Denise Duffield-Thomas's Blog, page 16

Hey there, 

I totally get it if your manifesting habits have slipped or you’ve taken a knock to your confidence recently. 

And for many entrepreneurs, this translated into hitting an income plateau.

It can be so frustrating and disheartening when your business stalls.

Everything was going so well, and then your income flatlines and you struggle to see how to keep growing without working harder. 

And this adds to the general overwhelm we’re all feeling right now with the state of the world and economy. 

So, if this sounds familiar, don’t worry; I’ve got nine money mindset tips to help you shift the energy you are bringing into this year and upgrade your mindset. 

Everybody has humps in business.

It’s super normal. I promise!

Your income plateau represents your comfort zone.

That’s why it feels so uncomfortable when you want to break through the glass ceiling. And why we often sabotage ourselves.

  It doesn’t mean that you’re not meant to be successful in business.
  It doesn’t mean that’s the most you’ll ever be able to earn.

It really is just representative of where your comfort level is at the moment, how much you believe you can earn, and where your mindset is with money right now.

It’s always very telling to see where you’ve hit that income plateau.

Trust me, you will continue to hit other income plateaus as well. I know that this one feels real, but it will pass. Then, with each new income level, you’ll find new and recurring blocks to work through - that’s the beauty of this ongoing work. 

So here are my nine money mindset tips to kick-start your income in 2024;

1. Get real about your money blocks

Identify your fears about money
Make friends with tax
Upgrade your mastermind
Set a new goal
Acknowledge your success
Take a break
Give yourself permission to earn more
Go to work 

So let’s dig into each of these steps in more detail, starting with the most important – your money mindset work and keep reading to the end for a new BONUS tip! 

 2. Have a really honest look at your money blocks

Hitting a plateau is a great opportunity to re-visit your money beliefs.

  What are your thoughts and feelings about money right now?
  What are you telling yourself about money?

Maybe you’ve slipped into old bad money habits, or perhaps you’ve forgotten that you need to work on your money mindset all the time.

We all have to work on our money mindset on a regular basis.

Revisit my books or podcast, and if you want a big shift in your mindset and income this year, come and join our community and work with me.

3. Identify your fears about money.

Get specific.

  What are you actually afraid of if you earned more money?
  What would happen, good and bad?

If you’re willing to look at it, it might give you some valuable information to clear it.

4. Make friends with tax.

Now, some entrepreneurs hold themselves back at particular income points because they’re afraid of paying more tax.

Or maybe you’re worried about other financial implications as well:

  Maybe you’ll lose particular benefits if you earn more;
Maybe you’ll have to start paying different types of tax;
Maybe you’ll have to start charging different taxes to your clients when you earn more.

Have a look at your fears and see if there’s anything symbolic about this income level for you.

5. Upgrade your mastermind.

Jim Rohn talks about how your income is the average of the people that you spend the most time with.

Look around at your mastermind and be really honest.

  Has everyone else’s income plateaued as well?
  Have you plateaued to the point where everyone’s income is the same?

If you want to go beyond that income plateau, it might be time for you to move into a mastermind where people are earning more money because then it will inspire you to 

increase that for yourself as well. 

If you need a new money mentor to cheer you on to higher levels, then I’m your gal! 

6. Set a new goal.

Now, this is really funny. Often, when entrepreneurs achieve an income goal, they haven’t yet conceptualized the next one.

They’re like, “I don’t know why I’m not earning more.”

It’s like the universe is saying, “You haven’t told us what that next income goal is. What would you like to earn?”

You’re like, “I don’t know. Just more money.”

What does ‘more money’ look like to you?

Make sure that you’re very, very clear on what that next income goal is so then you can know when you’ve hit it, and you’ve got something to reach for beyond that income plateau.

7. Express gratitude; acknowledge how far you’ve come

So many of us just go for the next goal, next goal, and next goal without anything in between. 

No wonder our successes feel a little bit empty because we’re not acknowledging them.

“Ok, great. What’s next?”

