Not-So Kind Regards

How to Invest Before You're Ready & Prioritise Profit with Clare Wood

• Maddy Birdcage & Caroline Moss • Season 5 • Episode 11

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In today’s episode, Maddy sits down with Clare Wood, money mentor, accountant, and mindset coach, to unpack how business owners can confidently invest in their growth while prioritising profit over ego-driven decisions. Drawing from Maddy’s own journey—from chasing revenue milestones to building a stable, profitable business—Clare offers actionable insights on money mindset, risk-taking, and how to know if you’re ready to make that next big leap. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance bold investments with financial stability, this episode is packed with the guidance you need. 

Episode Highlights: 

  • Revenue vs. Profit: Focusing on profit over revenue milestones. 
  • Investing Before You’re Ready: Knowing when to take the leap. 
  • Risk Appetite and Alignment: Balancing risk with investment confidence. 
  • Mindset Matters: Detaching from outcomes for better results. 
  • Practical Money Practices: Regular money meetings for financial clarity. 

Take the Next Step: 

Ready to supercharge your 2025? Whether you’re looking for mindset support, impactful marketing strategies, or tools to accelerate your success, Birdcage Marketing has you covered: 

Connect with Clare Wood:  

 

Connect with us:   

To work with us, book your discovery call at https://www.birdcagemarketing.com.au/start-here

To discover the school, visit https://birdcagemarketing.com.au/

Speaker 1:

Every single business owner. If you want to change your life, work on your money mindset, because when it hits the fan, if you have that faith that I'm talking about, that deep, deep faith of I know I'm going to be okay, I trust myself, I know that my success is inevitable, you are able to weather the bumps along the way.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Not so Kind Regards podcast. I'm Maddie.

Speaker 3:

Birdcage and I'm Caroline Moss. We are done with the digital fluff and pleasantries and we're here to talk straight about brand building, digital marketing and personal growth. Digital marketing and personal growth Feeling stuck on the content treadmill, overwhelmed by endless marketing advice that just doesn't deliver. Time to flip the script and step into Express Mode, the game-changing program built for entrepreneurs who are done playing small. Brought to you by Birdcage School, the online training destination teaching thousands of marketers and entrepreneurs who know they're meant for more. Launching the 29th of January, express Mode gives you lifetime access to fast, bold strategies designed for today's fast-paced AI-driven world. Whether you're juggling multiple responsibilities or striving to stand out in a crowded market, this on-demand program is your ticket to authentic results-driven marketing. With actionable templates, AI, optimized chat, gpt prompts and strategies tailored for your brand, you'll achieve more in days, not months, and with this launch pricing, you will save big while transforming your business.

Speaker 2:

Join our waitlist now at birdcageschoolcom. Welcome back everyone to the Not so Kind Regards podcast. I am here today solo interviewing Claire Wood, who once upon a time used to be my business coach, and I'm really excited to get her on the podcast for the first time. I have been on hers a couple of times, so make sure you tune into those episodes. But, claire, I'm going to let you introduce yourself. Who are you and what do you do?

Speaker 1:

Well, thanks so much for having me honey.

Speaker 1:

I call myself a money mentor because the big thing I help my clients with is, I guess, getting across their money in one of two ways. So I'm a qualified accountant by trade, so we dive into business finances and all things profit. And also I do a lot of work around money mindset and that means like helping my clients to uncover what their fears, their limitations, their beliefs are around money and then helping them to break through those old stories so that they can make more money in their business.

Speaker 2:

Love that, and I think that's what drew me to you back in the start of 2020, when I was at breaking point after just having my second baby and I just knew I didn't want to keep going in the business the way that I had been those few years before. It was this idea that you could I mean, I didn't even know what I was getting into in terms of the manifestation, the mindset side of things, which you introduced me to, but I liked that what you offered was grounded in something tangible and real as well, which was the financial side of stuff, which is something that I really struggled with, and I know a lot of creative people do. So what I'd really love to dive into today with you is obviously some of your foundational teachings and some, I guess, introducing people into money mindset, because it's not something we've really spoken about on this podcast before, but is so important but also this idea of investing in coaching, maybe before you even have the money for it or feel ready for it, or how do you know? Yeah, I really just want to explore this idea of how do you know when to take that leap and when to invest in that coaching, with that money mindset angle to it as well, and I guess the reason why I really want to talk to you about that is because I didn't have the money when I started working with you.

