With the redesign of the Dare to Grow website, my new green bob, and the YEARS since my last brand update, it was time for new photos!

Taking photos for your business and website can be as easy as propping up your phone and standing in the good light when you feel cute one day. Or hiring a photographer to take photos at home, on location, or in a studio and guide you every step of the way.

But it can also be totally stressful, awkward, and an expense that feels slightly indulgent. (it’s not!)

Have you watched House of Stassi? It’s a reality show on Hulu featuring the life, friends, and family of Stassi Schroeder which you may know from Vanderpump Rules.

During the first episode of her new show, Stassi hosts a panel at an event by Alex Cooper, host of the wildly popular Call Her Daddy podcast. 

Meeting before the event the two women hug and the first words out of Stassi’s mouth are:

“You have to tell me what part of your life is suffering. I know part of your life is suffering. I’m a horrible friend, shit sister, husband wishes I had sex more.”

She’s been dying to know if Cooper, the best selling author, podcaster, Youtube show host, owner of the Unwell brand, and star of her own show Call Her Alex, is also struggling as her career continues to soar.

It’s time! The website is done, news photos are up, and I’m very excited to launch not just the new website but a new era for Dare to Grow. ::confetti:: 

I spent the last three months hiding from the heat while I reimagined and redesigned Dare to Grow. I spent a lot of time with my journal asking questions and what I kept coming back to looks a lot like where I started…blogging.

The thing that launched my business in the first place was a blog post. Not even a sales page. Just “I designed my blog, want me to design yours?” and off we went.

I didn’t have an email list and social media was in its infancy. But I managed to grow a business big enough (along with some circus income) to leave my corporate job and stay in business for over 14 years and counting! 

Q: I am overwhelmed by everything on my plate right now. I have lists and calendars everywhere and I still feel unorganized.

A: My recommendation is to brain dump, organize, and prioritize.

At the start of each month create one master list: business admin, marketing, clients tasks, personal stuff, all of it.

Next divide the list by date: things that need to happen this week, this month, this quarter, and someday.

Then, focusing on just this month, separate them back into biz and personal lists and prioritize. Things that have a deadline or generate income go first. Finish your client mockup and send that email to your list!

If your business is feeling more overwhelming than exciting, this is the post for you. Working from home, building your own business is supposed to an adventure. Freedom to be creative, work with who YOU want, wherever and whenever you want!

But year after year solopreneurs come to me with a pile of notes, an endless to-do list, multiple calendars, with client, admin, and personal tasks all needing attention. They’re so overwhelmed. They have no idea where to start. It all feels important and urgent. 

Here are the seven things I recommend starting with to begin the process of de-stressing your business.

No. 1 - Turn off notifications: This is something I did years ago, the first time I came to San Diego on vacation. I’d been working for myself for a year and it was the first time I went completely offline.

I sat down today to MAKE A SURVEY for my audience but then I opened my inbox for a password and here’s what I did instead:

I noticed that I had an email from one of the companies I’m an affiliate for. I needed to update my affiliate link for a new 30 day promotion.

So I opened my Squarespace to update my website’s resources page and remembered I wanted to update my homepage photo. Tested multiple photos, decided I didn’t like any of them and put back the original.