would look and I would see that there was, um, that there wasn't another like client call or something planned on that time, and without even realize it, I was thinking I could fit that in. I could fit that in. That has nothing to do with my strategic vision. Right? It's, I could potentially take that on.

Well, what it was leading to is that I'd have two or three appointments, not all doctor's [00:07:00] appointments, but just other things going on. That would contract my time so that I wasn't really getting those opportunities for the deep thinking. So what I ended up doing was creating a rule for myself where I would only take one appointment per week, and it would get to the point where the doctor's office would say, or whatever office would say.

We can fit you in this Thursday, and I would say, well, do you have something seven weeks from now? That's just one example of how we move through our days unconsciously creating situations that don't really serve us. It might be external appointments, but it could be internal goings on as well, and I realized it actually wasn't that my life was just out of control, busy, and I never had the time to focus on what truly mattered.

It was just that I needed to create some rules for myself to make it easy not to fall into old patterns. So look, if your schedule is packed all the time, it's not just a time problem, it's a thinking [00:08:00] problem. You may be unconsciously prioritizing being needed, or feeling in control over creating real freedom and growth.

There are many different reasons why high performers tend to develop habits of overfunctioning. We got lots of praise for it when we were young, or we get a little hit when someone says, I don't know how she does it, or, our nervous system is in a stress response and it feels really uncomfortable and scary not to be on the go.

Really. I could go on and on and on and on with this topic. This is why our endless to-do lists are often about a lot more than overwhelm. With all of that subtext and those hidden subconscious agendas. Of course, our days feel overstuffed. We've got so many competing needs and we're trying to satisfy all of them.

But when you start to clean up your mind, when you step into that calm, [00:09:00] cool CEO identity, your calendar will reflect that rather than reflecting your old habits. And if you're not there yet, work with a coach who can help you get there. Remember that each week your calendar is your opportunity to lock in new habits and new opportunities because by nature it's future focused.

If your identity was three day work week, CEO, what would your calendar look like? And to clarify, we are not talking about the business belonging to a three-day work week CEO yet, because a lot of us can jump to Oh sure. If I had a huge team. Or Oh sure if I had that kind of client pipeline. But we are talking about the mindset of that woman, of that three day work week, CEO, that way of being of a three day work week, CEO.

That's what you wanna tap into when you're planning your calendar. How does she think about [00:10:00] these decisions? And then if you stray during the week. That gives you solid data about the gap that you have to close between your current way of thinking and hers. That's when you see what you need to work on.

But if you don't calendar anything at all, and you just have an endless to-do list, you are never going to unearth those nuggets that really need to be corrected in order to create a different way. So remember, your calendar is more than a plan. It's a mirror of your mindset. It will give you so much information.

Here's another important idea. Strategic thinking doesn't happen later. It must be designed in Too many people are waiting for a magical window of opportunity to open up. That never comes. They're waiting for that moment of space or that moment of clarity or that moment of inspiration. [00:11:00] But you hardly ever find the time.

The perfect time. So you need to create it, create these pockets and these opportunities for yourself. You've got a schedule space for strategy, reflection. Big picture thinking as it has to be non-negotiable, has to be your non-negotiable CEO time. Of course, there are so many things you can do to create a business that gives you more time, but no matter what, you need to get into the practice of taking time.

Of designing your calendar, because no matter what business you have, there will always be opportunities to write that one extra email or have another mentoring session with a team member or do that one thing for a client. As we just talked about, there is a mindset component to this, and even more importantly, actually respecting that plan you've made and protecting it.

That is where most people get hung [00:12:00] up. Your brain is very clever and it knows the best way to keep you in your status quo, where you never have to stretch too much or get too bold, do that scary of a thing. Your brain's never gonna say, Hey, let's just sacrifice your biggest dreams and visions and, and just stay right here and keep playing it safe.

Let's stay just too busy to do the big scary things. What it's gonna say is something that seems like infallible logic. It's gonna say, um, yeah, maybe let's just do this first. That way we can concentrate more, right? But this person really needs you, or this client's gonna walk away if we don't keep them happy.

That is why the simplest scheduling tweak, that creates more clarity, momentum, and room to breathe over the long haul. Is if even during your busiest seasons, you give yourself at least a minimum chunk of CEO time during your week no [00:13:00] matter what. It has to become non-negotiable, even if it's just 15 minutes.

I've had clients who've implemented a weekly CEO thinking block or even a CEO day and come back to me after just a week or two saying, wow. I had this download that is going to be money, or I can't believe how much I'm getting done in this block of time and how much quicker I can make decisions. And now that I'm stepping back and can actually see what's going on in my business, I.

One even used this time to finally dial in a launch plan for her membership program. She had had a specific membership goal for like a decade, and she had gotten kind of in reach of it, but could never pass that magic number until she did what she had to do and ended up blowing past her goal. And I don't mean when I say doing what she had to do, that she started working 80 hours a week.

I can see my [00:14:00] previous brain going there like, yeah, Jenna, you just need to work harder. But no, she spent a good portion of her launch snowboarding in the Pyrenees. The shift was that she realized that the three day work week, CEO version of herself didn't feel guilty about her deepest thinking and strategic moves.

She doesn't ask for permission or ask for time. She just takes it. That moves us perfectly into the next takeaway I wanna share, which is that I had to help her get clear on her priorities and ruthlessly cut out what wasn't necessary. Listen, doing less is a prerequisite for leading more. You need to subtract what no longer serves your next level business in order to create your next level business.

That might mean cutting projects, simplifying offers, carrying less what people think, trusting others to take ownership and [00:15:00] listen. Deciding between all of those and even more is definitely where I would get hung up Sometimes I just wasn't sure what I needed to keep doing and what I didn't, and that pain of potentially wasting time, ugh, or barking up the wrong tree.

And what if I then needed to start over again or I made things worse? Uh, that is like fingernails on a chalkboard or someone who has a vision and wants to get there now, which is why you have got to find ways to move beyond that and get down to what is most important. There's a trend now in business coaching space to offer tiny offers and mini minds, which are like short term masterminds.

But you have to be careful because all this is really doing is adding more options to your plate. And I'm not blaming coaches in any way. They're responding to what a lot of people in the market want. People love these 'cause they get access [00:16:00] to a coach that they like at a lower price. It seems like a very quick and short solution, but what we really need when we're building a business is someone who can help us take away options.

I bet you already have tons of ideas and opportunities and things you could be doing. What you might not have is someone who knows your business, knows you and your strengths, and can help you streamline and stay focused. Honestly, I have had several clients that made really great strides in their business, but then when I caught up with them a year later, it turns out they splintered off in a totally different direction rather than sticking with what they had started and continuing to refine and optimize it.

And this is totally normal to look for the shortcut or look for the shiny object. It just doesn't serve our highest interests most times. I worked with a client once to elevate her offer and bring on her first premium clients, but then when I caught back up with her, [00:17:00] it turns out she had pivoted and built out an entire course that she was just now going to sell with zero knowledge of selling to people who want DIY courses and zero proof of concept that the people she thought needed it would actually want it.

She had packaged up all of her knowledge into this is what people need rather than looking at this is what people want. And thankfully she told me over emails so she couldn't see my face when I read it because I remember flinching, physically flinching, like when you watch a video of someone who's about to trip over something and, and you just see it coming and you're like, ouch.

I really felt the opportunity cost for her of where she could have been in her business if she had spent that same time space and energy building out what she had already started. This is why focus [00:18:00] is such a power skill, but also why I recommend finding someone outside your business who isn't just selling you.

Another thing you could try. An extra thing to put on your plate. But the opposite, the much harder work of whittling down, making the scary decisions, prioritizing those core essentials, and also spotting those energy leaks, those areas that are creating unnecessary decision fatigue or even things that are just procrastination so that you don't have to do the next thing.

I had a client recently who asked me to look over some copy because she wanted to call in some people for some market research calls, except I knew she already knew her people and the way they talk and think. So I said I could definitely, I can look this over, but I'm just wondering, do you really need to do 15 more market research calls or, I don't remember exactly how [00:19:00] many she was offering, but it would've been a significant time commitment.

I just flagged it for her and asked if she really needs to do that, or was she just avoiding actually launching the program right away? She was like, oh my God, that is exactly what I'm doing. I. So if that inner drive of yours has been telling you that you just need to do more, maybe more of what you've been doing or more of some different thing, or if you feel resistance to the idea of doing less because it feels kind of lazy or it triggers guilt, triggers guilty feelings in some way, remember that doing less strategically is what makes space for leadership.

The Fortune 100 CEOs don't get paid the big bucks for having all of the different ideas and possibilities. They get paid to listen to all the different potential ideas and decide this one, this is the way [00:20:00] we're going. You don't scale your impact by doing more. You scale it by doing what matters and ditching the rest.

Alright my friend, let's recap. Your calendar is a mirror of your mindset. Thinking of it that way will give you so much information and set you on the path of so much important change. And second, strategic thinking doesn't just happen. It has to be designed in. You get to create it, and you can start with as little as 15 minutes a week.

And finally doing less is a prerequisite for leading more. It's too easy for our brain to spin out into doing more. Adding on that other thing, rather than doing the scary thing or really optimizing what we set out to do and tightening up that focus really draining your mind to think. Uncommonly always unlocks a whole new level of impact [00:21:00] and possibility.

Alright, my friend, go snag One of those deals from the days of deals, they may not come back again. Let's talk again on Tuesday.

Support at The Uncommon Way 6/17/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 6/17/25

Ep 154: The 3-Part Framework My Clients Use to Build 3-Day Workweeks That Actually Work : Business Streamlining for Work-Life Balance

What if the real reason you’re stretched so thin isn’t your to-do list — but the way your business is built?

If you’ve ever wondered how some entrepreneurs manage to work three days a week without sacrificing income or momentum, this episode breaks down exactly how they do it — and why you're likely closer than you think. Instead of burnout, imagine reclaiming your time and scaling much less stressfully.

Episode Summary

What if the real reason you’re stretched so thin isn’t your to-do list — but the way your business is built?

In this episode, you will:

Hear the questions I ask every client to instantly reveal where they’re wasting hours—and how to reclaim them.
Hear why most entrepreneurs unconsciously design businesses that drain them—and how to flip the script so your business starts giving more than it takes.
Learn why tweaking your offer—not your funnel—is the fastest path to more sales and fewer work hours.

Press play to start designing the intentional workweek that lets you earn, live and enjoy summer on your terms.

Episodes Mentioned:

Ep 26: Becoming the 7-Figure CEO with Kat Haugh

Ep 56: Finding Your Way Out of the Ick with Kath Haugh

Resources Mentioned:

Days of Deals: Be the first to hear about our upcoming Days of Deals Week and get a special gift with purchase only for waitlist subscribers: a personal audit from Jenna of your website and social media to dial in your messaging, make sales easier, and move you closer to a 3-day workweek. Get on the waitlist

“How Many Hours You Could Gain Back?” Quiz: Find out how many hours you could shave off your workweek and the biggest opportunity in your business for gaining hours right now. Take the quiz

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Power & Potency: Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: (0:00 - 0:24) In this episode, you'll discover the three-part framework my clients use to build three-day work weeks that actually work. Welcome to the three-day work week, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like, without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo to help you work smarter, leave boldly, and find true balance.

(0:24 - 0:33)

Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome back to the three-day work week. I have a feeling that you already know that it's possible to work smarter, not harder.

(0:34 - 1:07)

You've probably read the articles, maybe you've saved some quotes on Instagram, you've heard stories of entrepreneurs who cut their hours without cutting their income, and you know deep down that some version of that could be possible for you too. But you're stuck on one important question. How? How do you actually pull it off? Without compromising client experience, without losing momentum, and without creating a house of cards that crashes the second you take your foot off the gas.

(1:08 - 1:42)

I am going to walk you through the exact three-part framework I use with my clients to help them build three-day work weeks that actually work. It's my streamlined business framework, and it is what's behind dozens of client transformations, including women who have doubled their income or more while cutting their hours, even by half. Women who have reclaimed their weekends for the first time in years, and women who now feel so powerful in their life because they've stretched themselves and they've done the thing that people said they couldn't do.

(1:42 - 2:12)

So now they go on to challenge other norms in their lives, losing the weight or living somewhere else or trading up in so many ways. So this framework isn't theory, it's proven, it works, and it's going to give you a clear roadmap for how to finally build the business that fits your life, not the other way around. Plus you will hear the questions I ask every client to instantly reveal where they're wasting hours and how to reclaim them.

(2:13 - 2:32)

You'll hear why most entrepreneurs unconsciously design businesses that drain them and how to flip the script so your business starts giving more than it takes. You'll learn why tweaking your offer, not your funnel, is the fastest path to more sales and fewer work hours. Let's get into it.

(2:33 - 2:41)

The first lever in the framework is your offers. We want offers that do the heavy lifting. Here's the truth.

(2:42 - 3:07)

The fastest way to free up time in your business isn't to work faster or even delegate more. It's to make sure that your offer is doing more of the work for you. When your offer is a no-brainer, when it's positioned clearly, solves a compelling problem, and is wrapped in messaging that makes people say, okay, this is a hell yes, you don't need to hustle harder to make a sale.

(3:07 - 3:14)

Your offer attracts. It pre-qualifies. It creates desire and demand.

(3:14 - 3:36)

According to a study by HubSpot that we'll link to, about half of consumers say they only need a few pieces of content before they move to a decision about buying. That means when your message hits the mark, people will move fast. I call this offer gravity because when your offer is dialed in, it pulls the right people to you almost effortlessly.

(3:37 - 3:47)

So many clients come to me thinking they have to nurture people for years. And guess what? You end up having to nurture people for years. But it's not true.

(3:48 - 4:10)

There are so many clients that have met me through a single landing page and booked a call and became a client. We were on a mastermind call yesterday and one of my clients had been hit with this huge epiphany about how she's been speaking to people who would be the most difficult to convince, rather than the people who are ready now. And that's opening up huge new avenues for her.

(4:11 - 4:32)

She was just like, why haven't I been doing this all along? And here's another place most entrepreneurs go wrong. They focus on making the sales process more effective instead of strengthening the offer itself. They try to fix the marketing, the funnel, the sales conversation without ever questioning whether their offer is carrying its weight.

(4:33 - 4:52)

Let me give you an example. One of my clients, Kat, was selling a lower priced offer that helped nonprofits and foundations visualize and communicate the results of their work. She was a stressed out freelancer working 40, 50 hours a week, even more, who had way too many clients and wasn't fully appreciated by them.

(4:52 - 5:01)

They were really underestimating what she was capable of. When we looked under the hood, we saw the real issue. Her offer wasn't differentiated.

(5:01 - 5:15)

It sounded like what other visual artists were selling. There was no unique methodology, no clear reason why her solution was the best fit and no magnetic messaging or smart positioning. So we rebuilt it.

(5:16 - 5:30)

Sometimes my clients benefit from a little tweet, sometimes an overhaul. And this was an overhaul and reimagining what was truly possible. The new offer was what her ideal clients really needed.

(5:30 - 5:43)

And it was also so deeply an expression of who she was that she couldn't not be doing that. She couldn't not be contributing that to the world. Once you see what you're really here to do, you can't turn back.

(5:44 - 5:55)

We got super clear on her ideal clients. We clarified the transformation they would have. And we defined the method of achieving that in a way that made sense and was unique in the industry.

(5:55 - 6:17)

We added in some exclusive deliverables that her people just had to have. And the result? She went from stressed out freelancer to the three-day workweek CEO of a seven-figure agency working with select clients who respected her as the true standout she is. That is the power of an aligned offer that works.

(6:17 - 6:44)

I've had Kat on the show before and I'll link to her episodes in the notes. So ask yourself. Does your offer instantly speak to a specific high-priority desire and create a solution in a way that nobody else does? Can your ideal client see themselves in the way you talk about it? And do you feel deeply aligned and confident selling it? Take my program, The Clarity Accelerator.

(6:45 - 6:54)

Sure, there are a million business programs out there that help you increase revenue. But this one's different. It's built for ambitious women who want more.

(6:55 - 7:14)

They also want the amazing life, and they want to prove to themselves that they're capable of creating all their big revenue goals and a shorter workweek through a business that actually reflects them. They're not forcing themselves into someone else's strategy box. And the structure of the program is designed to accelerate results.

(7:15 - 7:51)

It blends the power of a high-level mastermind with the hands-on support of a personal coaching team, your own copy coach, operations coach, mindset coach, and me as your lead coach who knows your business intimately. You're not getting lost in a crowd. I'm there with you, helping you apply proven methodologies like the streamlined business framework we're talking about today and my signature Connect the Dots method, which helps you get crystal clear on your unique genius, exactly who it's meant to serve, and how to craft and position your offer so it resonates both consciously and subconsciously.

(7:52 - 8:05)

There's truly nothing else like it, and that's because I use the methods I teach. I designed it to be one of a kind. Everything I teach and what I ask of you, I've already walked through myself.

(8:06 - 8:28)

So if you're not able to say that about your offer, this is your first leverage point. You have a huge opportunity to free up hours for yourself here. A great offer not only drives sales, it gives you your time back because it eliminates the friction that comes from convincing or overexplaining or pushing.

(8:28 - 8:41)

Clients come in and they're already excited. Let's talk about the second lever, operations. No, before you tune out, because yes, I know this can sound dry, let me reframe it.

(8:41 - 8:53)

Operations aren't about software. They are about freedom. When your business has clear, streamlined operations, it runs like a well-oiled machine.

(8:54 - 9:10)

Clients get what they need. Tasks don't fall through the cracks, and you don't have to be the one holding everything together with sheer willpower. You feel deep trust and safety in your body, and you get to be held and supported.

(9:11 - 9:29)

It really makes you move through the world differently. You're just a different person. According to McKinsey, when banks implemented streamlined operations, including simplified decision-making, they saw up to a 30% increase in productivity without hiring new employees.

(9:30 - 9:58)

30%! Imagine what your calendar would look like with that kind of a margin reclaimed. You want to know one of the biggest indicators I look for when I assess a client's scalability? It's this. How many decisions are you making in a day that someone or something else could be making for you? Because the truth is, decision fatigue is one of the most underestimated energy drains in entrepreneurship.

(9:59 - 10:19)

Every single what should I post today and did I follow up with her and do I need to approve that is costing you creative bandwidth. When we remove those micro-decisions, you free up mental real estate. That's when you finally have the space to be the strategic intuitive CEO that you're meant to be.

(10:20 - 10:47)

When we were looking for a place to live, we had gone to Sardinia, Italy, and my brother and sister-in-law joined us there. And I remember her telling me that she realized, because she'd never been out of the country before, just how much it costs us in terms of what she called like micro-decisions or micro-stressors. For instance, when we would go eat at a restaurant, there was no need to tip, and there was also no need to move on from your table.

(10:48 - 11:04)

So she was, I remember she was kind of laughing about it. She's like, I don't have to be worrying if we are hogging the table, if we should be leaving. Have we been here an appropriate time? I'm not assessing the person's service and thinking about how much I should leave for a tip and how much other people are leaving for a tip.

(11:05 - 11:22)

Like all of that was just gone. And all of those little micro-stressors and micro-decisions add up for us over the day without us even realizing it. And the beauty is you don't need a team of 10 or a fancy dashboard to make it happen.

(11:23 - 11:31)

Let me tell you about one of my clients. Let's call her Jamie. Jamie was running a successful consultancy, but everything still ran through her.

(11:32 - 11:43)

Managing her calendar, that was her job. Following up on invoices, that was her job. And overseeing all the project management for client delivery, you guessed it, that was her job.

(11:43 - 12:00)

And she told me, I feel like my entire business is duct taped together and I am the duct tape. So we fixed it. We mapped out her core systems and built SOP standard operating procedures for repeatable tasks that anyone would be able to follow.

(12:01 - 12:20)

So she was not dependent on the brain trust of a specific employee or just a few team members. And we automated a lot of those tasks too. We improved her hiring process and how she onboarded and oversees her team members, helping her become the leader rather than the doer.

(12:20 - 12:36)

And we got the team to take ownership of the things she never should have been touching in the first place. Two months later, she took a few weeks off for the first time in years and didn't check in once. That is the power of streamlined operations.

(12:36 - 13:03)

Freedom. So ask yourself, where am I the bottleneck in my business? What am I doing that could be systematized or simplified or delegated? And why? What's the cost, financial and energetic, of not addressing it? And what's keeping me from addressing it? I remember myself being at a place where I'm like, well, I just don't have time to hire anybody right now. I don't have the time to create these SOPs.

(13:04 - 13:12)

But messy operations don't just slow you down. They sabotage your growth. So remember, you are not the duct tape of your business.

(13:13 - 13:22)

You are the architect. Let's talk about the third lever. The most important and often overlooked lever of all.

(13:22 - 13:33)

You. And you becoming the three-day work week CEO. This is the shift that turns all the fancy tactical stuff in the things that actually work.