Speaker 2:

I remember I just as I said I come off maternity leave I was at breaking point in my business and I just kind of like shut my eyes and press the button and said, yes, let's do this. And then, I mean, less than 18 months later, I was celebrating a 100k revenue month for the first time in the business, so it obviously worked well. It was the right call for me. But what do you say to people who are, I guess, looking for support and looking for a coach, but they may financially not be at the point where their business can self-sustain that investment?

Speaker 1:

This is such a big topic and I'm really excited to be talking about it with you. Look, I guess the thing is is that the first thing that I think that you need to consider is what your appetite for risk is. Now I have a very good friend of mine. She mortgaged her house to hire a coach. So they literally went we're going to like draw money down off our, off our home. They did not have the cash for it. It was a very significant investment and she was like best thing I've ever done. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with that. But again, I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with that. But again, we've all got our own appetite for risk.

Speaker 1:

And one thing that I will say is that when you are making a leap whether it's you've got the cash sitting there some people feel really uncomfortable spending cash when they've got heaps of money sitting there. True, I know one client of mine. I was trying to talk them into hiring their first virtual assistant and they were like freaking out about money, I'm feeling sick about it. And I'm like okay, how much money have you got? About $100,000 in their transactional business bank account. And I was like why, what are you talking about Hiring? Like you've got a ton of money just sitting there, yeah, but everyone's got a different appetite for risk. The one thing that I think is really important and this is where money mindset ties into it is that it's got to be something that's energetically aligned for you, and I'm sure you feel exactly the same with your clients as well.

Speaker 1:

Someone once hired me and she said this is my last. Whatever the amount was at the time, let's call it $5,000. If this doesn't work, I am going to be living on the streets and I was like whoa, that is not the fair See, that's not the vibe to be coming into a coaching arrangement, and I was like I really just don't think that this is the right time for you.

Speaker 1:

And I think that there's been times where I've lent right right in. I know, like my book tour that I did when I wrote my book, that cost me a lot of money. But I wasn't doing that from like, oh my gosh, I hope this works. Or I was going and being like I'm so pumped to be doing this. This feels so aligned. Yes, it's stretchy, but I'm here for that energy, whether it works or whether it doesn't, and I think that that's how, like to me, the energetics around money tie in.

Speaker 1:

It's like if you do something and you're like, yeah, okay, maybe it will, maybe it won't. And it's exactly the same with marketing. Um, you know, you can't come to and be like this, is it? I've got one month for these ads to be performing? It doesn't work like that. Some of my clients get results really quickly, some of them don't, and you know, I think that it's when you are making a big decision you've really got to check in like, am I doing this from a place of expansion, of excitement, of I'm here for the learnings and the lessons and I'm not going to hold any grudges whichever way this goes? Or are you there from a place of desperation and yeah, this has to work. I think that there's a real component of that that you need to think about when you're investing in your business 100%, and I agree with you in that it doesn't matter how much or how little money you have.

Speaker 2:

