Episode 223: How to Enjoy Summer Without Sacrificing Your Business Goals with Nicole Culver

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Nicole: [00:00:00] If my business doesn't grow over the summer, if my revenue numbers don't go up and up and up, I am more than fine with it. One, because I know how much money is coming in. And two, I know that like success for me over the summer isn't revenue based. 

Brandi: That's a quick clip of what we're chatting about on today's episode with my good friend Nicole Culver. We're talking all about how you set up your summer for success while still making sure that all your bills and wants and desires are covered, but without this incessant need to grow, grow, grow, but instead live a life that you're going to remember and not one that you regret.

So I'm so excited to introduce you to Nicole and jump into this topic of making the summer your best one yet. So let's jump on in. Okay.

[00:01:00] Hey, hey, hey, Serve Scale Soar. I'm super excited to be back with another episode. And I'm more excited because this is a guest expert episode. And I have not only someone who is absolutely freaking incredible at business and being a mom, but one, I would say one of my best friends. And I truly mean that from not even like a business or business besties type of situation.

But Nicole is someone that I just love doing life. And so I'm excited for her to dive into how she really takes off the summer in a way that she gets to prioritize her family, her kids, and still make money. And so Nicole, thank you for being here. And I would love for you just to introduce yourself to my audience as who you are as a person and then also about your business.

Nicole: Yeah. First, thank you. Oh my gosh. I feel like we could have just chatted. We'll have to schedule another zoom to just like chat as friends. As a [00:02:00] person, I love this question. My, I'm just going to say what came to mind first is I'm a mom of three girls. I'm a wife. I'm a daughter. I'm a sister. We all have a lot of roles that we are in our life.

I have three girls, 11, Okay. Nine and six and we are in this very busy end of school Season where I feel like i'm splitting my time between school activities And work more than any other point in the school year we really wind down our work for the summer so I can spend time with them I'm, one of those people i'm a total summer person.

I live in new york. It's a It's the best time of year, in my opinion, here and we spend the summer at the beach and I get to enjoy them and still serve my clients, but I get to really take a step back from work while still doing calls, but in a way that's just like able to support my family. 

Brandi: So let's talk about this because we talk all the time and when you [00:03:00] always talk about like summer, I'm at the beach every day.

Like she's literally at the beach every single day y'all and she doesn't live at the beach. She has to pack up all her stuff and then go there every single day. And when I saw this happen last year, I was like, Do you make any money in the summer? I think it kind of like blew my mind. So can you talk a little bit about how you structure your summer?

Nicole: Yeah. So the first thing, the first thing I'll say, which might, I know we're so in line with like our business values. And I think it's really important just to know your numbers. And that's the first thing I'll say is because we know our numbers and we're so clear on our numbers that we know Okay.

what we need to do every single month, not only to pay our bills, but to be like, more than okay. And the reason why I say that first is because We want to find this balance of like really enjoying our life But I don't want anyone to be stressed over money over the summer either So I I [00:04:00] try to take this mindset and i've been doing this for many many years that it's okay I know my number that I need to get to every single month to feel In the clear kind of i'll just use that so that's like our our bills are paid.

We are Doing what we want to do with our money and we have some extra breathing room So i'm not because I wouldn't want to be taking off a lot of the summer and feel like really Restricted either because that wouldn't that wouldn't feel good So I think the most important thing is know your numbers and know what number you need to hit So Because then Brandy obviously is so good at like reverse engineering and, and knowing how to get to your income goal and we could talk about that if, if you want to go in that direction, but I think that's the most important part for me is I know my numbers and on the other side of that.

If my business doesn't grow over the summer, if my revenue numbers don't go up and up and up, I am more than fine with it. One, because I know how much money [00:05:00] is coming in. And two, I know that like success for me over the summer isn't revenue based. 

Brandi: And I love that because I think sometimes, especially in the online space, so many of us get hung up in the grow, grow, grow.

Like we have to grow. And there's times in our business where it's okay to stay like just level, or even if you, it's really important to take a dip. Last year, I knew we were going to take a dip when I had Bodhi and I was okay with that. And I got okay with that. I wasn't okay with it at first, but then I realized like, This is my last baby.

This is my last chance to have these moments and it's okay that all those months weren't growing or maintaining, we dipped, and that's just because we gotta put our life first, but through all those dips, like you said, my family was still taken care of. My family did not miss a beat because we set up a business in a way where all the money that comes in each month isn't spent.[00:06:00] 

And I think a lot of people mismanage their business finances thinking that every month is going to look the same. And that's just not how business works. So are there things that you put in place quarter one, quarter two to prepare for the summer financially? 