(13:34 - 13:41)

Because you can have a good offer. You can have clean operations. You can have hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers.

(13:42 - 13:59)

But if you are operating from burnout, fear, or old programming, none of it will feel useful. And your successes will only be a fraction of what's possible for you. This is where I see high-performing women get stuck.

(13:59 - 14:04)

They've gone to therapy. They've read the books. They're not afraid of putting in effort.

(14:04 - 14:18)

But they haven't fully stepped into the identity of a three-day work week CEO. They're still playing by other people's rules and running old operating systems. Like, if I'm not working hard, I'm not doing enough.

(14:18 - 14:27)

If I slow down, things will fall apart. If I don't push, I'll lose momentum. Sound familiar? I have been there.

(14:27 - 14:40)

I'm the girl who works seven days a week for two years straight while raising a newborn. For me, the turning point came when I realized I wasn't just managing my business. I was managing my nervous system.

(14:40 - 14:53)

If I was in stress mode, I made short-sighted decisions. If I was doubting myself, I showed up in ways that made other people doubt me too. If I was deeply afraid of something, I kept self-sabotaging.

(14:54 - 15:11)

But when I operated from calm and clarity and self-trust, everything changed. One of my clients came to me with a very successful business, but she was constantly anxious. She said, I don't know why I feel so worried all the time, like the other shoe's about to drop.

(15:11 - 15:24)

I can't turn my brain off. I know I should be able to relax, but I can't. We worked together to rewire her in her operating system and used a variety of different coaching methods.

(15:25 - 15:38)

And sure thing, she started to feel differently and see things differently. Because she's not the only woman that's ever felt this way. And there's a process for untangling all those old knots.

(15:39 - 16:02)

She started getting the intuitive hits that she just couldn't hear before, remaining grounded when obstacles popped up, making decisions based on playing to win instead of playing not to lose. She stopped working late. She stopped saying yes to misalign clients just because what if the money ran out? She started honoring her calendar boundaries and her energy skyrocketed.

(16:02 - 16:16)

So her business didn't just keep running, it grew. Because here's the thing, your business can only grow to the level that you are willing to grow. We go first and our business is an expression of us.

(16:17 - 16:45)

So if you're ready for your next level, start with you. Ask yourself, where am I operating from fear not power? What is driving my habit of making things harder than they need to be? And who do I need to become to hold the version of my business that I'm building? Because when you lead like the CEO, not the overworked peon down in cubicle 74, everything starts to shift. You're not grasping, you're receiving.

(16:46 - 17:02)

So let's recap. The three-part streamlined business framework that drives a three-day workweek that actually works is not about hacks or hashtags or hustle. It's about building offers that magnetize your ideal clients and do the heavy lifting for you.

(17:02 - 17:26)

Creating streamlined operations that run without you and becoming the version of you who leads from power, not pressure. When those three levers are in place, your business then finally becomes that vehicle for freedom that you've been looking for. Not the cage that's keeping you stuck or the hamster wheel that's keeping you running whatever metaphor sounds right for you.

(17:27 - 17:52)

Because it's really not about working harder. It's about working in alignment with offers, systems, and the highest version of you. You get to stop asking, how do I make this work and start asking, how far can I go from here? How good can my life get? Because training your mind to think uncommonly always unlocks a whole new level of impact and possibility.

(17:53 - 18:26)

And if right now you're thinking, okay, this sounds good, I want to try it out for myself, where do I go from here? Because this whole thing that I've got going on right now just is not sustainable. That is exactly why I've created the five days of deals that are coming up in just a few weeks. So you need to get on the wait list now because I'm offering a gift with purchase that I never offer, which is my personal audit and assessment of your website and social media.

(18:26 - 18:38)

So you'll find that link in the description. It's the uncommon way forward slash DOD bonus. All right, my friend, have a great week and let's talk again on Tuesday.

(18:42 - 18:57)

Support at The Uncommon Way 6/10/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 6/10/25

Ep 153: The 5 Systems I Use That Make a 3-Day Workweek Possible—Without Dropping the Ball

Ever look at another entrepreneur’s business and wonder, How is she making it look so effortless?

If your business still depends on you to hold every piece together, it’s not just draining—it’s keeping you from scaling. In this episode, I’m sharing the five essential systems that turn a scattered business into a smooth, self-sustaining machine—so you can finally lead, not chase.

Episode Summary

Ever look at another entrepreneur’s business and wonder, How is she making it look so effortless?

In this episode, you will:

Hear the overlooked mindset shift that helps you stop reacting to your to-do list—and start operating like a clear, strategic CEO.
Learn the weekly ritual I swear by to save hours, reduce stress, and turn chaotic weeks into needle-moving ones.
Discover the one system that most high-achievers ignore—until they’re forced to change … or get a great coach!

Press play to start designing the intentional workweek that lets you earn, live and enjoy summer on your terms.

“How Many Hours You Could Gain Back?” Quiz: Find out how many hours you could shave off your workweek and the biggest opportunity in your business for gaining hours right now. Take the quiz

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Power & Potency: Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: In this episode, you'll discover the five systems I use to run a smooth, scalable business in just three days a week without dropping the ball. Welcome to the three-day work week. Helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week, if they like. Without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some will to help you work smarter, leapfully, and find true balance. Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome back to the three-day work week. Summer is here, and for many of you, the kids are about to get out of school soon, or you've got a vacation coming up, or people coming to visit you, all the more reason to set yourself up for success with systems that you can count on. And this applies to you whether your revenue is $50 or $5 million.

Systems aren't just tech, they're habits that protect your performance. Because really, do you long for freedom, build infrastructure, do you long for flow, create systems that hold the business so you don't have to. You can't be the strategic intuitive CEO you're meant to be if you are stuck in decision fatigue and task management all day.

Your energy is dispersed in all the wrong ways. No, no, no, we need you focused and clear and 10 steps ahead. We want other business owners being like, whoa, how'd she do that? How'd she think of that? So in this episode, I'll share the five systems that make my three-day work week possible without dropping a ball, and I'll share what some of my clients are doing too.

You will hear the overlooked mindset shift that helps you stop reacting to your to-do list, and start operating like a clear strategic CEO. You'll learn the weekly ritual I swear by to save hours, reduce stress, and turn chaotic weeks into needle moving ones. And you'll discover the one system that most hire achievers ignore until they're forced to change, or they get a great coach.

But first, you know how you're never supposed to have two calls to action at the same time? You might just can't choose. I can't. I have two, and they're both so good.

So the first you've heard about already, we've got our five days of deals coming up soon, with new offers, brand spanking new, designed to help you work hard or not smarter. And if you sign up for the wait list beforehand, you'll receive a special gift with purchase. I will personally audit your website and social media to show you how you could be creating more sales.

Just go to the uncommon way forward slash d-o-d-bonus, that's days of deals bonus, or click the link in the show notes, but I've also got something new to tell you about. It is a short but powerful quiz we've created that shows you exactly how much time you could shave off your work week using my methods, and of course gain back for other things in your life. Whether that is having more time to do proactive needle moving activities in your business, or just diving into a really fun beach read with an umbrella plunked next to you in the sand.

And the results will also show you exactly which area of your business will give you the biggest opportunity to gain back hours right now, so you know your next steps. Seriously, I have taken years of knowledge gained from my own experience and from working closely with over 100 women on this, and distilled it down into this quiz. The kinds of questions I would ask to really get to the bottom of things, the way that I would prioritize efforts, and exactly what's possible in terms of time savings based on specific actions.

It really is something. So go check it out, click the link in the description, and share it with your friends too, so you have someone to join you in these fun summer activities that you will finally be able to take advantage of. Okay, let's get down to business.

The first system I want to talk about is your weekly planning system. Of course, I'm going to start here because it's all about managing your time and time is your most valuable resource. A streamlined weekly planning system helps you start the week with clarity and end with real progress.

Every time that you spin or double back or drop a ball, it wastes precious energy. But when you manage your calendar well, you're really managing your energy and your decisions and your priorities. You're treating your energy like the liquid gold it is, and that gets reflected in your business results.

I used to love planning on Friday afternoon, so I could start the week fresh and not have to think about what I was going to do first. But now that I don't work on Fridays, I've shifted to first thing in my work week. I start with a brain dump, I get everything out of my head that I could be doing, I check just a few key indicators tied to my current priorities, but not everything or not obsessing over stats.

And then I map out my top pass and just plug them into my Google calendar. I time block for things like client calls and deep work, but not for podcasts because I prefer them to be more of the moment with what's going on in my life with my clients and make sure that they stay really fresh. Now what I've just described requires mental toughness.

You have to get good at saying no to everything that isn't needle moving and sue the part of you that wants to do it all. Because most entrepreneurs don't need more hours, they need fewer decisions. So again, the goal isn't to cram in more, it's to focus on the levers that make the biggest improvements and drive the biggest results in your business.

If something keeps throwing off your plans, then you need to add two hours of floating time into your week. You feel lower energy around your cycle, plan for it. If you know about yourself that for whatever reason, every few months you start feeling less motivated, then build in something restorative.

One of the biggest things I work on with clients and team members too is becoming the woman who consistently follows through on the right things and accomplishes what you set out to do. You need to get real with yourself and ask, do I need better boundaries? Do I need better focus on the strategies? What is it about me that needs to shift? And don't keep it in your head. Put it somewhere.

Like I said, it could be Google Calendar, it doesn't have to be a sauna, but break things down and give them deadlines. And if you're someone who craves flexibility, build that in too. Allow yourself to shift tasks within the week, but hold firm once the weekly plan is set because you've got to trust that higher part of your brain that made the plan in the first place.

Because of course your brain will object when the moment comes, of course it will. It wants easy dopamine, it doesn't want long term strategic work, but trust that the version of you who made the plan was thinking at a higher level, really honor that. I have a client that would find it really challenging to actually stick to the schedule that she had created, and we started looking at some of the things that motivate her.

And she realized about herself that she couldn't motivate herself with like a dangling carrot, you know, something that she would get to do for herself after she accomplished the task. And that's good to know because then we could just shift and find out what did work for her. The same client also had trouble keeping track of everything that she had to do.

And so she brought in tech, she found this amazing program that helps her prioritize and manage tasks. It reads her email, it does everything she can plug and play. I'm going to link to it in case anyone is interested because she is just a tech genius and finds the coolest tools.

But seriously, developing a weekly planning system is one of the simplest ways to instantly reduce stress, gain traction, and shave hours off your work week. And it's totally in your control. System number two, a client system.

You need a way to bring in clients consistently without making it a full-time job. This is one of the highest leverage systems you can build because when it's working, you're not spending all week chasing leads. You're simply showing up and letting the system do the heavy lifting.

That means less hustle, more flow, and yeah, fewer hours worked. Your business is not a hobby. It needs a consistent flow of clients.

But that doesn't mean doing every strategy under the sun. You want a method that works for you, your zones of genius, your lifestyle, your energy. Not just whatever strategy everyone else seems to be doing at the moment.

Life is too short to hate your own marketing, whether that is evergreen funnels for you or networking, SEO, social, referrals, speaking, great. The strategy itself matters far less than this. Is it reproducible? Does it bring results for you? And then you want to be asking, can you automate or delegate parts of it? Do you have a system for content creation or lead follow-up? Are you using tools like AI to repurpose or optimize? Are you leveraging your offer's uniqueness to pre-sell before a sales call? Or even a sales page ever happens? If your content attracts the wrong people or you're spending years nurturing people before they buy, something is off.

Your system isn't doing its job. Think of it like a tasty menu or a trail of breadcrumbs. You want one thing to lead to the next, to lead to the next, so that it's easy for them to work with you.

I'll tell you what this looked like for me in the beginning and then how it's evolved now that I've simplified even further. So it used to look like a few hours of deep work a month where I would decide my key social media pieces that I would then plug and play on different platforms throughout the month and grab some past content to repurpose. That kept me looking like I was everywhere, even though I wasn't.

And it also kept me thinking and developing my ideas. One of the forms of content was a live video that was usually about 10 minutes or so. And then I would be able to repurpose those for posts later on.

And I would check the social media just a few times a day. I had a VA help me post and then I would go in and look for anyone that engaged with my content and later separately I'd go in and I'd engage with other people's content. That was it.

A few hours at the beginning of the month. A live once a week. And a bit of engagement.

I was sitting my 10k months just with that. Since then I of course find myself on the first page of Google when you Google business coach for women entrepreneurs or for female entrepreneurs anything like that. And so my client acquisition system is much different.

But guess what? Everything on that website came from what I'd been creating in social media and really listening to the people that I was engaging with and talking to. The only difference is that instead of putting it out on social. I now had it there on a page that people could visit.

It became an asset that worked for me. So now I don't have to do anything with that. And I choose to do my thinking work in prep for these podcast episodes.

Again I have a weekly long form content piece that then gets repurposed into social media and newsletters. And I'm also guesting on other people's podcasts. But you can see that my focus and energy is in the podcast realm.

Because I knew that for a sustainable business I would want multiple avenues of lead generation. Not just relying on Google who could change its algorithm at any time. And that turned out to be really great thinking on my part because now AI will definitely change the landscape of SEO.

But it plays on my strengths. I get to think deeply. I get to keep ideas flowing which is very much a part of what lights me up.

And I get to do it all in three days. Now I have a client who completely reworked her lead generation. And now what she does is speaking engagements.

It really plays to her strengths. She also naturally loves to network and talk to people. And so she's utilized that too.

And has been able to start booking more aligned clients in much less time. She no longer believes that she has to be on social media daily nurturing for years to finally bring that person in. Alright let's talk about the third system offer delivery and client onboarding.

Once someone says yes your system should kick in automatically. Making them feel supported and impressed really even before you show up live. That's what turns client experience into something designed to naturally inspire retention.

And just like the rest of your business when you systematize it you buy back your time. So think about automated emails or chats. Think about team members who have learned your process and can deliver it even when you're not there.

And most importantly a clear flow that helps bring results in ways that have been verified. That leads to delivery that feels intimate but doesn't depend on your constant presence. High touch can be scalable.

You just need the right pieces in place. And by the same token low touch can be highly valuable. Again you just need the right pieces in place.

Here's what it looks like inside the clarity accelerator. Yes we meet weekly and coaching real time on what is most pressing. But there are also foundational resources that I can point clients to again and again so they don't need to rely on me for every step and then we can free up coaching time for going even deeper.

And there are automated emails directing them to these resources as they move through their time with me. And because I don't love worksheets or long modules myself. I'm more the type to just listen deeply to my coach and then test the advice in real time or listen to a podcast three or four times until it sinks in and then test it in real time.

I build in that kind of flexibility to my program. Coaching calls get uploaded to a private podcast feed for re-listening and when clients meet with our program copywriter or ops coach those calls are recorded too so they can revisit and fast track their integration. So what does that mean for me? It means that every Thursday at 4pm I show up to coach.

That's it. Because I've built the system, I've trained the coaches and created a structure that supports real transformation without it all resting on my shoulders. And that's what lets my life feel so in flow.

And Kat, she's another great example. She was a high performer who was doing everything at a very high standard for her clients. So high in fact that it was very daunting and difficult for them to learn to start doing it for themselves and for anyone else to really support her in that delivery.

But I worked with her to build out a team that could take on more of this heavy lifting. And she started to see that as she created more boundaries and trained her people took the time to actually train them to do what she does. As she stepped back, it turns out her clients loved it.

And she of course loved her three day work week. Too often we stay too involved out of ego rather than exploring the possibilities of what would ultimately be better for our clients, our business and ourselves. System number four, back end management and team operations.

This matters because a chaotic back end reflects a chaotic mind. And it leaks your most valuable resource, which is of course time. Let's be honest.

Every quick question in Slack, every last minute do over, every file you can't find, it adds up. Not just in minutes, but in energy. If your back end is messy, chances are your brain feels a little messy too.

And vice versa. The more structure and clarity you create here, the more space you free up for high level strategy, creativity and ease. This system is how work gets done, actually done without constant oversight from you.

That means that you have documented how recurring tasks flow. You've automated incoming inquiries and standardized your internal communication rhythms. And you know who is doing what, when and what, done well, even looks like.

Even if you are still a team of one, you have systems. Just like I talked about my earlier content repurposing system. Maybe it is Canva templates.

Maybe it's AI content for repurposing or a standard process for podcast editing or client onboarding. These small efficiencies compound over time. Every time you institute a new one, think about what that is saving you for the rest of your life.

It's so worth it. And I'm saying this because I have been the person who said I just don't have time to create a system. I don't have time to train anyone.

I'm too busy doing this. But thinking about what it does for you long term will really help motivate you to do it now rather than later. And if you're still doing everything manually or reinventing the wheel every time, it's time to get honest about the cost.

The opportunity cost of what your business could be doing if you were freed up to lead it there. Also, let's talk hiring. Most entrepreneurs wait too long with hiring or they have limiting beliefs around the kinds of workers who are out there.

And that gets reflected in their business. Maybe they're thinking they can't afford to hire that kind of person full time and they don't explore using them in a fractional capacity. Or they think they have to hire someone overpriced when the work could be done by someone else if that person is trained accordingly and actually given an SOP, a standard operating procedure.

Regardless, the shift happens the moment that you stop being the only one holding it all, but also start taking responsibility as the CEO for whatever you are seeing in your organization. In my own business, a backend chaos used to eat up entire days, a redoing task, following up on accounting, cleaning up the mess from some ball that had been dropped. But once I systematized key areas and brought in a line support, the difference was night and day.

So now I can walk away for a few days without worry. I can coach on Thursdays at 4pm and then shut the laptop knowing the podcast episode notes will be in my inbox Monday morning. That's the power of a backend that runs as it should.

Now, you could have the sleekest client pipeline, the most scalable offer delivery, and a backend that runs like a dream. But none of that will get you where you want to go if you, the CEO, are constantly running on fumes. That's why this final system might be the most overlooked and the most important of all.

It is your CEO management system. It matters because your brain and your energy are your most valuable business assets. Now, of course, this is the system that most high achieving women skip until they can't anymore.

Because when you're juggling all the things, pushing through exhaustion, doing everything backwards in heels, your brilliance gets buried under the stress. You start making mistakes, decision making gets harder. And the intuitive hits that could spark your next breakthrough, you're too tired to even notice them.

But this isn't about slowing down for the sake of it. It's about learning how to re-access your highest self daily. Because of that version of you, she makes better decisions.

She sees creative shortcuts. She writes magnetic content in half the time, and she doesn't spiral out every time something goes sideways. Your energy is your biggest time saver of all.

Think about it. That one inspired idea during yoga that writes itself in your head and brings in your highest lifetime value client of all time, that's not luck. That is the ROI of rest and regulation.

My client Lisa is a great example. She had started experimenting with a CEO management system, and because we had been working on her core pillars and positioning, that new mental spaciousness had her coming onto a call one day talking about an amazing new concept about how to pull everything together with this one very polarizing acronym that also held deep meaning for her people. It has ended up becoming what she's known for.

She's now launching a group program based around it, and she's invited to speak at organizations that you have definitely heard of just because people are so captivated by this idea. So that was a leap that felt expansive, not draining. She described it as feeling like gold glitter all around her.

We could all use more of that, right? So let's make this practical. Do you audit your energy weekly? Do you have a wind down routine that lets you truly disconnect? Do you use go-to tools to regulate after a stressful moment? Do you have boundaries to protect yourself from energy drainers, whether that's clients or team members or certain situations? If not, it is time to implement a CEO management system that gives you daily access to your creative genius and strategic edge. Because that next level of success, it doesn't come from doing more.

It comes from becoming more. More of the clear, calm, grounded elator that you are meant to be. Working less isn't about doing less.

It's about designing smarter systems that multiply your time and protect your genius and give you the resiliency to make the big moves, the big scary moves. So there you have it, five core systems that don't just make your business run more smoothly, they give you your life back in the process. Number one, your weekly planning system.

Two, your client acquisition system. Three, your offer delivery system. Four, your back end system.

And five, your CEO management system. These are not just operational upgrades. They are shifts in how you think, how you lead, and how you value your time and energy.

Because a three day work week isn't a luxury. It's what happens when you lead like a CEO, not operate like an employee. And when you build a business around your genius and design it to support your wellbeing, everything grows faster, with more flow, and a lot less friction.

All right, I've got another powerful episode coming your way next week. So let's talk again on Tuesday. Thanks for joining us here at the uncommon way.

If you want more tips and resources for developing clarity in your business and life, including the clarity first strategy for growing and scaling your business, visit the uncommon way.com. See you next time.

Support at The Uncommon Way 6/3/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 6/3/25

Ep 152: The Moment I Knew Hustling Was No Longer Worth It For Me–And How It’s the First Step to a 3 Day Workweek For You, Too : Business Streamlining for Work-Life Balance

Are you waiting for a personal wake-up call to leave hustle culture behind for good?