Sometimes, you need to take stock when you’ve hit an income and say, “You know what? Look how far I’ve come. This is amazing.

Take a little breather to appreciate and acclimatize, and then you can regroup for the next goal.

8. Have creativity breaks.

What is going to help you go to that next level? Fresh ideas. New products, services and offerings.

Creativity requires getting out of your current environment.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, go somewhere new, meditate, go to the beach, or do something fun to refresh your creativity.

You’ll need to revamp your ideas. You’ll need new ones to get you to the next level.

It doesn’t mean working harder. Going to the next level might mean working less, but you’ll need space to see how to create more chill and prosperity. 

Then…

9. Give yourself permission to earn more.

Actually, give yourself permission.

It’s safe for me to make more money.
It’s safe for me to go to the next level.
It’s safe for me to out-earn other people.

Give yourself permission to break past this income plateau. I think that is probably more important than anything else: giving yourself permission to earn more.

It might sound really silly because you’re like, “Of course I want to earn more, Denise.” But you need to know it’s okay for you at a cellular level. Repeat the affirmation that works for you every day. 
It’s okay for you to make more money. Remind yourself constantly.

10. Time to work

What got you to where you are now? Keep the stuff that works and ditch the stuff that doesn’t. 

Getting to the next income level is worth the work and process of optimizing how you run your business. 

I know for myself, every time I’ve been at an income plateau, I think, “This one’s really real.”

Oh, my God. You start to make up stories about it. “No, this one is really actually real now. I could get through the other ones, but this one’s real.”

They’re not.

Your mindset is the number one factor that will help or hinder you from breaking through a plateau and growing your income, and I’m here to help you make it happen in 2024.

BONUS TIP: It’s your year to join us in Money Bootcamp

You deserve to feel supported.

And some extra mindset training and mentoring could make the difference between hitting your goal or stalling again over the next 12 months. 

I recommend checking out our 2024 package deal to work with me in my three mindset, business, and manifesting courses.

We’ll work through your money blocks, boundaries, and business plans so you can take your mindset and income to new heights, just like thousands of our members have. 

The right mindset and mentor will give you the support and confidence you need to finally make your business goals a reality (without blood, sweat, and tears). 

I know you have big dreams and that your business can really help people, so I’d love to work with you and be part of your transformation. 

It’s your time, and you’re ready for the next step,

xx Denise

EPISODE 143
Answering your burning business questions
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Our four months in Europe are coming to an end - just a few more days. 

It's been an epic but challenging trip in many ways - especially for my introverted self who needs a lot of quiet and alone time.

I've missed being able to work and implement ideas. I missed my dogs and family back in Oz.

But it's been amazing to spend so much time with the kids and Mark's family - as well as catching up with friends and Lucky Bees.

Thanks to everyone who made it so special! 

I'll do a podcast episode about the trip when I'm home - anything you want to know?

For today’s episode I’ve got a final installment of our throwback series, answering some juicy business questions that you could be pondering right now including… 

Should you invest in high-end coaching
How to build a personal brand
How to take time off without losing income
Ways to avoid taking out a business loan

What big business questions are you contemplating right now? Message me @denisedt and let me know how 2023 was for you and what your goals are for the new year. 

xx Denise

EPISODE 142
Time for a price increase or premium rate?
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I hope you’ve eased into the start of the New Year with some chill and prosperity. 

I’m in the final week of my four month trip to Europe - I’m excited to get home but also have LOVED England and a wintery Christmas. 

As I’m travelling, for this week’s episode of Chill and Prosper, I’m repurposing some of my best content and answering some common questions about pricing including, 

Should you charge a premium rate for rush jobs, 
How to justify a big price increase
When you should speak for free
And more!  

The start of the year is an ideal time to review your pricing and make any changes to what you offer or how you charge, so I hope this ep inspires you to take action (when you’re ready).

And please message me @denisedt if you have any more pricing questions! 

xx Denise

P.S. I’m marking the start of the year by opening my best deal of 2024. 