Nicole: Yeah, I would say again, like exactly what you just said, we know if we don't grow over the summer, which also like the funny part is my expectation is I'm just going to stay here.

But July, we usually just looking back, we usually have one of our highest revenue months. I think it's a lot easier to do this in the year, I think, because there's a lot less pressure on it. But also we do some other just like fun promos and fun things that it's like, Hey, if this does great, then awesome.

If it doesn't, then it doesn't really matter either. So we just take the pressure off. We also know because we've been doing this for so long that Q1 and Q4, those are going to be our biggest quarters. And [00:07:00] then, and I know I say that, that word with a really great. Nice thick Long Island accent. And then also September is a is a really solid month for us to win a lot of a lot of our, dream clients, their their moms who their kids finally go back.

So we see a nice big bump. But when you're doing something for so long, you can Make that trajectory so you can plan and then if things don't go to plan you can pivot if things do go to plan then 

Brandi: So take us through what a typical week in the summer looks like for you. 

Nicole: So at the end of last summer I said I did like an internal debrief with me Really just me, honestly, like I just did.

And I said this is what worked for me. And this is what didn't work for me. I, we do a lot of driving over the summer because we go to the beach so much. And my kids do swim team and they do a very short four day a week camp. That's only three hours a [00:08:00] day. And that means by the time you like get back from taking them to camp, you're basically two hours later, you're going to pick them up.

So at the end of last summer, I was like. I need to be in more chill mode because the driving last summer was a lot for me. So this summer before, probably in like April, I started planning and started saying, okay this is what didn't work for me last summer. Social media was also a big stressor. I let it be a big stressor for me last summer.

And by the end of the summer, I was just like. I'm not going to worry about posting because I don't need to, so we're just going to let that go. So those were two big things, was I wanted to reorganize my schedule even more this year, and I wanted to try to take social media, I took it off my plate last year, I joked that I fired our social media person, which was me, but I wanted to take it off my plate even more this year.

So those were the two, my two big things. So basically I just [00:09:00] reorganized my week to say, okay, can I have a buffer day on Monday and Friday and take my, I know you do this too. I call it my CEO day. My CEO day where I do no meetings, no calls, nothing. It's just my day to Get stuff done basically. So that's what I'm doing on Monday.

So I moved that from Wednesday to Monday, just so I have a little bit of a buffer and I can ease into the week a little bit more. And then I condensed all of my client work to Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, while the kids are at camp and Friday is going to be my flex day. So that means just whatever kind of runs over from the week is going to be done on Fridays.

And then if I. If I want to do some work at the beach, I can, but I also can leave it open and flexible. 

Brandi: I love that. And one of the big things I'm hearing is you're not just coming into summer without a plan. You have a plan, but I'm sure this plan is also going to be flexible because nothing ever goes the [00:10:00] way that exactly the way we want.

And but so many, and you were planning in April. This wasn't like you got to June and you started planning. This has been stuff that's been in place. And it doesn't matter if it's summer or Christmas or January or whenever we need to get ahead of planning. So do you do that type of planning for more than just the summer?

Is this part of your yearly or quarterly rhythm, or is this something specifically you're doing for summer? 

Nicole: We do it. I would say we do it more over the summer because I'm going to be taking a step back. So I want to make sure we have the big rocks, like really in place. And then of course, as things come up, we will work on them, but we also do a meeting like at the start of every quarter, we do a meeting and we say, these are the big things we're working on for the month.

And then as each month starts to come up, we do a monthly meeting and say, okay, these are the things that these are the things that need to get done. And also I'll say is I [00:11:00] am really big on not over planning or over scheduling. I would rather have less on the calendar and do less and get it all done and then be able to add more verse have to take off.

I don't love taking off. It's just my personality and the way I work. I would rather. Do okay. This is our big project for the month. This is like one or two little things. And then if we get it done in time, then great. We can add more. But if not, if I know these core things are done. 

Brandi: I love that. And I'm the same way.

I like to have less and then get that done, then have a big list and get nothing done. And because if I have a big list, I literally won't get anything done. It's too overwhelming. Because I'm like, I don't want this. Yeah. It's so overwhelming. And then you don't know where to start. And then you just start scrolling on social media.

But one of the other things I love that you did is a debrief. So whether this is summer for you, a busy time, it could be spring break, whatever it looks like for you, [00:12:00] is at the end of last summer you did a debrief with yourself and found out like, this is what worked, this is what didn't. It wasn't just gosh, summer was like a clusterf and it didn't work out the way I wanted.

Instead you were like, Okay. What can we pull from this? And then remembering those and coming back to it in April. And so is that something that you've been intentional with, or was that your first time doing it? 