If you’re an ambitious woman entrepreneur who keeps promising yourself you’ll slow down “soon,” this episode shows why that promise never sticks—and how you can borrow my personal wake-up call (so you don’t have to go through it yourself!) to help you create both a growing business and a life you actually remember living.

Episode Summary

Are you waiting for a personal wake-up call to leave hustle culture behind for good?

In this episode you will:

Discover the single sentence that surprised me in a quiet desert—and why it became the non-negotiable that led me to create my 3-day workweek
Hear the unexpected result of waiting for a better time rather than starting now
Learn why the first step to working less has nothing to do with your calendar—and everything to do with a simple choice

Press play to start designing the intentional workweek that lets you earn, live and enjoy summer on your terms.

Resources Mentioned:

Be the first to hear about our upcoming Days of Deals Week and get a special gift with purchase only for waitlist subscribers: A personal audit from Jenna of your website and social media to dial in your messaging, make sales easier, and move you closer to a 3-day workweek.

Get on the waitlist

Schedule a call with Jenna about joining the Clarity Accelerator--the same mastermind that we talk about in this episode--to unlock your inner genius, streamline your strategies and offers, and dial in the mindset that lets you work smarter, not harder.

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

This podcast dives into the potential of balancing a business and life without sacrificing revenue or impact. It helps women business owners and mompreneurs overcome overwhelm, decision fatigue, and the guilt of working less and stepping away from hustle culture while increasing leadership, strategic decision making, alignment and delegation / team building. Learn to build powerful habits and mindset, embrace smarter and higher vibration work methods, and master time management by streamlining tasks, implementing business systems, and even prioritising self-care. We explore efficiency and energetics, productivity and filling your cup, automation and where to personalize your efforts … all to reduce overworking, and finally take time off—without the fear or shame—whether that is with high-ticket offers, scalable offers, or passive income. Say goodbye to imposter syndrome and people pleasing while running a small business: It's time to shift your mindset, reclaim your work-life balance, and thrive!

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: [00:00:00] In this episode, you'll discover the very moment that I knew hustling just wasn't worth it for me anymore, launching my transition into a three day work week. A whole new way of living. Welcome to the three Day Work Week, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like, without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth.

I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo, to help you work smarter leap boldly and find true balance. Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome to the three day work week. You know, sometimes it is the very, very quietest voice in you. That launches the biggest change in your life?

That was the case for me when I realized that hustling just wasn't worth it for me anymore. I've been a guest on a few podcasts recently, and that is always the first question they asked me. Like, what was the moment that things changed for you? And so I thought, huh, if this [00:01:00] is something people are interested in, maybe you are interested in it too.

Or maybe like me, you've already had that moment, but you're having trouble actually living into it. I feel that because there were so many things that needed to shift in my mindset, in my way of working, and even energetically for me to live the way that I do now most often, because of course I'm human and in no way perfect, and I don't always live like this, but chances are I do more frequently than you do, which is why you're here.

So in this episode, you'll discover the single sentence that surprised me in a quiet desert and why it became the non-negotiable that transformed my entire business model. You'll hear the unexpected result of waiting for a better time rather than starting now, and you'll learn why the first step to working less has nothing to do with your calendar and everything to do with a simple choice.[00:02:00]

But before we dive in to get really meta, what I'm doing right now is exactly the kind of thing that I never would've done before, this moment that I'm about to share with you. But it's exactly the kind of thing that makes my shorter work weeks possible. And what I'm doing is I'm just turning on the mic and talking.

Typically, my podcast is where I do like to put some extra thought into it. I'm a person who tends to go off on tangents. And I'm a very associative thinker, so I see different connections between many different things, and while I get it, in my mind, my work has really been to simplify and I consider it such a gift when I can condense what I'm saying into something very palatable and succinct for you, because you're probably very busy.

And I know that if you tend to look at an episode that's 40 minutes versus another one that's [00:03:00] 15, and you can gain the same type of takeaways from both, then it's my gift to you to give it to you in its condensed form. However, there are times where you wanna be able to choose not to. Like now, my mom has been visiting us and this is her last week with us, and I just wanna spend a lot of time with her.

And isn't it great that we've built a flexible business that can support that, but also a flexible mind that can support that? And I've built the capacity to just turn on my mic and start talking in a way that I wouldn't have been able to earlier. I wanted to let you in on the behind the scenes because I know it's important for more and more of us to show it's possible, especially if we've had perfectionist tendencies in the past and let's call 'em very high standards for ourselves, and we're used to performing very highly.

We forget that what might seem very simple for us to talk about [00:04:00] or simple for us to share might still be deeply impactful for somebody else. I remember being in a small mastermind once with some very successful entrepreneurs. Okay, so see here I go on a tangent. This is what happens when I don't have tight bullet points, but this is important because.

These two women had very successful podcasts and they talked about how it was just too much for them and they decided not to do it anymore, and wasn't it wonderful that they didn't have to stick to like a masculine version of consistency, that they could just start coming on whenever they wanted to, to drop a podcast, even if that was only every month or every two months.

And I just got a hit to share something with them. And I said, do you think that would still be what you wanted to do? If you felt that you could just turn on your mic, talk for five minutes and that would be worth it and wonderful for your audience? And they said, oh, yes, yes. It would still be the same.

This is just what I wanted do. But I wondered, and it's interesting because now when I [00:05:00] look at their podcasts, they don't actually drop episodes. Not saying at all that you have to put, be consistent and put things out weekly with anything you do, but just that you always really wanna get clean and understand your motivations before making a change like that.

So this is just an invitation to you to also start sampling some different ways of working. But what I really wanted to share with you was this story about when it hit me. So to set the scene, I was not a person who got into entrepreneurship because I wanted to work fewer hours. I got into entrepreneurship because I felt a very strong calling.

I wanted to see what was possible for myself in life, how far I could go. I didn't want caps on my salary in corporate. I didn't want caps on anything. I didn't want caps on my location. Independence. I wanted flexibility and freedom, and I also wanted to spend my waking hours doing something that meant something to me.

I've talked before about how when I was in [00:06:00] the fashion industry, I was just producing more clothes and I kept wondering, does the planet need more clothes? Is this really what I came here to do? And so once I did have the courage to step out of that, I was full steam ahead. I created the clarity for myself about what this really was going to be, and I was all in.

The problem is that I had a newborn. I had a newborn and I had a lot of demons too. A lot of demons telling me that if I were to fail, that would mean that maybe I wasn't cut out for this work, or maybe I wasn't cut out for greatness in any way. Maybe I'd been diluting myself. I had a lot of fear about becoming dependent on a man, and I was carrying a lot of scarcity and not having a steady paycheck really activated all of that.

My ancestors had been very poor, and so I had just grown up with this idea that the rug can get pulled out from you at any [00:07:00] moment. And so all of this combined with the schedule of breastfeeding a newborn meant that I started driving myself harder and harder and harder, and I ended up working nap times and evenings until about 10 30 or 11 at night.

My husband used to have to like pull me out of my office. And I did that for two years straight. I look back on it and I'm just like, what was I thinking? But I know that I wasn't thinking, I was just reacting. I was in survival mode. And in fact, the only night I would take off was Friday evenings to watch a movie with my husband, but only because I felt so guilty for being an absent wife.

Well then I had an opportunity to go on a business retreat. And the way this was set up, I couldn't not go. We were going to get all of our content done for the next quarter or year. I don't remember what it was, but I just thought it would save so much time and it'd be great networking and all the things.

So I rationalized [00:08:00] my way into something that my soul was deeply longing for, which was a break. And when you're used to go, go going, then at first it's really jarring when you try and turn down the tempo. But after a few days, I started to relax. I started to notice things around me again. I started to actually feel joy and feel presence and love and all those things that people talk about that we're supposed to live for and we're supposed to be high vibe, but in the day to day, it's so hard to make it happen.

In the last day or two of this retreat, we were in the desert, and I remember sitting outside at sunset. It was pure stillness. There was not a sound to be heard, and I was just absorbing the beauty thinking, why hadn't I done this a long time before? 'cause I also noticed the creativity I was feeling and the inspiration and the, the ideas I was having from my business.[00:09:00]

And in that pure silence, I finally heard a little voice that I hadn't been able to hear until then. 'cause often your soul does speak to you in a whisper, and if you don't slow down, you'll never hear it. And all it said was, I don't want to go back. I don't wanna go back. And I didn't mean back to being a mom.

I meant back to that experience of life. That low grade constant anxiety or even panic and exhaustion. But what if I'd been chasing the wrong thing all along? What if my experience of living was the true measure of success? Growing up, my dad was a military pilot and when I was very young, we lived in a test base where they were testing new aircraft and new features, and unfortunately.

There were failures that caused death. I remember when the little girl next door, who was in my class, when her father was [00:10:00] killed, and a couple weeks later they were just gone. I know this is morbid. But it really helped us all understand how precious life was and how precious relationships were. So for instance, we had a standing rule in our house that we, my dad could not leave for work with any of us still being angry or not talking to each other.

We always had to make up before dad would leave. And so from a young age, it was really instilled into me that life is so precious and we just don't know how much time we have left. And yet somehow I'd gotten to the point where years had just gone by in a blur. Until here I was in the desert hearing. I can't go back.

I don't want to go back to that now. At the time, I really thought that that meant, I don't wanna go back to that way of living in, you know, with those circumstances or in the rat race culture. Of the United States. I didn't yet know that all of that hustle was a [00:11:00] state of mind, and from then on it was not a linear.

And from then on, I'll be honest, it was not an abrupt change, and it wasn't even a linear movement from hustle to non hussle because I really had nobody around me that could model it. I didn't even know anyone around me that was striving for that. I certainly didn't know anybody who believed they could make whatever they wanted to happen with intention and diligence and reverse engineering.

It would've been laughable if I'd said, I wanna double my income working half the hours. It just wasn't what I was talking about with any of the other entrepreneurs I knew, but it's okay that it didn't happen as quickly as I wanted to, that I had to figure things out. I invested in coaching that I went through therapy that I trialed and errored my way through because now I get to live here.

When I can cut off early and go walk over and pick my son up from school [00:12:00] without feeling guilty, I know it's worth it. When something big happens in my life that's going to take a lot of my time out and I don't spiral into fear about whether that's going to affect my revenue or results, I know it's worth it.

And when I take an entire morning or an entire day off and I go hiking in the mountains, and I actually feel excited for the downloads that I'm going to get and how fun and easy it's going to be to create that next piece of content or that podcast episode because of it, I feel grateful. So for anyone who just feels like they're longing and yearning for something different.

They too are having that voice saying, I can't go back, or I just can't do this anymore. I just wanna let you know you're now crazy. You can create your own uncommon way. You can create the business that looks however you [00:13:00] want it to look, and your work to set your future self up for success isn't to try and get to some end goal as quickly as possible.

Then it's gonna be really challenging to break those habits later 'cause you'll have even more skin in the game, even more at stake. Your work to set your higher self up for success is to start now. Listen, the moment I gave myself permission to stop hustling, that was the moment everything I wanted became possible.

Alright, my friends, if you are feeling the call to a different way of living and working, because you too are realizing that when you look back on your life, how you experienced it will matter more to you than how busy you were able to look. And maybe you're just audacious enough to think that. Perhaps you can create the results you want with even the less time, then that's exactly why I've created a [00:14:00] slate of new tools to help you launch your own transition into working smarter, not harder.

These new offers are going to be launched in June over the course of one week exactly when you're heading into summer and working less and can really use support like this. So make sure to get on the wait list, because then if you do end up purchasing something during the days of deals, you'll also get a personalized audit from me.

I'm gonna go through your website, your socials, and really help you make powerful tweaks to bring in sales more naturally and organically so that sales won't feel like work. We'll link to it in the show notes, of course. But it's at the uncommon way.com/dod. Bonus days of deals bonus. Tune in again on Tuesday for even more ways to create a shorter work week.[00:15:00]

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Ep 151: How These Top 3-Day Workweek Myths Are Holding You Back (And the Truth That Set Me Free)

What if this summer you could reclaim two extra days every week—without your income or clients missing a beat?

If summer has you juggling business with your BBQs, vacations, and kids, you're not alone. This episode shows why the real obstacle isn’t time but rather the myths that keep women from considering a different way of working.

Episode Summary

What if this summer you could reclaim two extra days every week—without your income or clients missing a beat?

In this episode, you will:

Learn which industries and types of businesses can have 3-day workweeks
Hear about the answer hiding in plain sight that allowed one entrepreneur to go from chasing no-show clients and working morning to night to cutting back her hours and watching one sales call after another happily pay in full for her entire package up front.
Discover the surprising way that boundary-setting might make people MORE likely to want to work with you, not less.

Press play and start designing the three-day workweek that lets you earn, live and enjoy summer on your terms.

Episodes Mentioned:
Ep #47: Safeguarding Against Burnout with Rachel Hale

Ep# 125: How to Go From Overworked to Easily Earning Multiple 6 Figures w/ Meg Smidt

Ep# 91: Q: My clients are exhausting me! How do I break the pattern of difficult clients?

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

This podcast dives into the potential of balancing a business and life without sacrificing revenue or impact. It helps women business owners and mompreneurs overcome overwhelm, decision fatigue, and the guilt of working less and stepping away from hustle culture while increasing leadership, strategic decision making, alignment and delegation / team building. Learn to build powerful habits and mindset, embrace smarter and higher vibration work methods, and master time management by streamlining tasks, implementing business systems, and even prioritising self-care. We explore efficiency and energetics, productivity and filling your cup, automation and where to personalize your efforts … all to reduce overworking, and finally take time off—without the fear or shame—whether that is with high-ticket offers, scalable offers, or passive income. Say goodbye to imposter syndrome and people pleasing while running a small business: It's time to shift your mindset, reclaim your work-life balance, and thrive!

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: In this episode, you'll discover why the objections keeping you from a three-day work week aren't truths, they are traps keeping you overworked, underleveraged, and less fulfilled. Welcome to the three-day work, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like, without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some will to help you work smarter, leapfully, and find true balance.

Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome back to the three-day work week. I love it so much, especially around here.

I love friends having barbecues in their backyard and the first dips in the water, which is so clear this time of year. And then the warming sun, it's heating up the pines and just releasing this core, just fragrance everywhere you go. And I love also that this is a time of year when I get to spend more time with friends and travel more, get my sons out of school.

And I know a lot of you are doing the same. Ah, it is summer. It is the time of year when we are spending more time with friends, we're traveling more, the kids are out of school.

And while all of that's amazing, it can also be stressful because our businesses don't just stop. And how do we get it all done? Some of us are just so burned out now that we're really grateful to have some kind of excuse to be able to take some time off, because we don't usually give ourselves time off. And so if family are in town or there's some other thing going on, we can finally permit that and give ourselves that permission.

But we know deep down that we're going to feel really guilty later or really frustrated with how things are going in our business. Others of us just try to barrel straight through. And I am proposing a third way where you intentionally scale back your weeks with the idea of growing at the same time.

There is no better time than now to put that into practice, right, to really streamline your operations, set yourself up for success with powerful offers, start thinking really strategically and leverage the intuitive hits that invariably come with some downtime. Which is why today we are dismantling the three top myths that I hear about three day work weeks that might be holding you back from seeing this as something you can do and something that you can keep doing and make it your new normal. I believe that you deserve to live your life really fully and deliciously and really squeeze the juice out of this really precious time on Earth.

I mean, statistically speaking, you probably have between 20,000 and maybe 11,000 days left on this planet. But not all of them will necessarily be high energy, healthy and free. We need to get real about how precious the time we have right now is.

Because who knows maybe the time we have is a decade, a year, a week. Who knows? The real question is, what do you want to do with that time? How many of those days do you want to spend burnt out? How many of those days do you want to be disconnected and not present with the ones that you love or even really cranky and aggravated? Which is invariably what happens when you are overstressed and overworked. This is something that you have a lot of control over.

You get to decide how you spend your days, especially as an entrepreneur. But you really need to take hold of that power rather than allowing excuses for why it can't happen for you right now. So this episode will help you not just reconsider your perspective, but also relieve any advanced guilt you might be starting to feel about whatever time you do choose to take.

In this episode, you will learn which industries and types of businesses can have three-day work weeks. And hear about the answer hiding in plain sight that allowed one entrepreneur to go from chasing no-show clients and working morning to night, to cutting back her hours, and listening to people on one sales call after another, happily pay in full for the entire package up front. And you'll discover the surprising way that boundary setting might make people more likely to want to work with you, not less.

So let's get down to it. Number one is that wouldn't work for me for my industry, my stage of business, et cetera. One of the most common questions I get is what type of business or stage of business does this work for? And the answer is every business.

Every entrepreneur has the power to determine the schedule they want and reverse engineer how to make that happen for themselves. Again, business isn't really rocket science. Yes, emotionally it feels really hard.

It feels confusing. It stretches us and our problem-solving abilities, but really we're just creating solutions for people. And we need to find out what solutions our people want, and we need to give them that solution.

I know, it doesn't seem that simple. We really overcomplicate it with so many different things, and it's distracting us from the one true thing that we have to do. Provide solutions.

Provide superior solutions. My team was recently pitching me on a podcast, and this was a podcast specifically for attorneys, and the first two idea topics we gave them were specifically around a three-day work week, and then there was another one about really a way to reset your nervous system so that you can do things like break past revenue plateaus or create more impactful thought leadership. And the host wrote back and said, Well, I feel like the first two don't apply to attorneys, so maybe we can talk about the third.

And my team kind of agreed and went on with continuing the email correspondence, but when I read over that when I saw it back, I'm like, no. Every entrepreneur, if you are the head of your law firm, for instance, I still believe you can create a three-day work week if you want to. You just need to work backwards from your end goal and figure out how to make it happen.

If they're saying they don't have time to just work three days because of this or reason or this other reason, they don't really have a time problem. They have a clarity problem. And this is true for any business that's in this situation where you're overworking.

You simply aren't clear on how to do it yet. It doesn't mean it can't be done. You don't know how to create that kind of focus for yourself or manifest in that way, or create a team or systems that give you time instead of take time from you.

How to package up really standout offers that are a custom fit for your ideal clients, or maybe you're not even very clear on who your ideal clients are. But when you start getting clear on these things and you align your business around your unique superpowers and that's valuable when people are seeking you out, work doesn't feel like work. It feels like flow.

And the universe conspires to help amplify that work that you're meant to do in the world. And you don't need to spend all of the time scrambling that we tend to spend. So a lot of people will say, well, but that only works if you already have a big team.

But the truth is that a three day work week doesn't require a big team. It requires smart systems, intentional offers, and better decision making. So solopreneurs can do that.

So many women launch businesses with very limited time because they are working a full time job or they are caring for children or they're going to school. I know of a woman named Janae Young and she launched a business while she was in college at a very challenging school and grew it to multiple six figures in college. So it's really not about the team that you have.

It's about how you think and how you build smarter. Because for everyone who says they can't do it because they don't have the team yet, there's someone else that comes to me saying, my business is already too big or too complex to simplify like that. But the truth is that complexity is often a symptom of an overactive mind, right? Of unclear offers, of bloated operations, a three day work week, it really forces an elegant design of your business, which is a gift to any business.

And it also helps you clean out that mind clutter. Some people will tell me it doesn't work for my kind of business because my clients won't respect that limited availability. That just won't work in their industry.

Maybe they're real estate agents or attorneys like we mentioned before. But the truth is that clear boundaries create trust and they elevate your perceived value. Clients actually don't need you 24-7.

They need you clear, confident, and excellent when you are present. For every client who is demanding and challenging to work with, there is another client who is a dream to work with. And your job is to bring in those clients rather than telling yourself that the only ones available are the ones that are going to make these demands of you.

I have an episode that I'll link to on how to navigate, particularly challenging clients. And I'll also link to an interview that I did with a client of mine, Rachel Hale, who was in a situation where clients kept asking her for jobs and to go above and beyond and to be available to her at all times. And what happened when she shifted that so that you can hear it from somebody other than me? Because imagine if you were working three days a week or four days a week, what if you were working the time that you wanted to work? Not that you felt you had to work.

But the true time, if you were to sit back and design your life, your uncommon way of living, you said, I want to work this many hours and I want to be doing these kind of things in these hours. With these, like we said, 10,000 or however many thousand of hours I have left, this is how I want to spend them. And this is the proportion of the life that I want to spend on each of these things that actually mean something to me.

And then imagine that you had a business that supported you in that. And that you had clients that supported you in that. And that you were no longer having any doubts about that being possible because you were living it.

That's what you need to be setting your mind towards instead of all of the reasons that it can't happen. All right, the second myth that I hear is, okay, maybe it is technically possible for me, but if I did, I wouldn't make as much or I wouldn't be as successful as I could be if I continue to work my current work hours. Or like I know so many of you are thinking, if I just had more time, if I could just work a little bit more, if I did a few more posts, if I did a few more of this, then I could make more money.