It depends on the energy that you're coming into it with. As you said, people can do that as well. They can be like I'm investing this five grand and if it doesn't work in a month I'm out. If they've got half a million dollars sitting there, yeah, and do you know what I often find funny Because it is the same with marketing and with our programs as well it's actually the people that do have that detachment from the outcome that are just doing this because they're like this feels like the right step forward. They're the ones that actually get the results quicker than the ones that are like holding on for dear life, like forcing the result.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, absolutely, and I think that that's part of like the whole, I guess, manifestation process is. It really is that art of detachment and I know that people don't really get it, but maybe, if I explain it in like a way of like dating, so have you ever had a friend and they're looking for a life partner and they're like I've lost the weight and I, you know, I feel really confident in myself. Why haven't you come along yet? And I'm like because you've got a desperate energy.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, come along yet and I'm like, because you've got a desperate vibe, yeah, and that is not a magnetic energy in any way, shape or form and a lot of times the same thing happens with, you know, results like for me one of the ways that I'm able to keep showing up. And you know, showing up in my marketing and being the way that I am, I have absolute, absolute faith and confidence in my success. There's not one part of me that's not like I am going to be wildly, wildly wealthy and successful. I know that in my core and so if there's little ups and downs and bumps along the way, I'm like, okay, I'm here for the ride, but this is not an indication of where I'm going, if that makes sense. So I think that when you are investing, it's really important that you are feeling really expanded by the investment and it's also funny.

Speaker 1:

Something else that I've noticed a lot about people is the way that I think about money is really different than the way that, like, some other people think about money. So you know, like someone was like, oh my gosh, your course is $2,000. And I was like, I know it's so cheap, like I'm teaching you what I spent $60,000 at uni to yes In a $2,000 course. But if you went to your parents and said I'm doing an MBA, yeah, that's like 60 grand. People are like, oh, that's great, it's like 60 grand People are like, oh, that's great. You tell people you're doing a course, people are like, oh, that's risky, it's like no, it's literally. To me it just seems like such a smarter investment 100%.

Speaker 2:

I know I got hit up with we've just launched a new program and we're taking beta applicants for it. So the price is like under two grand, which is that's cheap. That's less than half price of that full course and definitely less of what it costs me to figure all of this out. Not to mention the time. And I got hit with a DM on TikTok saying more than a thousand dollars for a course and I'm like yeah, yeah, bitch, that's yeah and that's fucking cheap. So like don't come at me with that, I don't know, I just it's mind blowing, isn't it?

Speaker 1:

Yeah and look, we've all got like I know that I've got my own limitations and blocks that come up for me as well Like we've all got our own stories. But for me, investing in my business, like I look and I'm like if I spend 10 grand on something and I can make 50 or a 100 grand off the back of it, it seems like printing money, yeah, to me. So, yeah, I guess that that's the other thing that I like to. On the practical lens, when I'm looking at something, I'm like, okay, if I do this and it leads me to one new client, if it leads me to my first $20,000 a month, that leads me to my whatever it might be that you're shooting for in your business, then you can start to go. Is it worth putting the money towards that if that's the potential upside to it?

Speaker 2:

I agree. I think people need to stop looking at coaching and marketing and I don't know all the other things as like a cost. It's an investment, it's meant to return for you and it may not return millions instantly, but if it covers the cost, at least you've got that for free. What are some of the most common limiting beliefs around money that actually hold people back from investing in themselves?

Speaker 1:

I think people are terrified that something's not going to work. I think people are terrified that something's not going to work no-transcript, and it's like but dude, that's the way that the world works.

Speaker 1:

There is not one single successful person on this planet who hasn't failed. You have a look at all of the billionaires and you learn their stories and you're like whoa, they made a huge stuff up there that didn't go to plan, that was an absolute colossal disaster and they just kept on going. And yet sometimes we think what if this thing doesn't work out? My life's going to be over? And it's like this is part of the entrepreneurial journey and people think when I get to a certain level, it's all going to go away, it's going to be easy, it's honestly and I know this is really triggering to people who are early on in their business journey but the problems don't go away, they just change.

Speaker 1:

And if anything, sometimes I find it's there's actually a lot more pressure when you've got a bigger business because you've got people's livelihoods that are depending on you. It's just you sitting in the corner of your lounge room. You're like, oh, I've had a slow month. Yeah, dude, you don't have a team of people who are counting on you for payroll. You know again, when you step into a new level, you know I've got a massive mortgage, I've got a waterfront home and there's a hell of a lot more pressure to keep up the income and things like that when you've got these bigger commitments around you.