Got a big money goal for 2024? Get support and confidence from mentor and community you trust. 

Check out my 2024 Ultimate Money Mindset Package to get your year of training and coaching sorted at the best possible price.

EPISODE 141
Will my money blocks ever go away and MORE ...
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I'm traveling around Europe and gearing up for the holidays, so the Chill and Prosper podcast will take a short holiday break.

For a special bonus episode today, I'm revisiting some of my best content and answering common questions about money blocks.

Listen in to learn how to know precisely when you have money blocks, whether they will ever go away, and how money messages you heard as a child could be keeping you broke.

Enjoy, and I hope you and your family have a very happy and safe festive season. 

Thanks again for listening to and sharing the Chill and Prosper podcast - I hope it's played a small part in helping you make your dreams happen this year.

We'll be back in January with more new episodes sharing my best money mindset, marketing, and manifesting advice. 

Take care and enjoy the holidays; I can't wait for us to create even more freedom and abundance together next year.

xx Denise

P.S. If you've enjoyed the podcast this year and want more support and mentoring from me with your money mindset, check out my 2024 Ultimate Money Mindset Package and join our community.

 

EPISODE 140
Gift giving and holiday money blocks
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The holiday season is upon us, and along with the joy and festivities, it can also bring up some money blocks and worries. Don't worry - I've got you covered! 

In today’s podcast ep,  I’m sharing some insights on how to overcome any limiting beliefs and fears around money during the holidays. So grab a cup of cocoa and let's dive in!

Whether it’s gift-giving, budgeting or spending time with your family, there’s a strong chance that something over the festive season is going to trigger your money blocks.

This is one of my most favorite topics because it’s so illuminating and such fertile ground for great mindset shifts to take into the new year. 

For a lot of people, this is a season of family get togethers, money stress and comparing yourself with others. 

So I recommend doing some work to look closer at your memories and expectations around the festive season to try and avoid any painful or awkward conversations. 

On the podcast today, you’ll learn:

How to overcome money blocks during the holidays and create a positive mindset around finances.
Understand the dynamics and emotions of gift-giving and how it can play a role in healing past wounds.
Discover effective strategies for setting boundaries and navigating family gatherings without compromising your financial well-being.
Prioritize your personal well-being during the holidays by learning how to manage your finances and make intentional choices.
Gain insights into the true value of gift-giving and how to find meaningful and budget-friendly presents for your loved ones.

Taking a deep dive into our emotional and reactions to spending money or receiving gifts can reveal underlying limiting beliefs just in time to clear them for 2024.

What gifts do you remember from your childhood? Think about your best and worst presents, what you were allowed to ask for, and any strings that were attached to gifts. 

How have these experiences shaped your behaviors and beliefs around giving and receiving?

I’d love to hear what this episode brings up for you? Hit reply or send me a message @denisedt. 

xx Denise

EPISODE 139
Handling other people’s bad money mindsets
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So your partner or family and friends have a bad money mindset; now what? 

I know this is so challenging, and I hear it from our Money Bootcamp members all the time.

How are you meant to do this essential money mindset work - working on yourself and growing your business - when everyone in your life seems to be against you or stuck in scarcity? 

What should you do if the money blocks of the people around you are holding you back?

And how do you overcome the fears of outgrowing people or feeling isolated while you break cycles and create a new legacy for your family? 

In so many situations, I’ve seen beautiful transformations when couples or family members unite and transform their collective money mindsets.

It’s happened in my own family, and my husband Mark and I even teach a module on this in our Money Bootcamp course. 

So, on this new episode of the Chill and Prosper podcast, I’ve got my best advice for nurturing your money mindset and supporting your loved ones with their work. 

Listen today for my tips on: 

Handling people in your life who you have outgrown 
Why understanding your money personalities can transform your personal relationships 
Uncovering the money memories that shape how money shows up for you and your partner 
Overcome the fears that come up when you’re goals are different from those around you
Finding new circles of abundance, support, and connection  

One of the biggest things that has helped my relationship and our money mindset is developing a shared language and understanding of our money history, triggers, and goals.