But actually the truth is that when you stop spreading yourself so thin, you can build better offers. You can streamline system. You can focus on what actually drives the income.

Look, it really just, it comes down to three things. It's about the thing that you're selling. It's about the way you run your business.

And then it's about who you are as a CEO. Those are the three things you need to focus on to create the life you want. One of my clients, Meg, who's also been on the podcast, so we'll link to her episode as well.

She really only had to do one thing differently. To shift from working from early in the morning until late at night, often chasing clients who wouldn't even show up for calls, and then trying to recruit payments, and regretfully telling her aging mom that unfortunately she couldn't take time off to go and see her. She was just too busy and had too many clients scheduled.

To shift from that to, yes, being able to take that time off, but also having clients that were so excited to work with her and happily paid in advance in advance for her packages and actually having time to, you know, make a juicer a smoothie in the morning and be really just present in that moment instead of so stressed and rushing from one call to the next. But she just, that one thing she needed was just to get clear on what her unique superpowers really were and, of course, speak to the clients who wanted that. And that was something that was really hidden in plain sight because she was so close to it.

She'd been living with it for her whole life, and she just couldn't see it for herself. She thought this thing she did was just what everyone does, and that couldn't possibly be that valuable, and it was so helpful for her to have me, but also all of her mastermind sisters and the clarity accelerator to be like, we see this in you. This is amazing.

People want this, and then she was like, all right, well then let me give it a try, and the rest is history. I'll let you hear it from her on the podcast. And along these same lines of I wouldn't make as much or I wouldn't be as successful, I think there's also a fear in a lot of us that's related, which is that we will lose our momentum if we take time off, right? The only thing that keeps us going, like we're really afraid of being lazy.

I'm going to do a separate episode just on like the guilty feelings, the guilty myths, the ways in which we feel guilty, that also keep us from moving into a three day work week. But it's stuff like this where you feel like you might become that kind of person that you don't want to become, where you just would never get back into the swing of things if you started taking like a four day weekend, which I get because now if you were to take a four day weekend, now that you're so tired, you probably would not feel like doing much of anything. It may be hard to get yourself back into the groove after that.

But pausing regularly and not getting to that point of exhaustion and running on fumes, when you pause, then it refuels your clarity and your creativity and your ability to make strategic moves. You come back to work more excited with more ideas and then you knock stuff out in record time. It really flows in a much different way.

Rest is a performance tool. And if you don't like thinking of it as rest, think of it like I do as CEO time. Very important CEO time.

It's just like plugging your phone into the wall and it might be the most amazing phone. But if the battery runs down, it's not going to do anything for you. That's how we are and we have to see our liquid gold, our energy as just that valuable.

The truth is that so much of your time is wasted on busy work and overthinking and cleaning up simple mistakes that happen when you're rushed or your foggy brain or decision fatigue or revenge scrolling because deep down you're crying out for a break. And since you won't allow it of yourself in any other way, you subconsciously do it this way by getting lost in the scroll. Right.

So many things are going on in these days that are not really serving you and they're not really serving your business. But when you don't have time for any of that stuff and then you couple that with your well being really full, then you're focused skyrockets and so does your output. So take a second and just imagine that.

Imagine you have just had a few days where you were doing the things that really really give you energy and bring you joy. Maybe that is connecting with friends. Maybe it's being out in nature.

Maybe it's just like if you're a mom checking into a hotel room and having complete silence. And I don't know. Maybe getting a massage or maybe it's completing this great project in your garden and it's amazing because you've been moving your body that whole time.

You've been out in the fresh air and it really feels like this project accomplished that may make your outdoor space just such a gorgeous place to be that you say I can't even believe I live here. Right. Something like that where you're so well nourished and then you've noticed that these ideas have been popping into your head and you're really itching to get back to work.

And when you sit down, you don't have to come back to a mountain of things that are waiting for you like when you get back from a normal vacation. But actually you know that everything is set up and things are still flowing. Right.

You can actually get into doing the high level work that you do best. Right. That really creates the money in your business.

And you can do it without guilt. You don't feel guilty about the time that you've just taken off. That is possible for you, my friend, but you have to believe it's possible and then you have to work backwards and make it happen.

Alright, the third myth that we're going to talk about today is that now it's just not the right moment to embark on a change like this. It's going to be so challenging to bring on the right team member and to create these systems and to overhaul my offer. And again, I just want to bring you back to A, sometimes it's just a tweak and B, if you don't have time to build better systems, that's exactly why you need them.

It's like the saying, if you don't have time to meditate, that's exactly why you need to meditate. And the longer that you delay on doing these things for yourself in your business, the longer you stay stuck in a cycle that drains your energy and caps your growth. Even small little shifts like streamlining one recurring task, that can start a domino effect that frees up hours and hours over time.

You don't need more time to start. You need to start to create more time. Some people will say, well, I just need to get through this launch or this season or this year or first, right? And the truth is there's just always a next thing.

That's what comes from us being visionary, idea focused people. We create ideas. We create possibilities.

And of course, there's always going to be a next thing. So what you need is a new way of working. And that shift begins when you stop postponing that new way.

Because how many of those remaining days, going back to those remaining days again, will you be saying maybe next year to the things you really want? Are you going to wait until you have 9,000 days left to start living those 9,000 days well? Are you going to wait until you have 5,000 days left to really start living a life you can truly be proud of? I think this is such legacy thinking because it really stems from what we've been conditioned with, where in the old days you would work for until you retired and then you'd finally be able to live well. And of course, we say, oh, we're too elevated for that now. We don't live like our grandfather did.

We're doing better. But the truth is, if you actually step back and look at it, it looks very, very similar. We may not be saying that we're going to wait until we're 65 anymore.

But if you look at our actions, we kind of are. And this, after I do this, then I can. That's another of those little sneaky guilty mindset things where it's like, I don't quite deserve it yet.

That is totally made up in your head. You get to choose how you live your life today. No one can choose it for you.

So let's start living a life now that you can truly be proud of. Because the truth is that success doesn't create your freedom. Freedom starts in your mind.

And what creates freedom is you building the habit of freedom. The longer you delay, the more ingrained those patterns of hustle become. My mom is visiting now.

And of course, a lot goes back to my mom and I just want her not being able to sit down because she wants to help in the kitchen. She wants to take tasks off of other people's plate. But it's because she's been doing it her whole life that she can't rest.

So start it now. There's a Chinese proverb that says, the best time to a planet a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is right now.

If you haven't created these patterns for yourself and these habits for yourself and this mindset for yourself and this business for yourself yet, then do it now. Set your future self up for success. As you do so, you'll start attracting more and more of what enables your freedom too.

Because you'll be focused on that rather than focused on the busyness all of the time attracting more and more busyness. We want to bring you more wealth, more support, more talented team members, more opportunities. And so it starts with us doing it for ourselves because we teach people and the universe how to treat us.

All right, my friends, if you are feeling like on fumes and really wanting to set yourself up well for summer, but you just don't know exactly how to do it, that's exactly why I've created the days of deals offers that are coming to you in June. It's going to be one week with a different offer released each day. They're going to be very bite sized, very easy to digest and perfect for setting you up for success this summer and beyond.

If you want to start creating that reality now, get on the wait list. We'll link to it in the show notes, of course, but it's the uncommonway.com forward slash DoD bonus, days of deals bonus, because when you do purchase something during the days of deals, if you're on this wait list, you'll also get a personalized audit from me. I'm going to go through your website, your social and really help you improve those to make your life so much easier, bring in sales more naturally and organically.

And it's something I really never do except for my clients, so you want to hop on this now. Okay, my friend, your life is opening for you. Go seize it, have an amazing week, and let's talk again on Tuesday.

Thanks for joining us here at the uncommon way. If you want more tips and resources for developing clarity in your business and life, including the clarity first strategy for growing and scaling your business, visit the uncommonway.com. See you next time.

Support at The Uncommon Way 5/20/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 5/20/25

Ep 150: How ABBA'S Global Fame Strategy Will Work Better For Your Business Than What You See Most Entrepreneurs Doing Today

Ever wonder how some people create such high success and creativity in such a short amount of time—and how you can do the same?

If you’ve ever felt pressured to follow conventional business rules, confused about what steps to take, or just surrounded by people who don’t really ‘get’ you, this episode shows you how a ’70s pop group’s uncommon strategy can help you sell out your offers, embrace your unique voice, and reclaim your three-day workweek.

Episode Summary

Ever wonder how some people create such high success and creativity in such a short amount of time—and how you can do the same?

In this episode you will…

Discover why ABBA’s global fame—despite being dismissed by critics and ignored by America—might be the success strategy your business needs.
Learn what one of the world’s most iconic music groups can teach you about creating standout offers, irresistible messaging, and work that spreads itself.
Uncover the surprising truth about contentment, and why creating from joy might be the most radical, world-changing act of all.

Resources Mentioned:
Be the first to hear about our upcoming Days of Deals Week and get a special gift with purchase only for waitlist subscribers: A personal audit from Jenna of your website and social media to dial in your messaging, make sales easier, and move you closer to a 3-day workweek.

Get on the waitlist

Episodes Mentioned:
Ep #34: The 'Too Braggy' Fear and What I'm Doing About It

Ep 149: Why Imposter Syndrome Is Costing You Hours Every Week—And How To Stop It

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

This podcast dives into the challenges of leadership, decision making, and delegation, helping women business owners and mompreneurs overcome overwhelm, decision fatigue, and the guilt of working less. Learn to build powerful habits, embrace smarter working, and master time management by streamlining tasks, implementing business systems, and even prioritising self-care. We explore efficiency, productivity, and automation to create passive income, reduce overworking, and finally take time off—without the fear or shame. Say goodbye to imposter syndrome and people pleasing while running a small business: It's time to shift your mindset, reclaim your work-life balance, and thrive!

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: [00:00:00] In this episode, you'll discover why Abba's path to global fame despite being dismissed by critics and ignored by America. Might be the success strategy your business needs. Welcome to the three day work week, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth.

I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo, to help you work smarter, lead boldly, and find true balance. Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome back to the three day work week. We've got a short, fun episode for you today, but it's still packed with really valuable insights that will help your business and your mindset.

Starting today, we'll be talking about the new Netflix documentary on the seventies pop band, Abba, and six great lessons it gives us as entrepreneurs. In this episode, you'll discover why Abba's global fame, despite being dismissed by critics [00:01:00] and ignored by America, might be the very success strategy that your business needs.

And you'll learn what one of the world's most iconic music groups can teach you about creating standout offers, irresistible messaging, and work that spreads itself. You'll uncover the surprising truth about contentment and why creating from joy might be the most radical or world changing act of all.

If you are new around here, you probably don't know that I'm a huge fan of the seventies. I mean, maybe you got keyed in by the look of the disco podcast art, but honestly, that was not premeditated. It's just something we happened upon and I loved it. But anyway, I love that decade. I love that the introduction of the birth control pill created an unstoppable cascade towards equality for women.

I love the paradoxical fashion aesthetic where you had these earthy, [00:02:00] chunky wood accessories and boho looks and world influences. On the one hand, I mean, think about how different that was compared to the sixties and the fifties and the forties and everything before that. But then you also had the glitz of Halston and Diane Furstenberg.

No more corsets. No more pushup bras. And I especially love the music, which was revolutionary in almost every genre. So of course when I saw that Netflix had a documentary on ABBA last night, I just had to devour it right away. After all, I was a toddler when my mom and I were in Greece and Abba was first popular.

We were living the mama Mia experience decades before the musical was dreamed up. Their music was what was playing on my little cassette player in my earliest elementary school memories, along with Blondie and Olivia Newton John. But what I wasn't prepared for when I watched that [00:03:00] documentary were just how many insights their story would reveal for entrepreneurs.

I was sitting there with my mouth open, telling my husband, Ben, remember that part, Ben? Don't forget what he said just there, because I always trust his memory more than my own. It was so good, and I can't wait to share it with you, but first, just in case you don't know, Abba is one of the bestselling music acts in history.

They've sold over 400 million records worldwide, and that's remarkable because they were only active for about a decade and they sang in English even though that wasn't their first language. And their music is the basis of one of the, the most successful musicals of all time, mama Mia, which brought in Get this $4 billion Globally across both stage and film and royalties from just one Abba song alone.

Chicky Tita have contributed more than $4 million to UNICEF for children's welfare initiatives around the world. They [00:04:00] were one of the first major pop acts to donate a hit songs royalties to charity. They really helped pave the way for music-based philanthropy. Now, before we dive into my top six takeaways, I wanna let you know that we've got something really fun and exciting coming up for you this summer.

Our days of deals that we had back in November with such a hit that we're gonna be bringing them back again and this time with completely fun new different offers. Now, I'm not gonna share too many details yet, but let's just say they'll have to do with working smarter, not harder, and it will be perfect timing in order to let you go out and enjoy your summer.

To enjoy your summer without guilt, knowing that on the business front you've got it. I want you to pause right now and head to the link in the show notes so you can get on the wait list because everybody on the wait list who makes a purchase during the days of [00:05:00] deals is going to get a free bonus offer that some would say is even more exciting than the deals themselves, but I don't know.

I'll let you decide that, but it's a free audit from me of your website and your social media. I'll help you see what your people see when they first come to your sites. What information about any of your limited beliefs might be showing up in your copy that might be creating energetic blocks between you and your ideal people.

And I'll also help you work smarter, not harder with the very assets you already have to tighten up your messaging. Shorten the buyer's journey for your clients. And create far higher results with the same amount of effort. So again, if you wanna get in on that, go to the link in the show notes or visit the website@theuncommonway.com slash DOD bonus that stands for Days of Deals [00:06:00] Bonus, DOD bonus.

And now without further ado. Let's talk about six top takeaways from the new ABBA documentary about success, work-life balance, and creating your best and most impactful work in the world. Number one is it all begins with the song, with the right song. Success is inevitable. They knew that no matter what their most important work, their highest leverage activity was to create a song.

There were periods when they were out touring for too long, when they weren't able to do that. We'll talk about that in a minute. But in order to get back to what they loved and people loved about them, because that's the intersection that we all want to live in all the time. In order to get back to that, it had to be about the song.

A reporter was once with Benny and Bjorn when they were creating, and he asked, but aren't you gonna [00:07:00] take notes of any of this music that you're coming up with right now? And they said no because their goal was to create a melody so memorable that you couldn't get it out of your head. If they forgot it, then this obviously wasn't that.

So if the melody wasn't memorable enough to stick, they scrapped it, they moved onto the next one. What if you treated your messaging the same way? What have you treated your offers this way? We are here to stand out and be seen. And I think so often people interpret that to mean that they need to be dancing around on Instagram.

But really what we're here to do is to create our thing to really touch people and impact the people that we are here to work with. And that comes from ideas. It comes from an offer they can't ignore. It comes from words you say that pierce right through them. You are creating something that makes an [00:08:00] impression that commands attention unapologetically.

Now, if this is making you shift in your seat a bit with discomfort, because it would be so much easier just to kind of do what everyone else is doing and fly slightly under the radar. Then I've got two episodes that I'm gonna link to for you. You've gotta check out episode 1 49 on Imposter Syndrome and episode 34 called The Too Braggy Fear and what I'm doing about it, lesson number two, you might not be everyone's cup of tea.

It doesn't mean that you're not great. Lots of people hated Abba and lots of people loved them. In their own country. There was a particularly negative attitude. People felt that they were a manufactured band that was soulless, that had come together just to make money, which is ironic because there was an 85% [00:09:00] tax that they were paying in Sweden for being in an upper tax bracket.

So the country basically guaranteed that nobody would become too rich, but people thought they were in it just for the money. Many critics dismissed them. People laughed at them, their flamboyant costumes after lots of harsh newspaper articles written about them. There were critics calling them shit right there in print.

People interviewed on the street would say the same thing, but at the same time, they were selling record after record. Their music kept topping the charts. They would take entire countries by storm. Australia, for example. And some of their final concerts at Wembley, I think they could have, they sold out maybe four nights or five nights, and they said, people said they could have sold out 16 easily.

And the who's who of Rock would come to these concerts to see them. Pete Townsend famously told them that [00:10:00] SOS was the best pop song ever written. So what I'm getting at here is that what matters is that you keep creating for your people rather than trying to be something for everybody. It doesn't matter how many people don't like you, it matters how many love you.

Or maybe we should say the quality with which you people love you. So next time you have someone say something offhanded to you or write something offhanded and you find yourself thinking about it on repeat. Just watch this documentary. It's gonna give you such a lift. Things could be a lot worse. And really if someone has different taste and doesn't vibe with what you're doing, 'cause that is kind of inevitable, after all, you can still be wildly, wildly successful.

You do you. You be you unapologetically, and your people will find you. Point number three, rest breeds creativity. When they were touring too much, they weren't [00:11:00] able to compose. They were tired, they were cranky with each other. One couple ended up divorcing. They composed best when they were at home, barefoot, sitting on their porch.

Two guys and two instruments. And I mean, we all can get by on stress and pressure, right? We all can produce in that way, but can we produce at that level? And what if we were challenging ourselves to compose at that level, songs that the whole world was humming and the people still know 50 years later.

That kind of work didn't come from pressure. They needed to stop the frenetic schedules. And get back to themselves to create rest and fullness and then compose from there. Point number four, you don't have to follow the common strategy. At that time, everybody thought to become known worldwide, you needed to break into the American market.

It was a must do. [00:12:00] Abba tried at one point, but they had just produced a disco album right when there was a huge backlash to disco in the United States, fueled by a lot of closed-mindedness and homophobia and racism, but they did it without America. No one could believe it. They were huge in Europe, and they became huge in Australia, and finally they were huge in Latin America.

And this is just such a good lesson for us to take to heart because you don't need to conquer America or follow anyone else's rules to build something the whole world loves you. Get to do it your way. Fifth point, action and political action. Take various forms. One of the criticisms of the group was that they seemed too happy and out of touch.

We'll talk about that in a minute, and that they weren't overly political in their music. Again, this is the seventies. So think Vietnam. Think [00:13:00] military coups in Latin America. A lot of strife around the world. But Abba, what they did was they created music that uplifted people, and they donated the charity.

As I mentioned before, they fueled $4 million through royalties for unicef, specifically with the song Chick Tita. In the beginning, they were donating 50% of their royalties, and they later signed over 100% of the royalties of that song to unicef, and that really paved the way for philanthropy with music.

So do the thing that you do because, yeah, they could have worked in another profession. I'm sure there was somebody out there saying that music was unnecessary unless it was political or that it was somehow wrong unless it was political. There were other people probably saying that if they were musicians, they should be doing it differently, but too many people judge from the bench.

They're not out there [00:14:00] living your life or doing your thing, but they have an opinion about how you should be doing it, and it taken too far. They'll even say you are flawed somehow because you don't care enough about their issue. And I get it. I get frustrated sometimes when I hear men talking about or doing something that I perceive is unfair or just unconscious about women's issues.

But at the same time, I know that I'm choosing to care about these issues and educate people about these issues by choice, and that's not going to be everybody's choice. We all have different choices, different ways of doing things. My family laughs at me to no end because I wash every single piece of Saran Wrap that we ever use.

I never buy Saran Wrap. I reuse. I reuse, I reuse. But it breaks my heart to think about throwing plastic in the trash. I donate to organizations that help with women's trafficking. I donate every year to [00:15:00] organizations that support women's empowerment with education and entrepreneurship. And there are 50,000 issues in the world that I don't know enough about that I'm not supporting, quote unquote enough.

The same is true for each and every one of you and each and every person in the world. Ideally, we would do it all, but since we can't, we might as well do things in our way, in the way that we perceive we'll do them best. So for you, if that is through your business, great. If it's not through your business, great.

I, for one, am not going to judge you and label you as uncaring. Let's review these quickly because they all kind of lead up to the final point I wanna bring up. So the first is it all begins with the song. It all comes back down to that thing you do or you offer. And as you really slip [00:16:00] into your expression, you might not be everyone's cup of tea.

But even so, you can still be wildly, wildly successful. Number three, rest breeds creativity. We talk about that a lot here. And also, number four, the strategy that you choose. You get to do it your way. No matter what industry you're in, there is some norm, some group thinking about how things have to be done to be successful in that industry.

I promise you it is not true as long as you are connecting with people, creating real solutions and value for people, you good. Number five, action takes various forms, so really just sing at the top of your lungs here. Let's not be ashamed of how we're helping and let's try not to judge others for how they're helping.

And number six, as you're doing all of this, you're developing a deep sense of trust for [00:17:00] yourself, but also contentment. And contentment, my friends, is counter-cultural. A big part of why they were so criticized is because they were too cheerful. They were too content. There were the European intellectuals that thought that we had serious things to focus on.

But of course, as we know now from history, it wasn't the only time in history that there have been serious things to focus on. We've continued to have serious things to focus on as we do to this day. And there were very like strong, angry movements that were wonderful, right? The punk movements, rock movements, social upheaval, and there was a lot of pure expression there.