Speaker 1:

So I think that being scared to fail is one of the biggest blocks. People are like, oh my gosh, what if this doesn't work? And it's like it mightn't work, like if you were guaranteed that every single thing you ever spent money on in your business was going to be a wild success. Well, everyone would be doing it, and sometimes you do have to lean in. And the thing is for me, even when I make investments and they don't deliver a return in a short term, or even ever, I'm like I learned a very valuable lesson there, and so I'm always learning or taking something out of it or creating growth.

Speaker 2:

I agree.

Speaker 2:

I think that's something that I like to say take fear out of your emotions.

Speaker 2:

Or like no, not fear, take failure out of your quiver of emotions, because there is actually no such thing as failure if you just keep going like, or you die, but I don't know. But it's like and, if anything, I've always seen my biggest growth comes from the worst things that can happen. So it's like the biggest pullback leads to the biggest push forward, generally speaking, because you, you do have this learning, you have this lesson. You're like, oh shit, that did not work, I'm gonna go this way instead. And then that ends up generally working because you figured it out. And I think when people like, oh my god, if this doesn't work, it means I'm going to go this way instead. And then that ends up generally working because you figured it out. And I think when people are like, oh my God, if this doesn't work, it means I'm a failure. There's the problem You're tying these results to your self-worth, when you just have to realize you are inherently worthy regardless and it's just a big fat game.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and it's something you did really well. I noticed, like when you were like blowing up on TikTok, you were showing up heaps and then you started getting all these hate, all these hate comments and you then just turned that into like the best content. Yeah, I've done the same when someone wrote me a book review a nasty book review and I like turned it into a piece of content that went really really well and I'm like, yeah, this is like my worst fear as someone who was bullied all through school was being bullied online. And then when you have that experience and you can navigate through it, you actually come out stronger A hundred percent, definitely, and it's I also just with what you said about like next level, bigger problems.

Speaker 2:

I agree with that and I don't actually think the problems in your business ever go away. But you get better and you trust yourself more and you know that, oh fuck, this is shit right now, but I've gotten back from worse places. Oh well, off we go. And what that means is, rather than you then emotionally spiraling, you're just dealing with the situation in front of you and you don't let it affect you, so you can minimize that downside.

Speaker 1:

Exactly.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, okay. So why do you think there's this big separation between mindset and money, like people look at it and they think it's like so, on the opposite ends of the spectrum, and yet you've brought them together. So can you explain? First of all, talk to me about why I think people think it's like chalk and cheese, but then explain your thoughts on it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, great question. So, look, I'm a trained accountant and I was trained that there's black and there's white and I remember. You know it's funny, she's become a really good friend of mine. But when I was in corporate, the head of marketing used to come to me I was the head of the commercial team in this really big multinational organization and she'd be like we're going to spend money on a new branding shoot and I'd be like, oh, for God's sakes, stop spending money. Like we just need to make more profit. That was the way that I used to think. And this particular brand is a very, very high-end brand. And I think about it now and I laugh Like, imagine what would have happened if we weren't continually investing in having premium photography, premium branding, premium marketing. I mean, of course it makes sense to me, but at the time I was just in such a bottom line, bottom line, bottom line, bottom line mindset that I just thought we've just got to cut costs, We've got to get rid of team, We've got to do this without actually thinking well, hang on, how much are we actually hampering our potential growth by not reinvesting in ourselves?

Speaker 1:

When I first started in business, I was very much the same, Like I was like cut costs, cut costs, cut costs. And you know, when I got introduced to the concept of money mindset, when I started engaging and using these processes myself, I started to realize I had a massive aha when another business owner started her business the same time as me and I used to look at her business on the asset and I'm like, oh my gosh, she's wasted so much money on that fancy website. She runs a podcast, she travels to America. What a waste of money. And I worked out I'm like my profit is higher than hers. She's got this big, glossy business online, but I'm actually my profit is higher than hers. She's got this big, glossy business online, but I'm actually making a lot more profit than hers.