Understanding our money beliefs and being able to call each other on our blocks helps keep us moving toward our shared vision and feeling like we’re on the same team. 

I want this for you, and you deserve it. 

I’d love to know if you listened to this episode with your partner and how it went.

If you need to vent or someone to witness what you are working through with money and the people around you, please send me a message. 

xx Denise 

P.S. If you want more tips on handling your partner’s money personality, especially if you clash, check out episode 72 here.

EPISODE 138
Key questions before you quit your business
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Sometimes, in business, things feel hard. There'll be times when you might not love your business; in fact, you might hate it and want to quit. 

But before you do anything drastic, let's work through it together. 

It's not all or nothing; you don't have to break your business completely - some tweaks could make all the difference. 

Your capacity, energy, and passion for your business will change at different stages of life.

And even at different times of your cycle (if you have periods).

So be honest with yourself about the season that you're in right now. 

Farmers need to rotate crops and animals and give land fallow time, and maybe you're in more of a family or health season than a business growth season right now. 

Wherever you're at, it's okay, and you can set up your business to support rather than drain you. 

Listen to today's new episode if you need support with: 

Dealing with overwhelm and frustration in business
Self-care tips to support yourself in business 
Attracting the right clients for your business and personality 
Reviving the passion you had for your business when you first started 
Tweaking your pricing and product offering to generate more money and joy

It's normal to have ups and downs in business, but you can still make money and grow. 

The wrong customers, product, or price can kill your joy for your business, so I hope the tips in today's episodes spark some ideas to help you fall back in love with your business.  

I'd love to hear how things are going for you and what you will work on between now and the end of the year - message me on social media @denisedt. 

It's your time, and you're ready for the next step. 

xx Denise

 P.S. If you need help to set better boundaries and navigate awkward conversations, grab my free e-book "Awkward Money Conversations Made Easy" here.

EPISODE 137
My best tips to beat procrastination
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I’ve struggled with procrastination my whole life, especially in business.

I’ve even created courses on beating procrastination, but it’s something that regularly gets in my way.

I know this is a big pain point for a lot of entrepreneurs, especially those with ADHD like me, so I’m sharing my tips and tricks on taking action when you least feel like it.

Although I might look like a very organized and focused person, the truth is, I’m not. However, I can get a lot done by playing to my strengths and using some of the techniques in today’s podcast. 

Listen to today’s new episode for more on:

Why public accountability is a game-changer for making things happen in your business
How I use micro-commitments to get over resistance 
Strategies to make money AND beat procrastination with pre-orders and waitlists 
How to overcome your perfectionism and embrace “Done is better than perfect.”
Why I have a decoy to-do list to create momentum when I can’t face a big task 

And here’s a quote I recently shared on stage at my Chill and Prosper Live event - it’s so true and hopefully this gives you a little extra boost; 

Fortune favours the…
Bold
Brave
Person who just does it! 

Please let me know what you’re working on right now - send me a message or tag me on social media for some extra public accountability.

xx Denise

 

You know the story of the Golden Goose, right? 

I’ve alluded to it several times in emails and videos, because it’s the catch-phrase in my company when things get too busy (for me). 

I say, “Guys, protect the Golden Goose!”

There are many variations of this story but my favorite goes like this:

A man had a goose that unexpectedly started laying a golden egg every day. 

It soon made him very rich, but he got greedy and impatient and wanted to become even richer. 

So, he cut open the goose to get all the gold at once. 

But when he butchered it, all he discovered inside was goose guts. 

There was no gold, and the man realized that, in his greed, he killed the source of his wealth.

There are many things Chillpreneurs can learn from this story, and the first is that you are the golden goose. 

You can profit for a long time through your skills and talents, but not if you kill the source of your creativity.   

When Mark joined my business and saw what I had created (a million-dollar business working part-time and half-assing everything), he concluded that, if we just worked harder, had more launches, and perfected everything, we’d make even more money! 

