Today’s guest on The GlowJo Podcast is Tracy Matthews, a self-made woman, jewelry visionary, and founder of Flourish & Thrive Academy and Creatives Rule the World which has helped thousands turn their passions into a thriving business. 

Tracy’s work has been featured in Elle Magazine, US Weekly, InStyle Magazine, and more! She keeps busy by getting to know her clients on a deeper level and sharing her vast knowledge of business through her podcast, Thrive by Design. 

If you consider yourself a creative person, or if you’re a business owner, this episode is a MUST listen!

Tracy and I cover a TON of ground in our conversation, including:

• How to live from a place of obligation vs choice
• Valuing freedom and how to create a life that fuels your freedom
• The common challenges people face when deciding their passion/career path
• What to do when you have multiple ideas and don’t know where to start
• How to get support 
• The power of letting go of control and trusting others (AKA delegation for the win!)

We also dive headfirst into the role creativity plays in business and how it can benefit you in unsuspecting ways.

Pull out your notebook and a pen, because this is an episode full of information you’ll want to remember! 🗒️

Tune into the interview below.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify

7 Tips for Creating a Successful Business

1. Establish systems and processes.

I never thought I would be saying this, but I’m converted! I am now a lover of systems and processes! 

If you’re a fellow creative, I know the thought of structure and systems can seem boring, daunting and like the last thing you want to focus your time and energy on, but the payoff is worth it – MORE FREEDOM! (Who doesn’t want more of that, right?) 

Creating systems and processes helps you complete repetitive tasks quicker which means more time for creativity and play! They also make it easier to grow your team and get support because you have a well-documented record of how you do things. This makes training a breeze (or a lot easier than it would be without your documents SOP’s (standard operating procedures) and sets your growing team up for success, making it a win-win for everyone involved. 

2. Create an ideas folder.

If you’re anything like me, you have ideas constantly flowing so being able to have a place to jot them down for you to revisit these ideas in the future is key. Having a dedicated folder where I can brain dump and record my ideas on a regular basis is truly a GAME CHANGER. It’s a super simple way to record in the moment and retrieve when the time is right!

3. Choose one thing to focus on.

This is WAY easier said than done and if I’m being honest, I usually have a few irons in the fire, but I’m getting better at focusing on one big thing at a time. In our interview, Tracy shares her 4 filtering questions to help you figure out what to focus on first. They are: 

1. Am I going to reach my goals in the next 90 days?
2. Is this going to make me money?
3. Is this important for me to do right now?
4. Can someone do this better than me?

When you ask yourself these questions, – it will become easier to know which path you should take in any given moment.

4. Outsource support.

Running your own business and/or following your passions is no small feat and there will come a time where getting support is an absolute must. The good news is there are a ton of services that make it easy to find outsourced support, making it way more affordable and possible to grow your business sooner! Upwork is a website I’ve used to hire support over the years and it’s worth checking out.

5. Delegate.

Don’t be afraid to delegate. This can be scary – it means giving up control. When you’ve worked so hard for so long, giving up control to someone who might not do it the same way you do, can feel daunting, stressful and frustrating all at once, but it doesn’t have to be! This is where tip #1 one, creating systems and processes, comes in handy! If you create a specific process for someone to follow, they can get the task at hand done almost the same as you (and maybe better!). So let go of that control, and focus on the bigger things coming.

6. Be curious

It is SO important to stay curious! Asking questions and being curious can help you grow and open new doors you never knew existed!🚪So play like George and get curious! Ask questions, see things from different perspectives and put yourself in the shoes of someone else on a regular basis.

7. Embrace community over competition.

I truly believe that learning to operate from a place of abundance rather than scarcity is a gift that will keep on giving.  When we come from a place of wanting to connect with people and share our mutual experiences, gifts and knowledge, our perspective and the opportunities that arise for all parties expands. This leads to more abundance than you can even imagine, so stay open and commit to lifting as you rise! 

If you haven’t already done so, make sure you tune into my interview with Tracy. It’s an inspiring conversation that can help you expand and grow in new ways. Interview link is above. 

I’d love to hear from you! What tip resonates with you the most? Do you have a go-to practice you want to contribute? Share in the comments below and follow me on Instagram at @leannekallal and let’s chat!

If you haven’t already done so, make sure to subscribe to my podcast to stay up to date and connected 🙂 

Thank you for being a part of The GlowJo Community!  ♥️  It wouldn’t be the same without you! 

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