But that doesn't mean that others need to be criticized for not sharing that form of expression. Traditionally youthful people feel a lot of fire, right? And then [00:18:00] often elders are quite grumpy, like a grumpy old man. And people who are in their family years are perhaps, you know, disillusioned and they're just getting by and they're in the grind.

There's a norm of discontent because humans have a natural or wired in negativity bias. On top of that, there's like a glorification of that discontent. I remember when I lived in New York City in my twenties, and I'd grown up in kind of a happy suburban neighborhood, and I found New Yorkers who were kind of gruff and neurotic and misanthropes, you know, they didn't like people.

And I found it so refreshing, and I also believed it to be kind of more sophisticated and more real. But now having lived in different places, met different people. Done more loops around the sun. I'm also realizing that's a cliche and it's an easy way out. Let's break that cycle. What if we admired and rewarded people who [00:19:00] create contentment rather than demonizing them?

There was a really funny point in the documentary because they were juxtaposing abba and some of the interviews Abba was doing, where they were always polite and smiling, and even when interviewers were asking some really impertinent questions and they were comparing them to the Sex Pistols and the Sex Pistols were just out to tear everything down, destroy social norms, they would sit there with interviewers on TV just cursing them out, and they were.

Critical of everything. And yet the funny thing is that they were interviewing a roadie who had toured with the Sex Pistols, and they said that the one cassette tape they were listening to on repeat was Abba was Dancing Queen, and it was the road's job to turn over that cassette tape when the side ended.

And heaven forbid the roadie didn't turn it over in time. This is a beautiful tension we have as humans. How we move back and forth between contentment and [00:20:00] discontent. How we can find joy and beauty even in our most difficult times, and how crazily, even in some of the moments when we're kind of the most blessed, we feel the least satisfied.

But when someone creates a life on purpose that brings them contentment. And when someone is brave enough to talk about that, even though so much of the social discourse is about finding what's not right with a situation that's worth celebrating, cheerfulness is not a character flaw. You know, they were mocked for being content, but what if joy is actually the boldest action of all, and that creating from joy.

Can produce work that is just as impactful as people who are creating from hardship. Oh, who knew from a documentary about such a lighthearted pop band? There'd be such deep themes and currents running through it. I hope it's leaving you [00:21:00] feeling inspired and refreshed and ready to take on the world like it did for me.

Drop me a note or leave me a review here and let me know how your week goes. And let's talk again on Tuesday.

Support at The Uncommon Way 5/13/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 5/13/25

Ep 149: Why Imposter Syndrome Is Costing You Hours Every Week—And How To Stop It

Ever catch yourself rattling off reasons you aren’t “ready yet,” even though others tell you to just go for it?

If you have a nagging voice inside that says you’re not good enough or qualified enough yet, this episode shows you how to unwind imposter syndrome and get back to scaling your business faster, better and easier.

Episode Summary

Ever catch yourself rattling off reasons you aren’t “ready yet,” even though others tell you to just go for it?

In this episode, you will:

Discover how to embody deep confidence without faking a thing—so you can lead, sell, or serve powerfully, even when you’re doing something new.
Learn the daily practice that rewires your brain to own your brilliance and silences impostor syndrome faster than any mindset journal ever could.
Hear the energetic shift one entrepreneur made that transformed her client relationships from “Can I just get the bare minimum?” to “Thank you, I’ll take it all.”

Press play to discover how to transform doubt into confidence and stop wasting your precious time on compensatory behaviors you don’t need.

Resources Mentioned:

Download your Thought Cleanse tool to help shed imposter syndrome and experience a different way of showing up in the world. You’ll be able to feel the results immediately in your business: https://www.theuncommonway.com/thought-cleanse

Episodes mentioned

Ep #47: Safeguarding Against Burnout with Rachel Hale

Ep #80: How to Find Your Secret Sauce: Tactics, Mindset and Beyond

Ep 134: 15 Data-Backed Reasons Only 2% of Women-Owned Businesses Reach $1 Million in Revenue — And How to Break Through

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Jenna Harrison: (0:00 - 0:29) In this episode, you'll discover how to shed imposter syndrome and feel deep confidence without faking a thing, so you can lead, sell, or serve powerfully, even when you're doing something new. Welcome to the three-day workweek, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like, without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo to help you work smarter, lead boldly, and find true balance.

(0:30 - 5:28) Welcome, welcome back to the three-day workweek. Just this week, I was speaking with a woman who had amazing stories to share about her many very impressive personal and business successes. But if you looked at her website, you would just never guess.

And she admitted that she rarely talked about those things and often kind of forgot about them. And that pattern of thinking was severely limiting her potential because when she thought about launching a new business or even committing to a program that would help her, she felt deep self-doubt that she would be able to do it. And maybe you've been there too in some shape or form.

I mean, I know I have. In fact, a study that I've quoted before, and we'll link to that episode in the show notes, it shows that women not only experience imposter syndrome more frequently than men, but we feel it more profoundly too. And I know that my clients go through this as well.

I remember once I challenged a client of mine to think through the lifetime value that her clients got from working with her, and she found it really challenging. So she decided to plug it into ChatGPT and was blown away by the hundreds of thousands of dollars that it calculated. And really, only then was she really able to let herself start believing it was true.

But isn't it so interesting that it took an outside source, an official seeming source, to grant her validity and permission? Because when we hold ourself in the imposter position, we're telling ourselves that we don't know as well as someone else does, instead of sourcing our own truth from within. So today, I want to help you increase your sense of self-worth and really own your superpowers, and decrease your imposter syndrome. In this episode, you will discover how to embody deep confidence without faking a thing, so you can lead, sell, or serve powerfully, even when you're doing something new.

You'll learn the daily practice that rewires your brain to own your brilliance, and it helps silence the imposter syndrome faster than any mindset journal ever could. And you'll hear the energetic shift one entrepreneur made that transformed her client relationships from, can I just get the bare minimum, to, thank you, I'll take it all. But first, a little PSA.

Imposter syndrome is more than just an uneasy feeling. It is a mindset that infiltrates every decision you make and every action you take, often without you realizing. It undercuts how much you make, how fast you grow, the impact you make, the way others treat you, and even how your children think about themselves.

Often when I first talk to women who've joined the Clarity Accelerator and they want to learn to step back from hustle culture and create powerful businesses that give them more flexibility, we find that so much of the unnecessary work they've been doing and the mental hoops they've been jumping through stem from imposter syndrome. You second guess what you're saying or putting out because there's that voice in the back of your mind going, who are you kidding? You say yes to challenging clients because deep down you don't think you're capable of working with those other people. You're prepping double time for meetings because you've got to make sure you can pass for knowing what you're talking about.

You stuff your offers with more services because deep down you don't think that core thing you do is really worth all of that on its own. And you micromanage team members because deep down you don't think you're capable of attracting top talent. If you suspect that this or something similar is true for you, work with a coach or therapist consistently until you shift things.

And get around other women where you don't need false humility to be liked, and in fact you're celebrated for leading into your gifts. Because imagine if you could just sit down and write out that speech or even speak extemporaneously with a few bullets because you believed your ideas were that valuable. What if you didn't need to prep that much for a meeting because this is your life's work and you know it like the back of your hand? And what if you were supported by top talent and each week they were surprising you with what they were bringing to your business? Don't waste your precious time trying to DIY your way out of such deeply ingrained beliefs and patterns.

Other things maybe, yeah, you hear a new way of thinking on a podcast and you're like, oh, I'll try that on and it's easy, right? But this just is not that. And you will never be able to see your own brain as easily or objectively as someone outside of your brain, right? Even a brain surgeon can't do surgery on herself. So please get support and please encourage your colleagues and sisters to do the same and call it out when you spot their imposter syndrome.

(5:29 - 6:13) Because together we can shift how women are showing up in the world, how they're experiencing the world, and we can get more women a seat at the table, right? Have them show up fully, get more wealth into the hands of women, and help the world benefit from the genius of more women. Okay, rant over. Without further ado, please enjoy the replay of our listener favorite, episode number 81.

Hi there, welcome back. Today we are continuing our mini-series on the secret sauce. In our last episode, episode 80, we talked about finding your secret sauce, but now we're going to go a step further and we're going to talk about owning your secret sauce.

(6:13 - 9:10) And this really goes hand in hand with imposter syndrome, which keeps so many women from playing full out. But also it's important because it can sneak up on you at any time. Maybe you think you're past it and you set your sights on some new goal and boom, there you are all over again, questioning everything.

I was talking to a woman the other day who had founded a software company that was extremely successful, but when she thought about growing it even more, she couldn't help thinking, maybe I've reached my limit. Maybe this is the Peter Principle and I'm just done. Here's where I stop.

And when we talked about potentially selling the company, she was saying, I just don't think I'm the kind of person that could go out there and sell it. So this comes up at all levels, my friends. And whatever is going on for you, wherever you are, I want to help you overcome that like yesterday, because you've got big things to do.

So today, as always, you'll get three super useful and actionable tips. I'll give you one tactical to-do, one mindset related tip, and one about the energetics of the situation. My tactical tip for you today is that you have got to desensitize yourself to talking about it, to owning it.

And you are going to need baby steps here. It's like when my son Dylan decides that all of a sudden he wants to change where his hair is parted. But his hair, of course, is used to parting where he's, well, where I've always parted it.

Now he's doing his own hair. Of course, he wants it to go the other way, because he is, after all, my son and wants to do his own uncommon way. But that's not going to happen overnight.

It's going to take consistent, repeated action to coax the hair in another direction. And whenever you are having thoughts of being an imposter or not being good enough, I guarantee it is not the first time you've ever thought that. That is not part of your higher self and your natural essence saying, you know what, maybe I'm an imposter.

No, that is conditioned thinking, something that's been given to you, and that your brain has thought over and over again, and it's become a pattern. It's become a pattern that jumps up every time you're moving into a new level. So I am going to challenge you to talk about your secret sauce or what you do so well once a day.

And each time you do, I want you to think in your head that you're using a hashtag not sorry. Not sorry. I'm not sorry for just speaking truth about what I do so well.

(9:11 - 15:25) I'm not sorry for owning this. Now I first tried this for myself when I was doing something a bit unrelated. I was taking my son for the first time for a month in Greece.

This is when he was not even two years old. And it was something I dreamed about and saved for. And yet when the time came up, I noticed myself feeling really bad about sharing it on social media.

And when I started investigating that, I just questioned, why exactly am I ashamed about this? And it coincided with a lot of inner work that I'd been doing. And I realized how much resistance I had to being perceived as too braggy and to owning accomplishments and owning an uncommon lifestyle. So I decided to go the other way and to actually start a series of posts about my trip to Greece, where I wouldn't be checking myself.

And I'd kick it off with a post with the hashtag not sorry, just listing 10 things about myself that I no longer wanted to be sorry about. Well, it really struck a nerve and caught on. And so many women started joining with me in this.

And somewhere, for instance, in their post, you would see, and I went to Oxford, hashtag not sorry. And it felt amazing. It was like in the Barbie movie when the Pulitzer Prize winner says, wait a minute, I did write a book.

And through consistent repetition, and especially if you're lucky enough to have others join you in this, so you're not alone, it will start to feel like you're waking up out of a fog. I really recommend that you try this for 30 days to see what a difference it makes. And just to let you know what's on the other side, here I am, years later, I've made these month-long trips part of our yearly routine.

And we are now moving to Spain because I did so. Many women have told me how much that inspires them. Now, when I was talking about the hashtag not sorry, I was using that on social media.

But you do not have to do this 30 day practice on social media. You might choose to do it on social media, in which case, you could just be dropping one line into your post that has to do with you owning your secret sauce just in passing and oh, this is something I do. Or this is something that clients love.

Or this is something that I've just always been good at. Or you could choose to do it as an entire post, maybe resurrecting a moment from the past where this has just been so innate for you, or how you've cultivated it, or how you've used it in service of your clients, or even getting real about how it can be challenging to recognize and own our own gifts. But if you've been with me for any amount of time, you probably know that I am not tied to social media.

I don't even think you need to be on social media. So some of you may prefer to not use social media at all, or to sprinkle in your 30 day practice with other places. Even just mentioning it to your family is a step forward.

Even just saying it and passing to an acquaintance or a stranger. There are so many opportunities and venues for you to just express. And that is all we're talking about here.

It's where you become comfortable with taking something that is inside you and expressing it out into the world to be received. Okay, let's talk mindset, shall we? The mindset that you want to maintain comes through parsing out all of the different things you do that add value. In whatever situation your brain might be telling you that you don't add enough value.

And not only are these things valuable, but specifically your secret sauce is so valuable, that it might be worth paying you, regardless of whether it brings the specific result that the person wanted. Now stay with me here, because some of you might be freaking out, thinking, oh no, that is just bringing up all of my worst fears about being salesy and not having integrity, if I'm not actually going to get these results for people that I promise. What I mean is that those results could just be the cherry on top.

And it's worth you doing the inner work to really think through this, to stretch your mind into how it might be true that just your secret sauce alone is worth an investment with you, or is worth your price tag, is worth your entire price tag. You can think through what you do, you can think through the way you do it, and you can think through how you are. All of those are entry points for you to begin this little exercise.

Maybe your people didn't really know that thing existed, and that alone is going to be so life-changing over the course of their life, or being surrounded by it will be so helpful for them to believe in it, or it will just be so reassuring for them to have it. I'm thinking of two examples here. One is, once I was talking to one of my first coaches about this new client I was bringing on, she had this amazing new concept that had just never been done anywhere before, and I was so lit up and excited.

And my coach looked at me and she said, Jenna, I would never take on that client. The fact that you get so jazzed up about uncommon businesses, and are willing to be a champion for those people, and to do the extra work of having to understand industries that you don't already know, that's going to be life-changing for those people, because up until now, they haven't fully believed that it can work. And now here you are as a business coach saying, I can't wait to work on that with you.

(15:25 - 16:07) So you see how over the course of that person's life, of potentially going off in some other direction rather than that business that they really wanted, but then they meet me and through that interaction, plant their stake in the ground and say, yes, I'm doing this. How that is so worthwhile, that alone. And I'm thinking of a landscape architect I worked with, who was just a genius at making people feel comfortable and really managing all the different personalities and all the different priorities of all the teams that have to come together in order to create the kinds of magnificent backyards that her clients wanted.

(16:08 - 19:17) And her clients could feel that right away. And it was so worthwhile for them to move forward with her, just because it was a load off their plate, a load off their mind. They weren't going to have to be coordinating between different companies or worrying about personality dynamics.

They just knew that it would be done smoothly and handled and felt so reassured. Even if they had to hire a separate landscape architect, that job alone was worth so much over the course of the four months or six months, whatever it was that this project was being completed. In the Clarity Accelerator, we have an exercise where we really pull this apart and give ourselves the opportunity to ground into how this is true for us and our specific people.

And once you've really, really taken this in and accepted it, it makes it so much easier to sell with integrity. Because you know the value you're giving people is so much higher than they're even really recognizing at that moment. If we had time right now, I could go through client by client, every single one of my clients, and tell you exactly why their secret sauce is so fundamentally important for their precise people.

And I know I believe that 100%. And I know they do too, because they've worked on this. This is the perfect time to talk about the energetics.

Now the energetics of really overcoming imposter syndrome and owning your secret sauce is about shifting into your welcome energy. Let me tell you a story about Rachel, who was a client that tended to be really overworking and doing everything for her clients, but even then was plagued with a bit of imposter syndrome that they wouldn't really recognize and appreciate all of it. And as you could imagine, that could lead her to compromise on her price, on what she would and wouldn't do for them.

Sometimes they would say things like, well, could you only do this instead of doing all of the things? Could we just get this one little piece from you? And I told her, Rachel, you have gone through so many things in this journey. You've spent so much time learning the ropes and can keep them away from so many pitfalls. She does luxury brand consulting that every time you are interacting with a new client or a current client, you need to show up like you're welcome.

You are welcome that I've done all of this for you, been through all of this, learned the hard way so that you don't have to. You're welcome that I'm here to help you. Sometimes you can completely change a dynamic just by you remembering who you really are and deciding to shift into that energetic.

(19:17 - 21:13) Now, I don't think that requires too much information. And I know that you love these episodes to be bite-sized and digestible. So I'm going to stop here.

But if you want to hear more, you can go back and listen to my podcast episode with Rachel. It's episode number 47. So there you go.

Let's quickly recap what we talked about here so you can put these tips into practice and show up like you deserve to be here as much or more than anyone else, starting today. Number one, stretch yourself to talk about your superpowers and accomplishments in some way every day in order to desensitize yourself to doing so and release the shame around Remember, owning your secret sauce isn't arrogance. It's integrity.

Because you are literally expressing who you are in the world. You can't be more in integrity than that. So the not sorry isn't just a hashtag.

It's a muscle that you build every time you speak the truth about your gifts. Number two, stretch your mind to think through all of the benefits you bring to the table for your clients. Remember, the value you bring isn't measured only in one specific result.

The more clearly that you see the myriad of ways you create value, the more confidently you'll own your worth, the more conviction you'll have selling your offers, and the more easily you'll call in your clients. And number three, the real transformation happens when you stop asking, am I enough? And start saying, you're welcome. It's not about being full of yourself.

It's about owning the journey you've walked, the way you are, and the fact that your client just got a fast track to something that really matters to them. That energy shifts everything. And at this point, if you're thinking, okay, Jenna, I really see that this is not only an issue for me, but also that I do not have to live with it.

(21:13 - 22:54) But whenever I try to change the way I'm thinking, that same voice, it's just still there telling me, come on, you really think that if you just think happy thoughts, it means you're somehow more qualified or capable. No one else is going to realize that you're not half as great as you're trying to be. And that's when the doubt rushes in, right? That maybe this is just how you are.

And you really need to just keep your nose to the grindstone so you can finally arrive at a place where you feel accomplished enough that these thoughts go away. If so, that's exactly why I created a tool called the Thought Cleanse. It's to help you release persistent nagging thoughts in the same way you do a juice cleanse or a spring cleaning.

It's a short email course. You get one email a day in your inbox, and it helps you step out of the vicious cycle and experience a different way, which is exactly what's needed for so many of us who are gripping so tightly. Am I right? So if you want to grab this tool so you'll be able to feel better about yourself and also feel like you're making actual progress towards a different way of being that you'll actually be able to see reflected in your business throughout the course of this week, then click the link in the show notes so you can download it for free.

All right, get out there and own your gifts and accomplishments, my friend. And let's talk again on Tuesday. Thanks for joining us here at the uncommon way.

Support at The Uncommon Way 5/6/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 5/6/25

Ep 148: 4 Steps to Get People to Respect Your Work AND Downtime Without Guilt

Ever wish you could guard your Fridays—and your sanity—without feeling like you’re letting everyone down?

In a world that praises hustle and constant availability, setting firm boundaries as a woman entrepreneur can feel like swimming against the tide. This episode tackles why it’s so hard to disconnect—especially when guilt creeps in or others don’t “get it.”

Episode Summary

Ever wish you could guard your Fridays—and your sanity—without feeling like you’re letting everyone down?

In this episode, you will…

Uncover four practical steps that help you actually get your time back and help the people around you respect it.
Discover the unexpected mindset shift that makes setting boundaries feel less like confrontation and more like leadership.
Hear the five-second story that changed how I think about asking for help—and why it might shift everything for you too.

Press play to discover how kind, firm boundaries will create a win-win for everyone and propel your business forward.

Links Mentioned:

Grab the Ultimate Self Assessment for Unlocking Your Next Level here: https://www.theuncommonway.com/ultimate-self-assessment

Episodes Mentioned:
147. No Time, No Spark, No Problem: The 10-Minute Ritual to Reignite Creativity

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: [00:00:00] In this episode, you'll discover four simple steps to protecting your work and downtime without feeling guilty. Even when others don't really get it. Welcome to the three day work week, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth.

I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo, to help you work smarter leap boldly and find true ballots. Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome back to the three day work week. Today we're going to talk about a line of questions that come up so often, and not just from clients, but from people in my own life too.

It's probably one of the biggest friction points when you decide to shorten your work week or protect the white space in your life. And sometimes it's even a fear that keeps you from trying it in the first place. And the questions are, how do I get people to respect my shorter work week without me [00:01:00] feeling guilty about it?

How do I get them to honor both my work time and my downtime? If you've ever tried to be more focused at work, only to be interrupted repeatedly, or you've carved out space for yourself only to get hit with a last minute favor or a hey, since you're not working on Friday opening, you are not alone.

Because when you try to get more done in less time, people still interrupt you. It's just that you have less ability to entertain their interruptions and with more downtime, they often assume you're more available for whatever is top of mind for them. So in this episode, we're going to get to the root of this and you will uncover four practical steps that help you actually get your time back and help the people around you respect it.