Let’s flog that golden goose! 

Not only did that kill my energy and enthusiasm for the business, it almost killed our marriage! 

I’m being dramatic, but there was a lot of yelling and resentment during that first year of working together.  

Without me, there is no business. Maybe I could squeeze a bit more profit but for how long? 

It’s taken some time, but I’ve learned to care for myself well enough to keep laying the golden eggs that my entire family relies on. 

I’ve become a fierce advocate and defender of my inner golden goose—protecting it from anyone who demands more than it can deliver (and sometimes the person who expects too much of it is me). 

Are you in burn out mode?

Many of my business friends have experienced burnout recently, including myself. 

I was almost ashamed to acknowledge it because it felt like admitting that I couldn’t “hack it,” which is a huge part of the problem. 

I was embarrassed that I was suddenly so “weak,” and I beat myself up about losing my motivation for my business. 

In my quest to succeed, I created way too much work for myself, and one day I woke up feeling completely empty. 

I was burned out and just wanted to sit and play mindless games on my phone. 

Look, I admit that I’m the kind of person who goes on holidays and still thinks about work. 

I’ll get blog ideas during a relaxing massage, and I love going to my office and digging into work on Monday mornings.

I’m a high achiever by any measure and that’s never going to stop.  

If that’s you too, let’s just accept that we’re lifelong learners and consummate entrepreneurs. 

We’re always thinking about our businesses because we love them. There’s nothing wrong with that.

But, if that leads to burnout because you never take time off, or you resist sustainable business practices, it’s a huge problem. 

And if you’re not having that problem now, you will one day. 

I often overestimate what I can achieve in a month, regularly schedule launches back-to-back, and forget that I’m a human who needs time off for pleasure and restoration. 

Ignore your body and your need for rest at your own peril. 

Do you really want to burn out in a few years, instead of having a long, successful, and rewarding career? 

Me neither. 

If you have a business that requires every drop of blood, sweat, and tears, it’s only a matter of time before it catches up to you—either in the form of a health wake-up call or another type of disaster. 

I’ve had friends who only stopped working because of a cancer diagnosis, the traumatic birth of a baby, or another “forced intervention” from the Universe. 

We can avoid that intervention by consciously choosing to look after ourselves first, and we often succeed a lot more quickly when we do.

If this sounds all too familiar, you might be a Ruler archetype like me. 

Rulers thrive on working in their business and have the tendency to push themselves to the point of burn out in pursuit of success and achieving more. 

But there is a better way to do business and embrace your natural gifts as a Ruler, or no matter what your money personality. 

Take the quiz here to find out which of the 8 Money Personalities you are and how to set up your business to avoid burnout and overwhelm for your personality type. 

Remember, we’re in this for the long term. 

You are the only finite resource in your business. 

Protect the Golden Goose and you’ll be able to create abundance for a long time.

EPISODE 136
How spaciousness and reflection help grow your business
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These words in a recent fortune cookie really got me thinking;

"Reading without reflection is like eating without digestion."

I can devour a book in an afternoon, but sometimes don't take the time to reflect on what I've just read. I can be a fast eater, too.

And I'm fast entrepreneur, constantly juggling multiple projects and quick to action new ideas.

The fortune cookie made me reflect on how I can bring more spaciousness into my life.

And it sparked some new ideas on how reflection can help you grow your business. 

Because when you're growing a business or dreaming of a bigger life, everyone's best next step looks so different. 

Sometimes, it's education or a course. Sometimes, it's going on a retreat like I did recently. 

Sometimes, it's in the nuances, like giving yourself an extra day of travel so you don't feel rushed or time off between projects. 

 

I'm not good at switching off. I very rarely meditate.⁠

So, I find other ways to add spaciousness and reflection into my life. Otherwise, I just go on to the next thing without pausing to celebrate or learn from the experience. ⁠

On the pod this week, I talked about how I create those little pockets and what magic can come out of it. ⁠

How do you give yourself time to pause and reflect? Are you overdue? ⁠

xx Denise