Speaker 1:

But what happened was that we reached this point and she just started to blow up and I was just stagnant because I had spent nothing on my branding, messaging and I still, you know, was trying to attract higher caliber clients. But I had this shitty website that I'd made myself on Wix. I didn't have a podcast, I didn't have any key visibility pieces in terms of marketing. And I realized, oh my gosh, if I want to grow a massive business which I do. I'm going to need to spend some money to make some money. And that was kind of when I had this big aha. Was you know, for so long I'm like, oh, I'm going to be so tired, I'm so clever. And then I realized, actually that's not very clever in terms of long-term, Short-term yeah, I know that I was definitely making more profit than her, but in terms of long-term success, you've got to spend money to make money, and so for me, that was the turning point.

Speaker 1:

And then the other thing is that when I was teaching people about finances, I'd be like, okay, let's go and run your reports. People run their reports and they're like, oh, shoot, I mean, let's be honest, like every business owner has those times, and they would just be absolutely so deflated. And I'd be like, hey, okay, so you had a bad month. Like what are we going to do about it? And then I realized, oh, this is my superpower is saying okay, so we don't like where things are, what are we going to do differently now? And I think that this is the real reason why I can't talk about one without the other is because I don't want people to look at their numbers and go this is an absolute disaster. And you know, go crawl in the corner. I'm like okay, so if it's not where you want it to be, what are we going to do?

Speaker 2:

100. I think that is your superpower, because that's that's where I benefit from you so much as well. Like number one, you introduced me to this, to manifestation, and you, you kind of you, made me realize it wasn't this crazy woo-woo thing, it was actually something tangible and real. And I think that that I think number one. Well, no, I think this marriage of like intangible, but then also this black and white stuff. I think that also leads to your legitimacy and why I trusted you in the beginning before I trusted myself, because I'm like she's a trained encounter, like she knows number stuff. But then when you introduce me to these ideas of mindset, I'm like, well, if Claire's saying it, there must be something to it, because she's not some crazy witch lady which, behind closed doors, we know you are.

Speaker 2:

But like I remember for me, I used to set these goals with you. Every month we'd set these goals, and then if I didn't reach her, do you remember how much I used to just spiral like, spiral out of control, and you're like, why do you care so much? I'm like because I'm a failure if I don't get these numbers. And so I really relate to that feeling when you're pulling reports and the numbers aren't what you want them to be, and before I even started working with you, I didn't forecast, I didn't track things. I can only imagine how many invoices I didn't send out because I didn't have proper procedures and practices in place.

Speaker 2:

But you're so right that, rather than just dwelling on what's in front of you right now, I actually used this in a coaching call this morning and a webinar this morning. I'm like where you are now. It's very similar to like weight loss or like getting fit right. Your body is in the shape that it's in due to the decisions you made three weeks, six months, 12 months ago. You're not in this space because of the decisions you're making now. That's going to take three, six, 12 months to come back to you, and it's exactly the same with business, and so I think having this, having control of your mindset, to be able to look at your numbers and then change strategy or change direction accordingly, matters so so much.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and it's really funny too, like something that I find that happens. And I remember, maddie, that one time you were, yeah, like you're really like this is so crap and you're starting to spiral and I was like dude, you made $70,000.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, Like you would have dreamt of this 12 months ago and I had to remind. You know, I have a bit of a check. The other day Someone made a comment to me about you know what a disaster something was and I was like, hey, do you know what percentage of female business owners ever earn more than $100,000 a year in their business? It is 5%. So 95% of female business owners never make $100,000 a year in their business.

Speaker 1:

And when you keep that in check and again, you know I was speaking to you off air, maddy you know I came back from a conference in the States last week and talking to people in that room, I realized, oh my gosh, like I think that I've got a lot of still like, hey, my business is not where I want it to be, you know. And then I go I actually, when I meet a lot of you know in a room full of a thousand people and you chat to a lot of them, you're like, whoa, I'm actually doing really, really well. I think sometimes it's easy to lose track of that and check on that when you start to.

Speaker 1:

You know a lot of. Most of the people that I spend my time with are multi-millionaires now.

Speaker 3:

And.

Speaker 1:

I think that sometimes you know it's great to be in that energy, but it's like most female business owners will never make a hundred thousand dollars a year in their business.

