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Hello Reader,
Boundaries = Freedom
Do you agree?
And that's exactly what came up yesterday when I was leading a boundaries session for about 25 members of a local nonprofit -- a group that quickly came up with allllllll the excuses why setting boundaries was not going to work for them.
There's a lot of nuances to work through when setting bolder boundaries to protect your time and energy -- unlike what influencers might say.
You can set a boundary and even communicate it, but the real work is in the discomfort of holding that boundary.
Sitting with it in the muck. As Bréne Brown says: Embrace the Suck.
Creating brave boundaries is one of the more common workshops I get asked to lead during all staff events. (You can also do my brave boundaries challenge here.)
But, the key to a really good boundary isn't just embracing the discomfort of saying no ... but finding the right balance of what is also a YES for you.
When you lean in and realize that a really good boundary isn't just a no or yes but somewhere in the middle -- that's where the magic happens.
More on boundaries below ...
Breathing deeply with you in the storm,
XO
Shawn
P.S. What would it feel like to have an accountability coach in your corner to inspire you to keep doing what is best for you? Book a call to discuss that with me.
SLOW BUSINESS TIP:
Brave YES Permission Slip:
Redefining Productivity
You Have Permission To...
Redefine productivity as doing the most impactful things at the right pace for you, not checking every box on someone else's to-do list.
You have permission to stop measuring your worth by how many tasks you completed and start measuring it by how aligned your actions were with your actual business goals.
You have permission to ignore the productivity gurus who insist you need to wake up at 5 AM, batch everything, and optimize every minute of your day.
You have permission to work in 90-minute focused blocks instead of 8-hour marathon sessions if that's when your brain does its best work.
You have permission to say no to tactics that work for other people but drain the life out of you.
You have permission to trust that three meaningful actions that move your business forward are worth more than thirty busy tasks that just make you feel important.
You have permission to build your business around your natural energy patterns instead of forcing yourself into someone else's productivity blueprint.
Your version of productive is the only version that matters for your business.
TRY THIS: The "3-For-Me" Rule Before you step into doing someone else's to-do list or to try list (email, Slack, teams, social media, productivity apps), complete three impact power moves that directly serve YOUR business priorities. Write these three things the night before, not in the morning when you may easily become influenced by external demands while still waking up. Keep your list visible and hold the line on this boundary for yourself.
This permission slip is your reminder that productivity isn't about doing more — it's about doing what actually matters in a way that works for who you are -- not who you think you should be.
"The boundary to what we can accept is the boundary to our freedom."
― Tara Brach