You'll discover the unexpected mindset shift that makes setting boundaries feel less like confrontation and more like leadership. [00:02:00] And you'll hear the five second story that changed how I think about asking for help and why it might shift everything for you too. But first, can we talk about something a little weird?

There is this unspoken belief a lot of women carry that being available all the time makes you a better person, that if you're not responding quickly or showing up constantly or just being there, I. You are being selfish or unhelpful. I mean, how many movies have we seen where there's a parent or partner or friend or child who's portrayed as cold and damaging and in need of redemption of some sort because they're focused on their career or they're too focused on themselves.

They are demonized until they finally see the light and mend their ways. And I mean, I really enjoy a lot of these movies. I. The Devil Wears Prada or Baby Boom, that's from the eighties. I don't know if you've seen that with, uh, Diane Keaton? Is that her name? I think so. [00:03:00] Um, elf, which my family Rees every single Christmas season.

But this message can be toxic. So often in those movies, people have to quit their jobs, right? They have to have these blow up confrontations and completely give up on their dreams in order to, uh, move forward. And I think that can be really damaging for a lot of us that that's kind of the right thing to do.

That's what the good people do. But really, what if it's backwards? What if you being constantly accessible is the thing that's holding you back from being your most impactful, creative and yes, supportive, connected self. I. Because here's what I know, the most effective grounded leaders that I know are the ones who protect their downtime like it's sacred.

They know that their best ideas, their clearest leadership and their deepest fulfillment, really it doesn't come when they're constantly rushing from task to task. It comes from [00:04:00] space. They also know that on top of that, when they're well feels full, and when they do feel fulfilled and when they do are getting these great ideas at work and their business is booming, right, they come back to their other relationships.

Every relationship in life, so much more present, so much more available, so much more interesting to the people around them. And so there's just this false dichotomy that really irks me about how it has to be either or. What if it's not either or? What if it's just about clear boundaries? So if you've been wondering how to make the people around you, honor what you've chosen to do, then here's step one.

It starts with you honoring it first. The very first step is that you have to believe it's okay. This might sound obvious, but it is not. So many people think the issue is other people not respecting their time, right? [00:05:00] Because it's the fault of the other person. But the deeper truth is we don't always respect our own time, not fully.

And that's true with both your work time and your downtime, but it's even harder with downtime, especially when guilt comes in. So we're gonna focus on that. This first step is very internal, right? You have to believe, truly believe that it's okay. Maybe even that it's necessary for you to have some white space.

Now, I'm not talking about downtime as in crash on the couch after a 14 hour day with a glass of wine, 'cause your brain stopped working. I'm talking about intentional guilt-free time, that's just for you. The kind of time that doesn't even have to be productive or that pointedly is not productive in the traditional sense where you can just exist, right?

Just breathe. Rest or be human or daydream. And I get [00:06:00] that this can feel uncomfortable, especially if you're the kind of person who's been rewarded for being a high achiever or praised for always being there. For others. You might be used to seeing rest as something to earn or deserve, and you might have a history of never quite believing that you deserve it yet.

But here's the reversal. Don't think of this as rest. Think of it as CEO time. It's not just your most productive business activity 'cause it's what ultimately saves you tons of time and unleashes your greatest ideas. That's what we talked about in last week's episode, which is a short 10 minute ritual.

So definitely take a listen to that. We'll link to it. But it's really keeping you on top of your game instead of just spinning your wheels, right? And it's also your most fruitful personal activity. It means that you won't be showing up, resentful and short-tempered. You are operating from overflow instead of [00:07:00] depletion.

I've had several clients who were worried about what their partners would think if they actually took some time for themselves. In the end, all of them have been like, wow, whatever you're doing, do more of that. It's like they finally get back that woman they fell in love with in the first place, or an even better version of her.

So just play with this. You don't have to force yourself into something that's too hard to wrap your brain around, but a good journal prompt might be. What would I need to believe in order to feel great about protecting my CEO time? Not saying that you have to believe it yet, but just get curious about what it might be like to believe it and what would look differently in your life or business if you did.

Alright, step two. The next step is talk about it because here's the thing, people can't honor a boundary they don't [00:08:00] know exists. And a lot of us make this mistake, we decide, okay, I am going to shorten my work week, but we don't actually tell anyone maybe because we feel bad about shortening our work week.

So we just hope they'll get the hint when we stop replying to emails after 2:00 PM on Thursdays, or we think. I'm really gonna take some time to reset, but then we feel guilty sharing that and instead we just hope they'll stop asking us for giving us some invitation or sharing an opportunity that tempts us or whatever.

But hope is not a strategy. Hope is not a strategy. When you clearly and calmly explain what you're doing and why you create understanding. You take something that might have felt personal, like, why is Jenna suddenly not available, and you turn it into something purposeful. Oh, Jenna's [00:09:00] prioritizing this so she can run her business more effectively and be more present when we're together.

Now, let me give you an example. One of my clients will call her Maya. Was transitioning into a different way of working, and she had always been the go-to person, always there when her husband wanted to talk about his day, always helping out the PTA group, always sending the handwritten cards and the extra cool gifts, but it was draining her to be that person.

So we had her undergo a series of very intentional conversations, and she shared what she was doing and why, and how she was experimenting with this new schedule and really wanted to protect her creative energy. And she still loved her people. She just needed to try this and something beautiful happened.

Most of the people around her were not only understanding, they were inspired, they started confessing how drained they felt. They got super curious about what her schedule was [00:10:00] like and how she was thinking about it and how she was protecting it. Now, did one or two people get a little weird? Sure. That brings us to step three.

'cause here's the truth, no one likes to say. Even when you do everything right, quote unquote, even when you communicate clearly, there's still a chance that someone won't love your boundary, and that's okay. When you shift how you show up in the world, especially if you're used to being always on or always available, you'll likely encounter emotional resistance.

Now, that could be external, like someone makes a snarky comment about how nice it must be to not have a job, or it's internal like you are feeling so guilty and uncomfortable that you're tempted to go back to your old ways. Neither of those mean anything's wrong. In fact, it means that you have a perfectly functional human brain that's adjusting to a new pattern, and so do they.[00:11:00]

One thing I always say to clients, discomfort doesn't mean you're doing it wrong. It means you're doing something new. And the funny thing is that people don't actually judge us as harshly as we imagine. They'll, there's a famous study published in Psychological Science that shows how we consistently overestimate how negatively others will evaluate us in awkward or vulnerable moments.

And the researchers, they called it the illusion of transparency. Basically, we think people are way more tuned into our inner awkwardness or guilt than they actually are. But even if your aunt doesn't understand why you're not taking her calls during work hours, she'll survive and you will too. And the more you practice doing it, practice being okay with other people having feelings, the easier it gets.

Honestly, the more your perspective shifts and you realize that your aunt [00:12:00] just didn't realize what time it was just she just had a thought she wanted to share and before she forgot it, she wanted to call you and she was totally happy to leave a voicemail. The more your perspective shifts, the more things stop feeling like that big a deal.

Quick personal note here. I remember the first time that I said to my husband, Ben. Actually, would you be able to take the dog to that vet appointment? Since I took her last time, he was in the bathroom shaving and I was sitting on the edge of our bed and I heard him kind of sigh and I literally had to grip the edge of the bed.

I remember it so clearly, and I just breezed like to get myself to survive the next few seconds, which by the way, felt like eons instead of my gut instinct to rebound into. You know what? Nevermind, I can do it. So I breathed through the newness and I just reminded myself that feelings had never killed anyone [00:13:00] until he responded.

And you know what he said? Yeah, totally. He hadn't been judging me and resenting the request. He'd simply been moving his schedule around in his mind and make sure he could do it before he committed to it. That moment changed everything for me. It taught me the boundaries that don't have to come with drama.

We just have to be willing to sit through the five seconds of discomfort it takes to state them or to enforce them until they start to become second nature. Which brings us to step four. You've got to hold the line and give this time to become the new normal. This is where a lot of people falter. They say they want more downtime.

They say they're gonna shorten their work week, or they really do wanna focus and get more done in less time, or they really do wanna commit to that weekly yoga class. But then someone pushes back or a circumstance arises, or they feel [00:14:00] a twinge of guilt, you know, some emotion that they wanna get away from.

Suddenly they're back in the patterns that kept life feeling like such a hamster wheel before they began the project. So look, creating a new boundary is just like starting a new workout routine the first week. Super exciting. And we too, it starts to feel inconvenient and your brain starts to find ways out of it.

If you treat it like a 30 day experiment and you commit to it, no ifs, ands, or buts, the same way that if your child needs to be picked up from school, you know you're gonna find a way to do it, and you're gonna be shocked by how much can change for you. And don't worry, you're not gonna have be that rigid for the rest of your life.

But when you're starting something new, you're starting something new. I remember when a client of mine first started taking Fridays off, even though she informed her client, they were still blowing [00:15:00] up her WhatsApp and scheduling meetings and even asking her to hop on calls. But even though her client brought hundreds of thousands of dollars into her business and she was worried about making them angry, she was able to breathe through it and just not respond until Monday.

When she did, she'd politely remind them that she was not available on Fridays, and eventually it stopped happening and they actually became more respectful and appreciative in other areas too. Remember, we teach others how we wanna be treated, so I recommend making a visible commitment to yourself.

Block the time on your calendar, put your phone on, do not disturb. Create a little ritual that signals, this is my time. Now, whether that is lighting a candle or doing three jumping jacks, or putting a hand over your heart, you get to [00:16:00] train yourself and others that your time is worthy of respect. And yeah, there will be moments where it's easier to just say yes.

Just do it really quickly. Just answer the call. Every time you say yes to something unaligned, you are saying no to the version of you that is asking for more freedom and more flexibility and more access to her flow state. And if that part of you is brave enough to speak up and ask for something different, you better believe she's worth supporting.

So let's recap the four steps to making sure the people around you respect your downtime. Number one, start with belief. You have got to believe it's okay to set these boundaries. Number two, communicate clearly. People can't honor boundaries they don't know exist. Number three, [00:17:00] prepare for discomfort.

Feeling judged doesn't mean you're doing it wrong and feeling wrong doesn't mean you are being judged. And number four, hold the line. Treat it like a real experiment and have your own back. Here's a one last super important point I wanna leave you with. You don't need people to understand your boundaries before you can set them.

Would it be nice? Sure. But it's not a prerequisite. You can respect your own time, even if others are still adjusting. And when you lead with calm confidence, you give them a blueprint for how to meet you. Because training your mind to think uncommonly unlocks a whole new level of impact and possibility.

And at this point, if you're thinking, okay, Jenna, I really think I could do this, but I honestly have no idea how to even carve out time for myself because I've got so much [00:18:00] to do. And it's a huge challenge to even know what to focus on first, to start to change things, and that is exactly why I created the Ultimate Self-Assessment for Unlocking Your Next Level.

It's a tool that lets you analyze where you might be going wrong and refocus on your next best steps, so you're not wasting time and effort on what's ineffective instead of taking advantage of the huge opportunity in front of you to work smarter and not harder. Make more money with more ease. So if you wanna grab this assessment so you'll be able to laser focus on the next step for you, that will actually move the needle.

So you can have a business that supports you and grows even when you're hustling less, then click the link in the show notes so you can download it for free. Alright my friend. Go protect those boundaries. Let's talk again on Tuesday.[00:19:00]

Support at The Uncommon Way 4/29/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 4/29/25

Ep 147: No Time, No Spark, No Problem: The 10-Minute Ritual to Reignite Your Creativity

Ever catch yourself glaring at a blank Google Doc, wondering how your once-brilliant brain suddenly feels like it’s not connecting?

If you’re building a business on a tight, three-day workweek (or just want more life in your life), wasting an hour wrangling one stubborn paragraph costs you money, momentum, and sanity. This episode hands you a repeatable ritual to shake off the fog fast so you spend less time second-guessing and more time on work that moves revenue.

Episode Summary

Ever catch yourself glaring at a blank Google Doc, wondering how your once-brilliant brain suddenly feels like it’s not connecting?

In this episode, you will…

Discover the unconventional 10 minute ritual I personally use and have shared with my clients to shift from being in limbo to creatively unstoppable without needing hours of downtime or divine inspiration
Learn the surprising physical trigger that helps you bypass your inner critic and reignite flow even when your brain feels totally flatlined
Find out why a silly kids’ rock song helped me write some of my best content and how weirdness might be the secret to unlocking your genius.

Hit play now and trade today’s creative gridlock for a fresh dose of flow in less time than it takes to scroll your feed.

Schedule a call with Jenna about joining the Clarity Accelerator--the same mastermind that we talk about in this episode--to unlock your inner genius, step into your leadership, and dial in the strategies and mindset that let you work smarter, not harder.

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: [00:00:00] In this episode, you'll discover the surprisingly fast and effective virtual that pulls you out of creative fog and back into flow. No matter how myth you're feeling, welcome to the three day work week, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth.

I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo, to help you work smarter leap boldly and find true balance. Let's dive in. Welcome. Welcome back to the three Day Work Week. I'm so glad you're here because today's episode is for every entrepreneur who's ever stared at a blinking cursor thinking, where did my brain go?

You know what I'm talking about? That frustrating creative fog that rolls in at the exact moment. You need to write something compelling or brainstorm something innovative or solve a problem that feels like a total stuck point. We've all [00:01:00] had those moments where you're just sitting there like, I swear it was working yesterday.

Somehow. Today, the entire well feels dry. You either don't know what to say or you write something and then immediately second guess it, rewrite it, tweak it to death, and before you know it, an hour's gone by and you're no closer to actually getting the thing done. Meanwhile, your to-do list is giving you side eye, right.

Here's the thing. When you are on a mission to work a shorter work week, whether that's three days, four days, or just less hustle and more life, you can't afford to waste time like this. Not because you need to be a machine, but because your time is the most precious resource you've got and you've got better things to do than debate whether to smash your laptop against the wall or not.

So let's flip the script. Because we know you've also had [00:02:00] moments, probably more than a few, where the words just flowed. You got into a groove and magic happened. You had the game changing idea. You created something wildly effective. Maybe it brought in money right away or opened the door to something bigger.

What if those moments weren't rare? What if they were repeatable, and what if you could access them without having to go on a week long yoga retreat in Bali or spend the weekend at a cabin in the forest or whatever? Because yes, the world tells you that creativity is this mysterious thing, this fleet muse that may or may not show up depending on the whims of fate and whether mercury is in retrograde, all sorts of things.

But I don't fully buy it. Creativity is not some external force that comes and goes leaving you powerless. It's a muscle, a neurological state, which all of us are born with, and [00:03:00] a rhythm you can learn to access on demand. So today I'm gonna walk you through a simple five part ritual you can do in just 10 minutes to reignite your spark and access your creativity even when you're feeling meh.

Yeah. You know, it's a technical term, meh. So let me be clear though, if you are feeling creatively blocked and you suspect it's because of something deeper, like a fear of failure or fear of success, childhood conditioning, a belief that you're not creative or even a part of you that's suppressing a desire you haven't fully acknowledged, please work with a coach or therapist.

That kind of support is essential and it's costing you both revenue and wellbeing to keep powering through while feeling stuck. But today, we're not gonna go that deep. Today is about your everyday disconnect. The blank screen moments, the mental dullness that sneaks in, [00:04:00] even when you love your business, the feeling of disconnection from your creative flow.

Every human experiences this, especially busy women who have 10 plates in the air and every human can learn to shift out of it. Let's talk about how by the end of this episode, you will discover the unconventional 10 minute ritual I personally use and have shared with my clients to shift from stuck to creatively unstoppable without needing hours of downtime or divine inspiration.

You'll learn the surprising physical trigger that helps you bypass your inner critic and reignite flow even when your brain feels totally flatlined. And you'll find out why a silly kid's rock song helped me write some of my best content and how weirdness might be the secret to unlocking your genius.

But before we get into the ritual, I have to give you the precursor, the thing that determines whether or not any of this will [00:05:00] actually work for you. You have to believe it's worthwhile to reignite your creativity. Some of you are already all in. You know what happens when you're connected to your creative flow, you know, it makes you faster and sharper and more magnetic and more aligned and yeah, more profitable.

Others of you might only give yourself permission to take a beat when things are dire, when the launch is falling apart, when the sales are falling, when you've been aware of the disconnected feeling for too long and it's eating you up. And the difference probably comes down to belief. Do you truly see creativity and whatever it takes to access it as a business critical asset?

Or do you think of it as a luxury? Because here's what's true, the quality of your ideas is the lever that changes everything. Your most aligned magnetic [00:06:00] offers, creative clarity, the copy that converts creative clarity, your connection with the exact people who are craving your secret sauce, creative clarity.

And the reframe that changes an entire industry. You guessed it. Creative clarity. Clarity is queen, and it comes when your mind and body are open and your creativity is ignited. When you believe that accessing your creativity is actually a wise, valuable, productive use of your time, then you start to prioritize it and you stop spinning your wheels trying to push through quick.

Now, let me walk you through the rich. Hey, many entrepreneurs say freedom, but.

If you're past the point of telling yourself that next year you'll finally do things differently and you're ready to align and simplify your business, rewire your brain without guilt, and [00:07:00] actually claim the freedom you started this for all while scaling your business. I'll show you how to do it inside the Clarity Accelerator Mastermind.

Step one is to shake things up. It should take about three minutes. We're talking about a full state change here. You need to shift your vibe and let your brain know that there's a specific before and after songs, music work really well. I like to play a song that has me moving my body in a big exaggerated way, which is fun as hell.

And it's also a hack for nervous system regulation like have you heard Space Unicorn by Perry Grip? It is this weird, wonderful, hard rock kid song that my son introduced me to, and it always makes me laugh and play the air drums. The point isn't the genre, it's the break, right? This is a reset. It creates a definitive line between your old [00:08:00] state, which was that stuck blank, met energy and your new one.

Because you don't need more time to create brilliance. You need a different state. So you wanna move your body in a way that raises your heart rate or takes up space, shake your limbs, you know, jump up and down dance like a muppet. The weirder you feel doing it, the better because it's different than the status quo.

I mean, maybe it's not for you, but it is for me. Because here's our dirty little secret, right? Part of why you're creatively blocked is because you're still giving too many F's about what other people think. The first step is about getting weird, letting go of inhibitions and reconnecting with all the parts of you.

The ones who don't need to be polished to be powerful. You can refine what surfaces later, okay? But for right now, we're after raw. Then step two, this takes about a minute. You need to [00:09:00] activate a sensory trigger so you light a candle or you warm up some essential oil between your palms, or you pull your fuzziest, softest blanket over you.

Whatever it is, create a cue that you can return to again and again. That tells your brain, we are now entering that creative space that we love so much. Think of it like the shower effect. You know how you always get great ideas in the shower? Part of that is because your body relaxes and your mind follows.

The sensory environment shifts and suddenly your brain starts handing you gold. So this is your creative cue. Anchor it in. Step three is to regulate. You only need about a minute for this too. Take a moment just to breathe and center. I know that sounds like a cliche, but this is about tuning into your body and then gently regulating your nervous system.

You might touch something grounding like your carpet, [00:10:00] or put your hands on your chest or just feel the grasp beneath you and notice like what you see, what you hear, what you feel, what you smell. These are activating different parts of your brain. Okay? This isn't just yoga talk. Then remind yourself that at this very moment you are safe.

You are speaking to your limbic brain in a way that it can actually hear when you do these things. Now, you don't need to overthink this, just land. Just bring yourself fully into the present moment, any thoughts that come up, which they will because there's still that active analytical part of your brain as well.

Just gently remind yourself that you will attend to them in a few minutes. But for now, you can just smile at their presence and persistence, and you can bring yourself back to that tactile sensation that you've chosen. Your creativity is never out there. It's here [00:11:00] inside of you, always available, and this step helps you feel that.

Step four is to really connect. Then spend a couple minutes here because this is where we go inward. Close your eyes and do some breath work. Whatever feels good to you, you can do box breathing or I like to intentionally increase the power of my inhales and exhales like,

like that. Get very powerful as I visualize my aura expanding and then changing colors as it fills the room. Right. I imagine kind of the swirling effect as it's moving in and up and out, and I imagine connecting to my higher self, to my truest voice, and then at the end I place my hands over my heart and I say a mantra out loud, whatever comes to me.

Maybe it's like I'm open to what wants to come through, or [00:12:00] the flow of creativity is always available to me. Or I source from truth, not pressure, or I am a creative powerhouse. It doesn't have to be perfectly articulated. You just need to say it with presence and knowingness. You are not demanding brilliance here.

You're simply shifting into what is and inviting what wants to come through. Now, pro tip, as someone who has really tried it, always done it again and again, set a timer for two minutes so you're not distracted by the clock. If you're distracted by the time and distracted by the clock, you keep activating that other part of your brain that you're kind of hoping to shut down a little bit in this process.

So put the timer on. Give yourself that space to just be, and then when the timer goes off, that's when you put your hands over your heart and you say your mantra as many times as you like. Okay, step five is to play. [00:13:00] Do this for three minutes. At least. This is the step that most people skip, but it's really important.