Nicole: I would say I would say a little bit of a mix of both. It used to really come from one necessity when my kids were babies.

They're, they're a little bit older now, but when they were babies and I, I needed to be more on with them. Then I really, I don't want to, I always had a choice, of course, but I always wanted it to be me. So I needed to make those plans beforehand. Now they're, they're a little bit older, a little bit more self sufficient.

I could, do some more work at the beach if I needed to, because they're older, but I have been doing this a long time just [00:13:00] because of the Necessity around the way that we wanted our summers to go. 

Brandi: So when you're at the beach each day, how, and just so everyone knows, you're not just like sitting on the sand, you're part of a community at the beach.

So it's not like you're camped out like on the beach with coolers and that type of thing, just so we're all clear. But how how many hours do you think you're working each day while you're at the beach? 

Nicole: Probably like one, honestly, and it's no client calls. So it really is that like back end work that like, okay, if I need to set up a system or I need to do an email or I need to maybe Voxer a client, I would say it's like that, but it's not going to be anything that I'm on camera for like that.

The camera work is all for the beginning of my day. It's that Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, like that's when I know I'm going to be on calls with clients or I'm going to be creating content. The beach stuff is all that like [00:14:00] back end systems, emails, any, any like text, anything you're typing is going to be that type of work.

Brandi: And how are you communicating that with your clients?

Nicole: It's not so my what I'll say is my clients are all very similar to me. So they're going to be I say like I'm I also I'm doing this for my family, but I also want to show our clients like how they can lead themselves too. So really, this is like we just go to summer schedule. So this is our this is our summer schedule.

We don't, we make a big deal about it in the sense of this is what you get to do too. You get to design your schedule. You get to set up your days. You get to dream what you want summer to be like, and this is the schedule we're moving to. So we recommend everyone moving to doing a CEO day on Monday.

We're trying to suggest to our clients, take Fridays off, take a half a day on Friday. So we are, [00:15:00] Kind of positioning it that this is their opportunity to to really enjoy their summer. And this is our summer schedule. So we're showing them like the benefit of being able to take your schedule, dream about how you want it, and then make it your own too.

And here's how, here's how we're doing it. 

Brandi: And I think that's really powerful that when we go to a client's In a unapologetic way. I think a lot of times, especially as women, we show up and we're like, I'm so sorry. I'm not going to be available as much. And it's no Hey, I just want to let you know, here's my summer schedule.

So that's the way it is. And just being okay with that. You don't have to apologize for that. 

Nicole: Yeah. And that's how I want all of our clients to be too. I don't want them if I'm apologizing and I'm being like, I'm so sorry. I'm going to spend time with my kids instead of just being like what I said.

This is, this is our summer schedule, let's set up your summer schedule too. Then they're going to go apologize to their clients too and I don't want that. There's a ripple [00:16:00] effect there and I don't want that for them either. So I have to lead in this way. 

Brandi: And I think this has been so good in recognizing that we can still be businesswomen.

We can still be moms that are totally present and we can still serve our clients at a really high level. And summers don't have to be stressful. So many people are thinking like they can't. So we want to make sure that those kids, but don't have to force your kids to fully maintain the business that they have.

Over the summer because kids are home. And then there is adjustments that have to be made for sure. I have a box to the other day and I was like, oh my God, my kids are so loud. I can't even get a podcast recorded. And it's just like little adjustments that we have to make, but it doesn't mean that you have to choose between having a successful business or being a mom or having your kids home.

And so if someone wanted to start implementing this, of course, you've been doing this for several years. But if someone's coming into this and they're like, I just want to take baby steps [00:17:00] towards like really having control over my summer and it not being a time where I'm counting down to the kids go back to school, but instead I'm creating memories.

I'm also maintaining financial. Responsibilities for my family, what are some steps that you would give them? 

Nicole: And I'll say I, by August, by like August 20th, I will be counting down. I love them so much, but I will be counting down to school by then too. What I would say is first get out your pen and paper.

I think, I'll, I'll say the number thing I think is the most important thing is to really know your numbers to see what's even possible for you. And then I would just give yourself, even if you want to take baby steps, because this could be like your three year summer plan. Your five year, it doesn't matter.

Give yourself permission to dream about what you really want your summer to look like and cast a really big vision. And then. I would just start looking at and okay what actually it's at the time we're recording. It's the end of May. [00:18:00] What could be possible for this summer and just go through and pick one or two with our clients.

One of them said I want to commit to doing a beach day Thursday afternoon. I want to commit to having lunch with my friends once a week like these are huge lifts like. But if you don't intend for that, then we all know how it doesn't happen and you'll get to the whole summer. I can't tell you how many friends I have who are like, I meant to go to the beach this summer, like two months ago.

