This time of year is perfect for reflecting, and in addition to planning for the year ahead, I’ve been doing just that. It’s incredible how much things can change in just 12 months!
This is a walk down [my] memory lane…
JANUARY - I was completely worn out from my job as a full time coupon blogger and was starting to really resent the people I was helping with this gig, because they constantly demanded I work all the time to help THEM save money (and they said I should do it for free). They were assholes. I decided to kick them in the nuts and walk away.
I hired a small team of women to run the site for a few months, hired a business coach of my own, and got into coaching. Something I’d been urged to do for awhile.
We had a really cold winter, so I was spending a lot of time cooped up indoors, but as a homebody, I didn’t really mind!
Income in business = $0
Expenses for business = $6,000
FEBRUARY - I made the decision to be a blogging coach and worked with my business coach on my money mindset (which I thought was SO STUPID and really didn’t want to do it, but I humored her, and then it started working… so, I guess I was wrong!).
I decorated my office, and was excited to work in there on my BRAND NEW BIZ!
Towards the end of February, I decided to switch gears from blogging coach to business coach because, uh, I kind of hate blogging, so I’m not really the best teacher around that.
My first website design went up and as crappy as it was, I loved and was so proud of it. I couldn’t wait to show it to the world.
I worked on the launch of my first ever group program, called Money Making Mama (since I was targeting stay-at-home mom’s at the time). I spent a lot of time planning and preparing to make it just right (or what I thought I was just right - I look at it now and laugh at how terrible it was!).
Income in business = $1,970 (money in the bank)
Expenses for business = $3,211.39
MARCH - I decided to stop targeting stay-at-home mom’s and instead I really desired to work with women entrepreneurs that had online, service-based businesses.
I made the switch.
I put together a short DIY course called The Five Day Facebook Fix, which helped you to grow your Facebook page, get more leads, and send more people to your website. It was fun, and I enjoyed it, but I still sucked at marketing, because I never sold very many of those.
The snow kept coming. I kept being annoyed with it.
Income in business = $4,688.00 (money in the bank)
Expenses for business = $3,903.27
APRIL - I started reading more mindset books. I was beginning to REALLY love it! Here are a few of my favourites:
I started my Facebook Group, Babes in Business in April, and was SO excited about the possibilities!
I put Post-It notes all over my house to remind me of how money loves me and that I could bring as much money as I wanted into my life.
I re-launched Money Making Mama, but it was completely revamped. At this point, it was a 12-week course on how to grow your business to be making $5K-$10K per month. I called it Babes in Biz Bootcamp and am still in love with the name.
Income in business = $8,379.00 (money in the bank)
Expenses for business = $9,750.32
MAY - I invested $15,000 into business coaching and started working with a new business coach. She forced me to do things I never would have done on my own (especially where my mindset was concerned) and I love her for it, because it completely changed my life.
I also invested in a brand new website design because my last one was AWFUL and did not represent me and my style at all (pink and purple? NOPE!).
This is also the month I really started to treat myself like a queen and allowed myself to pay for a make-up artist to make me up after I had my hair done (my favourite hair style of 2015!). I was addicted and ended up doing that at almost every hair cut appointment, until the make-up artist quit and was no longer working there.
My husband and I went on a trip to California and we flew first class on the way there, which was SO extravagant and so worth every last penny. I felt like a rockstar. I can’t even tell you how much I loved California. I’m counting down the days I can be there again.
Income in business = $14,645.00 (money in the bank)
Expenses for business = $6,823.75
JUNE - I held a 30 day $5K manifesting challenge in my Facebook Group and ended up welcoming HUNDREDS of new women into the group. It was after this challenge that the group started to grow really, really fast, without much marketing on my part.
We invested in a gardener for the summer and fall, as well, and it’s one of the best investments we ever made in our marriage (yes, marriage - my husband no longer bitches and moans about having to cut the grass!).
We also splurged on a front garden and new sod out front - something we never would have done last year, while we were still super stingy with our money.
Income in business = $19,154.32 (money in the bank)
Expenses for business = $22,530.60
JULY - We rented a massive cottage in Muskoka, Canada and I had one of the best weeks of my life. I swam, I ate, I stayed up way too late, I napped, I read books in the middle of the day, I went shopping at farmer’s markets, and I just enjoyed slowing down and savouring life.
I can’t wait to go back next summer!
At the end of July I had a panic attack, couldn’t breathe, called 911 and they brought me to the hospital, evaluated me, and then told me to stop working so damn hard.
So I did. Although it freaked me out and it really sucked, I’m glad it happened. Because it forced me to slow down and change the way I worked.
Income in business = $17,786.79 (money in the bank)
Expenses for business = $11,073.79
AUGUST - My husband and I took a short trip to Banff, Alberta, where he was doing a bike race. We ate yummy vegan food, pampered ourselves at the spa, and stared at the mountains for long periods of time.
It’s one of my favourite trips that I’ve ever taken.
I finished working with my business coach and was sad, sad, sad. However, I learned a lot from her and I felt ready to take my business to the next level.
I launched Babes in Biz Bootcamp again, but this time as an 8-week course instead of 12 (because past participants said they were getting results by 8 weeks and didn’t need the full 12).
Income in business = $24,226.54 (money in the bank)
Expenses for business = $22,475.68
SEPTEMBER - Back to school for my little man, which meant I could focus on my business a lot more than I was in the summer (without completely burning out and putting myself in the hospital again, obviously).
Celebrated a huge $46K launch for Babes in Biz Bootcamp and started running the program for the third time, with this time being my favourite because so many women got such amazing results from it.
Income in business = $37,612.71 (money in the bank)
Expenses for business = $20,434.51
OCTOBER - My bestie and I headed out to Syracuse, New York to visit a friend that had the cutest farm ever, and have some girls time.
The animals melted my heart and reminded me of how much I really want to have a farm of my own.
Celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving with family.
Launched The Sales Mastery Blueprint, a 4 week course on mastering your sales call process, which was a huge success. I’m planning on re-launching it again in January.
Income in business = $17,672.11 (money in the bank)
Expenses for business = $12,867.80
NOVEMBER - Had our first ever PRO family photo shoot and received some amazing photos from our photographer. I think it freaked my kids out, having a stranger in the house, making us pose for pictures, but I loved it and can’t wait to do it again next year.
I started working with a handful of new 1:1 clients this month and feel so damn lucky to be guiding them on their journey to having a six-figure business. I have some of the hardest working clients ever and the results those clients get is because of how they do the work I give them and are 100% confident that they will succeed.
Income in business = $53,305.49 (money in the bank)
Expenses for business = $16,311.35
DECEMBER - I started planning for 2016 and am over the moon exited about what’s to come for my business. I LOVE planning. I’m also doing this yearly reflection which is showing me just how far I’ve come in just one year’s time.
We started decking our halls, wrapping all our Christmas presents and plan to spend the next few weeks with family and friends, before welcoming the new year with open arms.
2015 has been one of the best years of my life. Not only did I grow my business WAY bigger and WAY faster than I could have ever imagined, but I also experienced new places and new things with my family and friends.
It’s definitely going to be a hard year to top, but I think 2016 will still be amazing.
TOTAL BUSINESS INCOME FROM JAN-NOV 2015 = $199,439.58
TOTAL BUSINESS EXPENSES FROM JAN-NOV 2015 = $135,382.46
TOTAL BUSINESS PROFIT FROM JAN-NOV 2015 = $64,057.12 (I was told your first year of business is costly, with lots of investments you need to make, and it seems that was true!)