So set a timer and do something that bypasses your inner critic and that analytical part of your mind, stream of consciousness. Journaling is a good one. Doodling is a great one. Watching the clouds float by fantastic. Let your mind wander. Let your hands move if they want. Like no pressure, no expectations.

Because if you jump straight back into that piece of copy you were writing, right? Or any sort of like doing this, you're reentering the pattern that got you here, the part of your brain that said you don't have time for relaxation or whatever it was, and that was so caught up in the pressure that literally closed off your creativity.

So this is where your brain gets out of perform mode and [00:14:00] into receive mode. And sometimes, and this is where the idea drops in other times the idea will come after the ritual. Maybe when you're making lunch or brushing your teeth, that's okay. You've already done the most important thing. You've opened the creative channels and you've tuned your brain to the right frequency.

The more you practice this, the more effective it becomes. Because the truth is you don't have to wait for creativity to strike. You can train yourself to access it. Creativity is not a muse. It is a muscle. You can learn. To say, now is when I create and just trust that something good will follow. And yeah, it might feel like nothing's happening, but give it time, give it consistency.

Because the more you believe that you are the one who activates creativity, the more powerful this ritual becomes and the more powerful you become. You are not [00:15:00] dependent on inspiration. You are the source. And when you really get that, everything changes. You'll stop wasting time trying to brute force your way through stuckness, and you'll stop wondering if you've lost it.

You'll stop telling yourself that creativity is some mysterious magic, only available to a few, probably people who are better than you in some way, right? Because it's available to you, it is available to you right now in this moment through this ritual. So give it a try this week. Save this episode and the next time you feel creatively blocked, pull it out and give yourself 10 minutes to reconnect.

I promise it's. Once you experience the power of this shift for yourself, you'll start to see creativity, not just as something you do, but as a part of who you are. And you'll also start to [00:16:00] question what else is possible for you that maybe you weren't believing right now at this moment? Because training your mind to think uncommonly unlocks a whole new level of impact and possibility.

Okay. That's what I've got for you today. If this was helpful, let me know. Share it with a friend, share it with someone else who needs it, or post your candle on Instagram and tag me or leave a review telling me what landed for you. And of course, if you wanna accelerate your journey into building a different kind of business that actually feels like your most intentional self created it, and one that thrives on a schedule you love.

Then you belong in the Clarity Accelerator Mastermind with us. There's a link in the episode notes to schedule a meet and greet with me and answer all your questions whenever your creative curiosity moves you to do so. All right, my friend. Let's talk again on Tuesday.[00:17:00]

Support at The Uncommon Way 4/22/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 4/22/25

Ep 146: Why You Don’t Need To “Handle It Well” To Grow—And Other Self-Development Lies We Believe : Business Streamlining For Work-Life Balance

Why do your best mindset tools seem to disappear when you need them most?

When challenges hit hard, many high-achieving women feel blindsided by their inability to "handle it well." This episode uncovers why that reaction is not a failure, but actually a crucial insight into your personal development—and what to do with it.

Episode Summary

Why do your best mindset tools seem to disappear when you need them most?

In this episode you will:

Uncover a game changing reframe for your most challenging times
Learn the two self-development lies you're probably believing that are getting in the way of your growth
Find out why I'm talking to you about this even before I've really figured it all out for myself

Press play now to discover how to mine your toughest moments and reveal next-level growth.

Episode mentioned:

Ep #71: How I Structure My 33-Hour Workweek

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: [00:00:00] In this episode, you'll discover a self-development myth about hard times that's blocking real growth. Welcome to the three day work Week, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like, without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo, to help you work smarter leap boldly and find true balance.

Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome back to the three day work week. Today I've got a short but powerful episode for you where you will uncover a game changing reframe for your most challenging times. You'll learn the two self-development lies you're probably believing that are getting in the way of your growth.

And you'll also find out why I'm talking to you about this even before I've really figured it all out for myself. This episode is unscripted. I wanted to come to you kind of when I'm in the middle of this and [00:01:00] just tell you about how I was having a conversation with a client of mine, and I've been going through a lot of things lately.

There's been a lot going on just in the period of the last couple of weeks, and the same for her as well. And what I've come to understand for myself is that these periods are really critical in helping you understand which mindset, tools, or self-development growth tools you have really, really integrated and live by, and which you just knew conceptually.

You also get information about what tactical changes you need to make for the future. Maybe you make a week of meals ahead of time if you're gonna be solo parenting. And you can even get more clarity about a pattern that's repeating. You're seeing how this reminds you of other times in your past, and it helps you finally get to the root or get closer to the root.

Like I'm suspecting my current moment has a lot to do with an upper limit or success intolerance, and that [00:02:00] hadn't become clear to me until this moment, but it makes a lot of sense. We've just bought this home. I'm really living a really wonderful life in so many ways. My friendships and my son is feeling very settled and we have this beautiful home and we live in this beautiful place and I've been having a lot of chaos in my personal life, and much of it I have to admit now, is self-created, like deciding to buy the house right after we had settled in to the new country.

My client was lamenting the fact that we'd done a bunch of work together, but then when she entered this really stressful period, so much of it just seemed to go out the window, and it really made her question everything, even about the bigger questions of life. And while she was definitely handling it better than she would've in the past, she wasn't handling it as well as she wanted to.

And doing all the things that she'd, and when I say all the things, I [00:03:00] mean all the mindset things and the self-care things that she thought were now part of her everyday routine when times were quote unquote good. And when I shared with her this concept that I have about how this is actually an information gathering time when you see, okay, these are the things I absolutely lean on, but now these are the ones that kind of went out the window in that period of stress.

And that's actually amazing because I can see what I've fully integrated and what I haven't. She used the term stress test and I thought that is so perfect. If you don't know, a stress test is something that they'll do, for instance, to judge cardiovascular health. So your heart may function perfectly when you're at rest, but when you really increase the stress, you may start noticing abnormalities, but we wouldn't know that.

If we hadn't gone through that stressful period, so think about how differently [00:04:00] you would move through challenging times if you were telling yourself, oh, I'm not supposed to get it all perfectly right now. This is a stress test. This is just giving me information. It could really help us see our difficult periods, not as setbacks, but as opportunities as stress tests.

I think there's a big self-development lie, which is that we're supposed to always handle it well. And another lie is that we're supposed to look like we always have it all together. Neither of those are true. In fact, if they are true, it means you are not growing and perhaps that you're avoiding the duality of life or even gaslighting yourself.

Gas lighting is when you try and tell yourself that it's not really that bad or it's not really happening, but meanwhile your emotional body has a completely different perspective and then that creates a clash. My son [00:05:00] was doing some like a times table online thing, learning his timestables, and he came and showed me really excitedly that he got all of the answers correct.

And I of course told him that's great. But I also have this ongoing thing with him where I'm letting him know if he's getting them all correct, then chances are he's not really stretching himself. And I said, do you think that might've been what was going on? And he looked at me and he is like, actually I was doing only tens, you know?

And yet we all wanna be at a 10 all the time in life, especially us high performers. People socialized as women who are supposed to be able to do it all. Plus, of course, it's human nature to jump through loops to avoid the negative. It's how we're wired. But A, that only keeps you repeating exactly where you are now, and B, completely avoiding challenging [00:06:00] circumstances and emotions is unfortunately unrealistic.

And your attachment to perfection actually brings you out of flow with the universe. There's just no way that you can be learning new tools and then be able to access them perfectly in a time of stress. And in fact, part of the neurological change that happens in our brain is this thing, this kind of, uh, feeling that happens.

Afterwards, when you look back in hindsight and you're like, oh my gosh, I forgot to do X. That is part of the learning mechanism that helps us access those tools or those resources more quickly next time. Now, I'm just realizing as I'm talking here that I'm almost taking this position of. Being on the other side, and I'm like telling you how it goes, but the truth is I'm maybe a little over halfway through the [00:07:00] hump.

And the reason I'm choosing to come on now and talk about it is because of the lie that we have to look like we have it all together or we have to look especially in business or as coaches that we're already on the other side of it and can go back and tie everything up in a perfectly neat bow. And I really wanna let you know that wherever you are in your journey, I'm right there with you.

It may be about different topics or kind of at a different level, showing up in a different way. My capacity for stress might be higher than yours. I'd hazard to save for business things, but that doesn't mean I never arrive at a level that exceeds my current capacity for handling it to the best of my ability.

So you and I may be going through different things, but I am still going through periods just like you are with the same kind of thoughts that come up and the same kind of overwhelm and overwhelming emotions that come up. And then of course, [00:08:00] conversely, your capacity is likely higher than mine for certain situations or emotions, but it's not a race, and this is why we find people that have more of what we're looking for to help shorten our timeline.

And to provide us some support and direction and cushion throughout the process rather than taking the slow route. So I am not done. I am fully learning. So to get specific, when I was going through this really challenging times, that kind of the culmination of it was a kind of life or death situation with somebody that I love a lot.

And luckily everything turned out to be okay, but there was a period where things felt very uncertain. And that was happening simultaneously with several other things as well. And I realized that in hindsight, I was able to look back on it, that I was really from a mindset and resilience perspective, handling quote unquote, handling that well.

And I was [00:09:00] really allowing myself to feel emotions, be with emotions, tolerate them, and not shame myself because of them. And even not shame myself for not being able to, quote unquote, keep it all together. I was giving myself grace with dropping balls. But you know what I wasn't doing? I was rushing around from one thing to another.

I wasn't doubling down on the need in that period to take micro breaks and to take to reset my nervous system. Now, this is something I've known about for a long time. I've worked on a lot. I've done, I've worked through many tools and I teach this stuff. If you go back and listen to an episode that I did maybe a year ago about how I structure my then 33 hour work week, I talk about this concept about how even when things would get a little crazy in the business, I felt like it was a good day because I would take [00:10:00] these.

Mini vacations, right? Or these breaks throughout the day to really recenter myself. And that completely opened up new problem solving and new ideas. And I talked about how this was like a discipline that I had learned, but what we get to see is to what point, right? And this was really helpful for me to see this stress test was really helpful for me to see.

What isn't fully integrated yet, and not to shame myself because of it, but just to be able to access it more quickly last, next time, and to be able to see kind of progress that I have made, growth that I have made and celebrate that. But we know when we get into a head space of I have to handle it well, and I have to keep it all together and I need to look like I have it all together.

People will judge me and I will judge myself. That totally blocks our [00:11:00] access, our visibility on what we actually need to know, and chances are we're repressing our emotions and we're driving ourselves harder into the ground and all the things that are always setbacks. And this from someone who just did that very thing last week.

So my friend in this episode, you've learned really, I believe, life-changing. Reframe that you can put a little post-it note onto your laptop screen to remember about your most challenging times, the two self-development lies that really get in the way of your growth, and that I'm talking to you about this now when I'm still in the middle of it, because I don't wanna perpetuate.

The lie that we have to look like we have it all together or that it's only worth talking about once it's tied up in a pretty little bow at the end. Alright, my friend, I hope you enjoyed this [00:12:00] episode. If so, please share it with a couple of your friends that need to hear it today. Let's talk again on Tuesday.

Support at The Uncommon Way 4/15/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 4/15/25

Ep 145: This is what’s REALLY causing overwhelm in your business

What separates wildly productive entrepreneurs from those just spinning their wheels?

As a high achieving woman entrepreneur, it’s easy to mistake busyness for productivity. If you feel the constant urge to do more, this episode unpacks what’s really going on, why “doing more” often backfires—and what to do instead.

Episode Summary

What separates wildly productive entrepreneurs from those just spinning their wheels?

In this episode you will:

Learn the unexpected thought shift I had in Italy that instantly released the pressure I had been feeling—and allowed me to create bigger results with more ease and trust.
We’ll expose the hidden mindset loop that’s tricking you into overworking—and keeping your biggest results just out of reach.
And you’ll discover what makes clients, sales, and momentum suddenly start flowing again—even if you’re doing less than you were before.

Press play now to trade endless hustle for focused actions that multiply revenue while shrinking your workweek.

Episodes:

Ep #6: How Entrepreneurship Made Me Woo

Ep #13: Allowing Yourself to Receive

Ep #16: Business Minimalism and Why We Overwork

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Full Episode Transcript:

Jenna Harrison: [00:00:00] In this episode, you'll discover what's driving the fact that all your effort might be about as effective as pushing buttons on a kid's ride. You're busy, but not actually controlling the vehicle. Welcome, welcome back to the three day work week. We're bringing back a listener favorite episode today, number 16.

I love that some of these withstand the test of time, so well, I go back myself and re-listen and think. Oh, good point. I really need to apply that this week. So you are going to see why this one was so popular. In this episode, we're talking about what separates wildly productive entrepreneurs from those just spinning their wheels.

I'll share the unexpected thought shift I had in Italy that instantly released the pressure I'd been appealing and allowed me to create bigger results with more ease and trust. We'll expose the hidden mindset loop that's tricking you into overworking and keeping your biggest [00:01:00] results just out of reach, and you'll discover what makes clients sales and momentum suddenly start flowing again.

Even if you're doing less than you were before, enjoy. Welcome to the three day work week, helping women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week if they like without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset hacks, and even some woo, to help you work smarter, lead boldly, and find true balance.

Let's dive in. Hey everyone. Welcome back. I'm settling back in from Italy. I was really interested in how quickly my brain released the internal pressure of needing to be busy. Those are two separate things, right? The hours you work are one thing, and the pressure you feel to work to be doing things is another.

I was studying myself like, huh, what am I thinking exactly? That's allowing me to do this. As I mentioned last week, I was working what many would consider to be [00:02:00] an obscenely low amount of hours per week, and yet my business didn't suffer. It's because of business minimalism, which is when you're solely focused on the areas of greatest leverage in your business.

And that can only happen when you're willing to not satisfy the urge to work on a bunch of other things too. And you'll only be willing to restrain yourself when you trust that you don't have to do any more to create bigger results. You just have to do what you're doing better to create bigger results.

But before we go there, I wanna give a shout out to some people I know are listening. One is a podcast listener who told me that she goes back and listens to earlier episodes, two or even three times in order to get more out of them. And I can completely relate to this and appreciate it because I remember once I was going to see a coach of mine and I kind of wanted to brush up and I looked over [00:03:00] my past notes and.

There was something from a year ago that was almost exactly what she was just telling me on a call. And so it's like our brains can't fully receive it until we're ready to receive it. And so this is a practice that I've started doing with my own coaching is really going back to refresh my brain and hear things, listen to calls, hear things, or see things.

See my notes several times. In order to absorb more than I would've the first time. So I just really wanna honor her for doing that and really committing to getting the most out of this podcast that she can. Okay. Business minimalism is not the normal way of doing things. That's true for pretty much everyone in the US, but many other countries too.

We tend to pile on more and more and more. If I have more time in the day, that means I should do more things. Let's call it maximalism. At its core, overwork is a [00:04:00] product. If you believe in, you can control your business results through. You believe there's a correlation between doing more and positive business outcomes, which is understandable, especially if you've grown up hearing you can have anything you want if you work hard enough.

Most of our societies still run on a factory mentality. I clock in, I clock out, and I get money for those hours. If I work for more hours, I earn more money, and we start thinking like, how much does that doctor or lawyer make per hour? We're not always thinking about the overall result they bring or the years of investing and honing their skill that now allow them to create those results.

No, we're like $500 per hour. That's crazy. Talk. Plus we see these well-known business gurus with huge teams that are churning out social media webinars, free challenges, live events, et cetera, et cetera, and our brains figure, well, [00:05:00] the more I approximate that behavior, the closer I'll get to that person's success.

Nobody is paying you for the hours you work anymore. You know this logically. I know you've heard it a thousand times. If a dentist says it will take six months to do your root canal, you are not gonna pay her more just because of all the hours she's putting into it, right? You'll happily pay a premium to the dentist down the street who can do it in one day.

And yet we see so much chronic overwork in entrepreneur circles. It's like you're moving the vacuum around frantically back and forth, right? But it's not plugged in. Yes, you have the lines on the carpet to show for it, but that doesn't mean it's effective. I know of someone who posts all the time on social, responds to comments, engages with others, and has built up 40,000 Instagram followers.

I know for a lot of you, you think that must equal success, but she makes no money, none. [00:06:00] It's a classic case of all the marketing in the world won't make up for a of messaging. Now you're probably thinking, okay, Jenna, if doing things doesn't create results, what actually does? This is a huge clarity gap for entrepreneurs at all income levels.

I see six and multi six figure entrepreneurs frequently saying things like, I'm not really sure what creates my results. I think that was just a fluke, et cetera, et cetera, friends. This is of foremost importance in your business. You've got to be attuned to the levers in your business that create the most results.

This is what I help my clients do. I help them find their own uncommon way, and it changes everything. Now there are often overlaps among different people, right? I've touched on several important factors in past episodes, like clarity about what you're offering in your people, for instance. That's a very [00:07:00] important lever, and I'll gladly do a future episode just on the topic of what actually creates results, because I wanna help you plug your vacuum in.

I really do. And then I wanna help you set up your Roomba, right? The world changes with the more women that do this. But what I really want you to take away from this episode is that in order to really hear this discussion about what creates results, you first have to divorce yourself mentally from the reliance on doing, or at least invite in a little bit of space to play with the idea that maybe results don't come from doing.

Don't get me wrong, I want you to do things in your business. I want you to do very challenging things that stretch you and help you grow into exactly who you're here to be, but quality over quantity. When I say quality, it's both the quality of the actions you're taking and the quality of your frame of mind.

So let's break those down. [00:08:00] Hey, many entrepreneurs say they want freedom, but most decisions telling yourself. You're ready to align and simplify your business, rewire your brain without guilt, and actually claim the freedom You started this for all while scaling your business. I'll show you how to do it inside the Clarity Accelerator Mastermind.

Quality of actions means that you're focused on the things and only the things that truly move your business forward. Rather than spreading yourself thin, you're giving more to the few selected things. In beginning of your business, you're solely concentrating on the steps required to prove your business is viable, and that language and assets will with your people in quickest.

You won't be filling your time with all the low yield activities that most new entrepreneurs fill their time with, like creating a website when you are [00:09:00] not even exactly sure who your people are or what they think the problem and solution is and what moves them towards a sale. I. Or spending time scrolling social media, because that's what the algorithm likes or listening to tons of webinars.

You know what you're focused on, why you've chosen that. It makes sense. You are decided and now you're executing it so you're not watching 10 different webinars every day. Now how you go about this can be different for everyone. Again, that's your uncommon way, your secret sauce. If you don't have a feel for this yet, get support to get clear on its stat.

I've had clients that were big networkers and their method was creating group offers and doing things like running Facebook groups. I've had others who were really great in person and tested language at networking events. I've had others that would invite people to free mini offers so that they could really have that one-to-one experience for a lengthy amount of time.

[00:10:00] So many ways. There's no one right way to grow your business the right way is the one that plays to your strengths. And later on in your business, you are still focusing on the few selected levers that create the most results, but your work now lies in creating higher degrees of value and impact for your people.

You must trust that your current portals or methods are enough. By portals, I mean the places through which people can find you, and that's hard work. Trust is. Becoming a business minimalist is scary work. It requires vulnerability. It requires a leap of faith. Believe me, I know I've been doing a lot of this work myself for the last few years so that I can now help my clients through it more easily, and I know how hard it is to stop moving all the controls and pushing all the buttons.

Okay. Okay. That's a fun image. It's like you're on one of those kids rides where you put in the coin and then it moves [00:11:00] up and down. Right? Dylan became obsessed with this Spider-Man ride in Italy. I lost many, many euros to that thing. But anyway, there's the airplane and you're pushing all the buttons, but really it's inserting the coin that makes a thing go up and down.

All the other things are distractions that give you the illusion of control, but really all it's doing is making you feel better to push them. Oh, I pushed this button and the plane moved up at the same time dopamine hit. Right? That's not a perfect analogy 'cause I would never advocate for anyone to just sit there and let the plane move up and down, but relinquish the superfluous stuff.

Just let it go. I know of many coaches that have seven figure businesses purely through referral business and their own networking. There's my mentor, Brooke Castillo. She has a 40 million business and until this year wasn't on social media. She created that through her podcast and Facebook ads. My own [00:12:00] multiple six figure business comes through a few different places where I'm featured with all of the above.

The people are working less than 40 hour work weeks. And that is the power of clear focus. It's also a product of really knowing yourself, knowing your people, and learning to speak to how those two connect. Of course, it's creating assets that work in the world on my behalf, so I don't have to hustle to get clients.

They come to me now. I thought I'd just share with you some of my thoughts that I identified while I was in Italy, so you can try 'em on and apply them to wherever you are in business if they're a. It will get done. This was my absolute favorite. I could compare that to some thoughts that I have here sometimes where I'm thinking there's not enough time to get everything done right.