Like you have to, you have to plan for it. So dream really big and pick one to three things that you could implement now. And. I know that you're big on this too. Schedule it in going to the, if that's, if going to the beach with your kids is really important to you, then that should be on your calendar for the summer and it should be a non, a non negotiable.

Just like you meet with your clients, you meet with your kids. Pick one to three and just schedule [00:19:00] it. 

Brandi: I love it so much. And I think this is going to really set people up to think about summer a little bit differently than they've thought about it before. And hopefully this encourages you to move forward with your business and not dreading this time.

Because it can be a really powerful time and it can be a time that shows you that you can have your cake and eat it too. You can be present with your kid. You can have a business. It's all there. able to be done at the same time. So thank you, Nicole, for just sharing that belief and giving us the tangible steps to make that happen.

But before we wrap up, one, I will ask you in a minute where everyone can touch base with you, but I would love to do some rapid fire. So are you ready? I don't know. Yes. Okay. What's your favorite type of taco? Oh chicken. Chicken? Soft, hard, just chicken? What do you want on it? 

Nicole: Can we still be friends if I'm not a huge taco person?

Honestly, avocado, sweet potatoes. [00:20:00] 

Brandi: I know. Okay, so we got a chicken taco with avocados and sweet potatoes. Are we doing a crunchy shell or a soft shell? No, soft. Flour or corn? Corn. Okay. This is not a taco I'm eating, but. I'm sweating. These are the hardest questions. What is the best piece of business advice that you've ever got?

Focus on one thing at a time. I love it. And then any book suggestions that you love to pass around? Oh, 

Nicole: I just got Gary Vee's new book. I just started it, but I, I do really like it. Day Trading Attention. 

Brandi: Wow. I, I just like Gary Vee would have never been an author that I thought that would come out of your mouth.

I know. I listened 

Nicole: to him on Skinny Confidential podcast and I was just like, Oh, I really like this. I'm going to buy your book. 

Brandi: And if you could leave my listeners with any piece of advice, it doesn't have to be about summer, but what would that one thing be? [00:21:00] I'll 

Nicole: say with the vein of summer, don't waste your life away.

Figure out really, really, really what you want. Give yourself permission to dream big and to break it down into the small ways that you can start to do it right now, it, it is so much more achievable than you think it is when you say, okay, this is what summer is. Success actually would look like for me this summer and then start writing it down, pick one to three things and really just run with it.

So you can get to the end of summer and say that was a success. 

Brandi: I love it. Nicole, this has been fantastic. I didn't even say this, but Nicole has been on the podcast before y'all. So we will make sure to link up that podcast episode. And then where can my listeners find you and connect with you?

Nicole: Instagram is probably my favorite place to have conversations and it's just my name, Nicole Culver. We'll make 

Brandi: sure to link all that up in the chat or in the show notes. So thank you, Nicole. It's been such a pleasure and I'm sure we'll have you back again. Thanks, Brandi. 

How amazing was [00:22:00] that? Not only did Nicole give us the vision of what our summers could look like, but she also gave us the tactical steps that we can take this summer this summer. To start implementing that and maybe next summer it gets even better.

And then the following summer, it is our best summer ever. This doesn't happen overnight. This is something we plan for. We debrief for. We start planning in April for. But we can take baby steps this month right now. To start moving our business towards us and this isn't something that you only have to use for summer You can use this for any major Time where things feel like they're a little bit tighter.

Maybe kids are home. Maybe it's christmas break Maybe it is just a season in your life like maternity leave Whatever that is for you. I hope you take the vision that nicole has painted and no success isn't always determined by how much revenue you're bringing in.

Sometimes it's determined by how many memories you're creating. So I would love for [00:23:00] you to go chat with Nicole, give her some love on your biggest takeaways. You can find her on Instagram. We're going to link up all of her information in the show notes, and we'll also link up the episode that she was on the first time she was on Serve Scale Soar, where we talked more about being moms and running a business.

And y'all, if you want to know more about like how to structure your summer, these more high level strategic ways to run our business, that's exactly why I created the strategist society, a place for people who are in the digital marketing world that offer one on one services and they already are making four or 5, 000 a month.

And they're ready for that next step in their business, whether that's more revenue or more freedom. The strategist society is for you. So if you're wondering if that's the right move for you, DM me at @brandimowles on Instagram strategist, and let's talk about where you are in your business now and see if I can help you get to where you want to go.

So until next week, my friends go [00:24:00] out, serve your clients, scale your business and soar into the success you deserve.