And in Italy I was thinking it'll get done. I love it. There was another where I said, if it's important enough, I'll get to it later. So [00:13:00] that was showing me I trust my mind not to forget it. And I trust my mind to be able to sit with something and then have that discernment to decide if it really is important enough later.

If it's meant for me, it won't pass me by again. There's that trust, right? I don't have to worry about jumping on this offer or launching this new initiative right now, because otherwise I'll lose that opportunity. For instance, I'm thinking of maybe a person that markets with scarcity and they say that right now is this great offer, this discount or this opportunity, and I could hire them right now.

Again, if it's meant for me, it won't pass me by. I can still take advantage of this when it feels aligned. And then this one will be really big for a lot of you. There are plenty of people within my current pool. I can reach my goals within my [00:14:00] current pool, so of the areas of the portals I have where people can reach me, there are enough people there.

For me to reach my goals. Like I was talking to a client the other day who was going to be doing some market research and she was concerned about whether she should be talking to her network or going into Facebook groups, or, you know, trying all different angles. We broke down the numbers and she had 20 people that she tended to message just within a very close networking group, and I know they all know 20 people.

Right. And so maybe you're looking for three people. To speak to, to interview, and you've gotta remind your brain that it's very possible and very likely that it will be the easiest solution at all. You'll just send out a note to your friends and all you need is three people. So there's plenty of people within my current pool to reach my goals.

Therefore, I don't need to add anything extra to my business. The [00:15:00] only question is if something extra at. And I'm not alone in this. Now, this is something I personally believe that the universe wants to bring my clients and I into contact the universe will help them find their way to me. Like I had a client who happened to pull out a t-shirt from a conference from five years ago and it said, an uncommon way of living or an uncommon way of life or something.

And she just had the random thought, oh, that would be a great name for a business. And she Googled and found me. Right. So there's no way I could have made that happen through effort. Okay, well, I shouldn't say no way. Maybe I could have created the top view Super Bowl ad or something and, and she would've seen it, but she wasn't even looking for a business coach until she read my site.

So anyway, that is always powerful for me to remember that I'm not alone in this and that what I'm searching for is searching for me too. What I [00:16:00] want wants me. It really allows you to relinquish a lot of the nervous energy that drives you to do this in the first place. And we'll talk about that in a minute.

But bottom line, you can work smarter without working harder and create even bigger results. Alright, that was quality of actions. Let's talk about quality of your mindset. The need to do, do, do is always driven by some form of discontent. Discontent is the emotion you feel when you're asking for more than you're letting in.

I'll say that again. Discontent is the emotion you feel when you're asking for more than you're letting in. You might wanna go back and re-listen to the episode on allowing yourself to receive in order to fully understand what I'm saying there. But when you're tapped in, when you're really in alignment, things are unfolding steadily.

You may not have the exact result you want yet, but it. [00:17:00] There's so much happening, so much unfolding that you don't have space for discontent. There's too much gratitude and excitement and anticipation, but when you're asking for more than you're letting in, there's not enough action in the world to compensate for that misalignment.

Again, think of pinching the flow. I talked about that in the receiving episode. You're saying, I want a million dollars. Where's my million dollars? A million dollars isn't happening fast enough. But there's a million dollars right on the other side of that hose. You are the one who's pinching the hose.

It's like the clients are definitely there, but we're effectively blocking that sale. We aren't able to tap into our creativity. We aren't showing up as our most grounded self, or we're missing opportunities, or maybe we see the opportunity, but we're like, Ugh, I just don't have the bandwidth for that.

Patience is what you need when you aren't tapped in. Believe me, I know about [00:18:00] this. I'm an mg. For those of you that are familiar with human design, we want everything to move fast, fast, fast, and I'm intimate with the frustration that comes from impatience, but we can catch ourselves when it's happening, right?

We all have this ability. Let's talk about that aligned word. Let's break that down. When I say alignment, I mean a few things. One, there's integrity between what you're preaching and how you're living. You're actually using the tools you're talking about and are a product of those tools. Big one. I also mean that you're aligned with who you are.

You're following your true north, your uncommon way, your design, and I mean that you are rested and well-nourished and have a balanced nervous system. And then again, you are not pinching the flow if you're asking for a six figure or a seven figure business, but deep down you're thinking, I don't really want that many clients because I won't be able to deliver for them all, and then they'll all hate me and I'll feel [00:19:00] awful.

Then you're not in alignment. Or if you're thinking, I don't really want that big of a business because then I'll have to work too much and I don't wanna burn out. You're not in alignment. Your internal world is not aligned with what you're asking for. And it's okay. None of us are perfect with this in every way at every moment, but having this knowledge helps expose us to where we're not in alignment, where we're not aligned with our higher self, our highest potential, and we're grateful to have that exposed.

I. So that we can heal it, so we can work on it and grow. We're now beating ourselves up. We are where we are for a thousand. Very understandable reasons. It's all good, and thankfully we're seeing where our areas of growth are. You exposing an area of growth doesn't mean you're doing it wrong. It means you're doing it right.

It means things are happening for you. Change is unfolding right in front of your eyes. Shift is happening. When you can start moving [00:20:00] away from this whole, why isn't it working type of energy, you will start to see your world transform. I have a, a client who has really dived into this work, and now she has more clients than ever.

She's booking more sales calls than she can believe. Her Instagram has exploded, and she's doing all this inspired work and gets thousands of views and really good engagement. Much better than really well-known coaches with huge followings by the way. Her clients come to her when she's staying out of her head, out of her doubt when she's riding the wave.

I have another client with a product-based business who uses Facebook ads and when she is in an aligned place, her revenue increases. When she's not, it declines and these are set it and forget it ads she's got going in the episode. That's called How Entrepreneurship Made Me Woo. I talk about my own journey through this.

I don't change my copy, and yet the clients coming to me [00:21:00] change. Maybe this is correlated rather than casual, all the things I just mentioned, right? Maybe this is all chance or confirmation bias. I'll let you make your own decisions about that. But for me and many of my clients, we believe our alignment and whatever we're working on in our growth at that moment plays a huge part in our business results.

The work of this alignment is work, and that's the kind of work you need to be focusing on frequently for maximum long-term results rather than filling your time with all the frantic busyness. A little bit of balance, please, and focused intentional effort. This is business minimalism, focusing on what really matters.

Your efforts are going into the quality of your actions and the quality of your mindset. And before we wrap, I just wanna say that we don't do any of this because we're afraid of working long hours or [00:22:00] afraid of burning out. You never wanna be resisting something to be moving away from something. You wanna be moving towards something.

We don't need to be scared of working long hours because it's not the long hours that create burnout. It's the mind that creates burnout. When you're in flow, when you're in alignment, it can be hard to stop yourself from working because you're so loving what you're doing. So for those of you who are under working.

I meet some of you sometimes too. You're underworking and not moving your business forward effectively because you're so worried about overworking and burning out. Probably. 'cause you've done that in the past. Obviously, if you knew how good it feels to be in alignment, you wouldn't be afraid you'd be doing more of it.

You'd be trusting yourself to balance the alignment side with the productive action side. The reason we purposely choose to work fewer hours isn't to avoid work. It's so [00:23:00] that we have full multidimensional lives and so that we give our nervous systems a chance to rest in order to do the big scary things that really move us forward, but challenge us emotionally because we have human brains.

Not things that require time necessarily, but things that require chachas right for you. That might be telling old colleagues that you're now a coach, totally activate your nervous system, or it might be holding a live event. And we also choose to work fewer hours in our business so that we can be working on ourselves, on the alignment pieces that fuel our business in so many ways.

Alignment really is the assignment. Okay, my friends. That's it for today. Remember, deep down, you know who you are and what your strengths are. Each day, you're moving forward into what you're here to create.[00:24:00]

Thanks for joining us here at the Uncommon Way. If you want more tips and resources for developing clarity in your business and life, including the clarity first strategy for growing and scaling your business, visit the uncommon way.com. See you next time.

Support at The Uncommon Way 4/8/25 Support at The Uncommon Way 4/8/25

Ep 144: POV: The Future of Capitalism—and How to Make the Most of It

What if capitalism isn’t the problem—but the story we’ve been told about it is?

Many women entrepreneurs feel torn between values and the pursuit of financial success—but with the historical and forward-thinking evidence in this episode, you’ll be able to rethink that internal conflict. This episode explores how outdated beliefs around capitalism may be limiting your growth and reveals what’s coming next for capitalist societies so that you can not only position yourself for growth but feel great about it.

Episode Summary

What if capitalism isn’t the problem—but the story we’ve been told about it is?

In this episode you will:
1) Discover a future-forward vision of capitalism that aligns with both your values and your ambition—changing everything about how you show up in business.

2) Learn how money flows create more value, not less
3) See how evolved thinking—not hustle—drives true wealth

Hit play now to unlock a radically empowering vision of business that honors your genius and expands your impact.

Episodes Mentioned:

Ep #42: Time and Money: When to Dial It Back

Ep 134: 15 Data-Backed Reasons Only 2% of Women-Owned Businesses Reach $1 Million in Revenue — And How to Break Through

Ep 140: The Surprising Truths That 3-Day Workweeks Taught Me About Growing My Multiple-6 Figure Business

https://www.theuncommonway.com/schedule

Sign up here to get on the waitlist for Power & Potency, the new mastermind for highly accomplished women entrepreneurs, and hear all new information as it's released:

https://www.theuncommonway.com/waitlist

Find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuncommonway/

Jenna Harrison: [00:00:00] In this episode I'll show you why capitalism doesn't have to clash with your values and how rethinking it can unlock more profit. Impact and peace of mind in your business. Welcome to the show that helps women entrepreneurs run profitable, meaningful businesses in just three days a week without stress, guilt, or sacrificing growth. I'm your host, Jenna Harrison, sharing practical strategies, mindset, hacks, and even some woo, to help you work smarter, lead boldly, and find true balance. Let's dive in. Welcome, welcome back to the three Day Work Week. Today I wanna introduce you to a vision of the future and of capitalism specifically.

That you might not have considered, because when you know where you're going, it changes everything about how you get there. If your vision of the future feels bright and certain, you'll show up enthusiastically and with conviction, but if not, there will be an invisible anchor weighing you down. Whether you realize it or not, you've been raised with a lot of [00:01:00] negative associations about both money and capitalism.

And I've found that these interfere significantly with women in business in both obvious and unnoticed ways. If you haven't yet, you have got to check out episode 1 34 called 15 Data Backed Reasons Only 2% of Women owned Businesses Reach $1 million in revenue. We'll link to it, of course. Now my aim here is not to brush aside any of your probably valid critiques of capitalism past or present, but just to present a way forward that lets you coexist with both your integrity and your pragmatism, and maybe even to garner your partnership in creating this vision.

Because the more of us who are daring to do differently, the better. In this episode, you will discover a future forward vision of capitalism that aligns with both your values and your ambition. Changing everything about how you show up in business. You'll learn how [00:02:00] money flows, create more value, not less, and you'll see how evolved thinking not hustle drives true wealth.

Before we dive in, how's the audio? I've finally moved into my new house and before building a big old pillow fort around me like I used to for acoustics and our rental. I thought I'd just give it a try this way. I was testing it out on a Clarity Accelerator call the other day, and they told me it sounded great through Zoom.

And I mean, I am staring at a mountain of rugs and linens 'cause we've just dumped them all here in my office while we try to figure out what to do with everything. So maybe that'll cancel any echo. We'll see. So why this episode and why now? Well, A, it helps you get to know more about what we're really doing here at the Uncommon way.

And if you wanna be a part of this movement. B, there are public figures in the news who are prioritizing money over other things that many [00:03:00] of us hold dear, and that can bring up a lot for us. Maybe you start wondering, hmm, maybe money does corrupt people, or at least make them really out of touch. Maybe capitalism by its nature, conflicts with ethical behavior and the big one.

Am I heading down the same path each time I try to make a profit? Some people think about these things a lot and some only briefly in passing, but if it's there, let's surface it and talk about it. It's actually really healthy to ask these questions of ourselves and have a gut check. The part of you doing so is protecting you from becoming someone you don't wanna be.

The problem is when that protectiveness is dialed up to a 10 rather than a three, that's when it becomes self-sabotaging rather than constructive. What if the headlines told a different story, one where people leaned into their zones of genius [00:04:00] and created extraordinary services or products that the others wanted to pay for and vice versa.

But instead of the old barter system where I'd directly trade my pine nuts for your wine, we exchange via money because it's more durable and universal. These people are much more connected to what they're creating, and that helps them value what other people create. Like I see such a difference between how I consume content and how my husband consumes content, and I know it's because I myself am a content creator and he's not.

I happily pay for my favorite content sometimes with my money and sometimes with my time via reviews or likes or comments. But Ben doesn't. He gets angry when things aren't true and he's a lurker. He is. He'll admit it in the same way. It can be challenging for people who aren't really putting themselves out there or sharing their true genius with the world to appreciate other people's genius.

I. So [00:05:00] in these imaginary headlines, people are really deeply in flow and they're channeling their best work. They're really appreciating others doing the same, and they're exchanging money. And guess what? That exchange expands the size of the economy. So in turn, there's more for everyone. Are you going?

Well, if they're just exchanging money back and forth, then don't they all just have the same amount? That is where the multiplier effect comes in. This is a widely studied economic principle that shows the ripple effect of change, including a change in spending. So for instance, when Henry Ford started paying his line workers more so they could afford to buy cars.

They then also bought auto accessories and spent money after taking a drive somewhere and all sorts of other things. Then the recipients of that money turned around and made investments, paid employees who then spent money on other things as well. And the total amount [00:06:00] generated in that micro economy.

Let, let's say it was Detroit, the net effect of economic activity was not just equal to the total amount of wages paid to the line workers. I. It was much more because of this multiplier effect, the flow of money creates more money and economists can chart the exact amount of the multiplier of different types of spending in different locations.

So the government of Ghana, if they decide to build a freeway and they pay their citizens to build it, that will have a different multiplier effect than when the United States builds a freeway. All this to say that these headlines, these imaginary headlines, are painting a positive and inviting picture of what it would be like to have a business.

How differently would you feel about selling, about promoting yourself and even about your role in the world about now? You [00:07:00] might find yourself thinking, but Jenna, is that really possible? After everything we've witnessed throughout the centuries with capitalism gone wrong, where's all this hope coming from?

I touched on this earlier in episode one 40. We tend to think of capitalism as being a system based around the accumulation of money and the prioritization of money. But the word itself actually had a very nebulous beginning with no consensus at all about what it actually meant. It rose in usage throughout the last millennia, first capital, then capitalists, and finally capitalism.

But the word capital actually comes from the Latin adjective, capitalis, which is based on the name for head kaput. So capital was of the head, which is so interesting, right. Ever since the meanings of capital and capitalism have evolved, [00:08:00] Oxford now defines capital as wealth in the form of money or other assets.

Owned by a person or organization or available for a purpose such as starting a company or investing emphasis on or other assets. I believe your greatest asset is your brain. I also think it's interesting that Adam Smith often referred to as the father of modern economics, said that people act not necessarily to accumulate money, but they act in regard to their own self-interest.

That changes things because your self-interest could be money, but it could also be something else, which means it's about the person, not the system. This actually jives with the data. Economists have found over and over. The people don't always make decisions based solely on money. So a few centuries ago, the concept of utility was introduced, hypothesizing that people [00:09:00] actually act in accordance with their personal satisfaction.

Rather than monetary interests, which would help explain why some people with the same disposable income buy $4 bottles of wine and others buy $40 bottles of wine. Both bottles are made from grape juice, but one person receives higher satisfaction or utility from the more expensive wine. The concept of utility has been refined over the years, but it was groundbreaking in proving that people value things differently, and so the actions they take to maximize self-interest will also be different.

I believe that as our consciousness evolves, our interests change, our decisions change. I have a podcast on when to scale back that talks about how it's totally okay for you to prioritize whatever you want to prioritize. In your business and life, we'll link to it. So has business activity resulted [00:10:00] in sweatshops and environmental degradation and a whole host of other problems?

Yes, but I'm arguing that this is due to an unevolved psychology rather than a specific system or even the nature of money. Like recently, we had a situation where I received a call supposedly from the electric company. Saying they were giving us a lower rate. If I agreed, I said, great. I'd talk to our attorney.

'cause it turns out the property attorney set up your utilities here. Go figure. But the woman told me, no, no, the offer is only for today for our newest clients. So I smelled something fishy and I hung up. The next thing you know, we're receiving a notice that our electricity distributor has changed. And sure enough, we had to get our attorney involved to unwind it.

And I'm thinking, who is the owner of this company? Or the sales executive or the sales person who goes to sleep at night thinking this is okay, it's [00:11:00] unevolved thinking. But there are many examples of entrepreneurs who've made profits while making ethical decisions. And also examples of four purpose businesses that choose to purposely reduce profits.

Look at Patagonia with the environment, or a tech company called 37 Signals. It used to be Base Camp. It prioritizes the wellbeing and work-life balance of its workers intentionally limiting its growth to do so. And when Anita Roddick started the Body Shop, she said business is a force for good and distributed wealth throughout the supply chain and reduced company profit.

Not that ethics and profit are mutually exclusive. I'm just providing examples to help reinforce the point that there are all sorts of ways to do business and you get to choose. I think it sells us short to say money corrupts. That assumes we lack the agency to stay true to ourselves as we grow, which [00:12:00] just isn't true.

Decisions are choices for better or for worse, and we always have the power to choose my friend. You and I are doing the inner work to make clear, conscious, aligned decisions. We are running businesses we're proud of, and showing our neighbors what's possible and creating momentum for our planet to continue to move in this direction.

We're evolving capitalism, we're moving it forward. Capitalism isn't inherently corrupt. It evolves when we do. That's why the way we live and work is so important too. The younger generations are watching carefully and every time we act like we're in a sweatshop burning the midnight oil. Treating ourselves like machines and living in grind and hustle because we are mistakenly like linking hours and how hard something feels to the [00:13:00] profit our businesses can create.

We're living out legacy beliefs that no longer serve us or serve the rest of the world. We aren't working a farm with primitive machinery that requires our hands six days of the week. As entrepreneurs, the value we create comes from the milestones you meet, not the hours you keep. As one of my clients brilliantly said.

In the creative economy, creating wealth means you've created something valuable and something valuable doesn't require hustle or grind or lots of time. And wealth can mean many things. Monetary wealth is a one form of wealth, a very wonderful one that I think all women should experience. But I also think we should experience having a wealth of time, of health, of joy, and of creativity.

Because after all, if your greatest asset is your brain, then your creative capacity is the [00:14:00] primary capital you trade. If capital really comes from of the head, then capitalism is just the centering of our creative capacity instead of our productive capacity. What this new way of thinking requires is greater intentionality at every stage, not just going along with how things have been.

For instance, maybe you were taught that money is scarce and you need to prioritize it above your time, above your health, above your enjoyment. But when you start questioning things, you're like, wait. Even the richest companies spend down capital or issue debt in the form of bonds because they realize that time is more valuable than money.

If they can invest the money now rather than waiting, they'll corner the market now and make more in the long run, not less. Hmm. I didn't even see that when I was busy scrimping and saving all my pennies. Maybe I could [00:15:00] think of money, not like a pie that I have to fight for, but a current I can step into, redirect and expand by contributing something meaningful.

The real question to ask yourself is how do I want this to look? How do I want my business to look? How do I wanna show up? And then, then how am I gonna make that happen? At first, you might think, I don't see how it's possible, but I encourage you to keep going, keep digging. If you can't come up with an answer, talk with someone or some people who can help you get outside your own brain and don't stop until you've created the solutions that you set out to create.

Because that solution, whether it's a change in mindset, strategy, systems, whatever, is usually the one you needed in order to get to your next level of profitability anyway, it pays to be an innovative [00:16:00] thinker and find your uncommon way. Now, you might be thinking, Jenna, how can you say all this about evolution when it feels like the world is regressing?

It's because history is non-linear. In the course of evolution, there are adjustments back and forth, but if you chart the trajectory over time, you see an upward trend. I've been alive for many decades now, and the shift in cultural norms and business practices is tremendous. Besides, I've had some successes with seeing trends before they materialize.

People thought I was off my rocker when I said telecommuting was the way of the future. Now look at how normal that is. So if you are up for rethinking how business can look and create value on your terms, I'd love to hear what shifts for you after this episode. Come share with me. You can do so by leaving a review.

Definitely the most helpful way for the [00:17:00] longevity of this podcast, or if you're on my email list by responding to anything I send you, I'll write back. Personally, I. Remember training your mind to think uncommonly always unlocks a whole new level of impact and possibility. Let's talk again on Tuesday.

Thanks for joining us here at the Uncommon Way. If you want more tips and resources for developing clarity in your business and life. Including the clarity first strategy for growing and scaling your business. Visit the uncommon way.com. See you next time.

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