Speaker 1:

When you start to kind of recognize that, celebrate that, be grateful for that. I remember my first sale. I think it was nine years ago. I first started business and she paid me $1,000 for a month of coaching and I was like whoa, this is like insane, like this is the most most like I can't believe this. I was just so excited and expanded by that concept and I think that this is the thing Sometimes it's easy to lose track of. You know of what we've achieved and how far we've come, and regardless of what stage you're at business you know, you once dreamt of having your own business and you now do.

Speaker 2:

I know I think I've really had that pivotal realisation myself only a few months ago where I was feeling a bit like I guess the same, where I'm like, oh yeah, things are fine, like it's great. And then I remember back to when I first hit my first 40k month, when I was coaching with you and I don't think I've ever felt so good in my entire fucking life. But unfortunately, every like milestone since that point even you know, hitting six figures a month, doing all of that, that excitement and that like adrenaline and that dopamine, it actually kind of diminishes. And so this is something I say to people at the beginning of their journey this is the best you're ever going to feel Like. This is. That's depressing, but it's like you're never going to be so excited about making your first thousand dollars ever, ever again, because you've done it. Now, like, enjoy these first steps, enjoy these small milestones, because they actually end up being the big milestones.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, I honestly like I think that sale for me, yeah, it was the best. I bawled my eyes out Like I was just like, oh my gosh, you probably never felt I've got a legitimate business where someone's actually paid me money. I know, and don't paid me money.

Speaker 2:

I know and don't get me wrong.

Speaker 1:

I'm still so grateful for my clients to this day and I really intentionally created a practice where I think you know, even when someone's buying a book I'm like thank you for buying my $29.95 book I released. I appreciate that this was an investment for you, but I don't think I think that the highs and what's that guy's name? You'd know him. He's a gambler, he plays poker and he's a big player. Do you know the guy I'm talking about? Is it Captain? No, he's.

Speaker 2:

Oh, dan Bilzerian. Yes, yeah, that's the guy.

Speaker 1:

And he. I saw this interview with him and I thought because every guy idolizes him, right, they're like yeah, she's like he gets women that means he's the guns and he um goes on private jets and he actually said in his interview he's like the more that you have, the harder it is to get. He didn't say this word, but you know essentially the dopamine here and he said, he bought himself you know like a million dollar car and he goes.

Speaker 1:

I felt good for like 10 minutes, yeah, and I was like whoa and I think that this is why, again, like a lot of the work that I'm stepping into, a big aha that I had when I was in the states is that it's got to be bigger than money, because people think that money is going to make you so much happier and, honestly, it buys you freedom, it buys you choices, it does buy you a lot of amazing things, but ultimately, like there has to be something bigger, or you're not going to feel fulfilled, you're going to feel flat and you're going to feel burnt out. And I really got challenged and expanded around this and this is a big thing that I'm wanting to bring more into the way that I mentor in 2025 is saying it's got to be bigger than the money. Yes, we'll work on your money.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

I want you to earn a lot more, but you've got to have some deeper thing behind it, Otherwise you're going to keep hitting that same sense of life.

Speaker 2:

I feel that so hard. I feel that so hard. I feel that so hard After I came back from Europe with the family, which we took so many things off the vision board on that trip, like unbelievably. And I came back and I was like, so what now? Like? And it's like I kind of was at this point where I'm like I could walk into Gucci and go buy another handbag if I want Not every bag, but I can go and buy a lot of them. I can buy two, but I'm like I don't want to.

Speaker 2:

What's the point of all this? Why am I doing this? And there was actually this stat we talked about this on another episode, caroline and I but there's a stat where it's like you actually don't get happier, like hitting 70 grand a year in income I don't know if that's US or Australian, maybe US, but that's like peak happiness. And then, as it's tied to money, after that it does your happiness levels don't actually increase a whole lot more because it's like you've got you can pay for food and groceries, you can pay for decent housing, you can pay for whatever it might be, and I feel that it's like, once you hit a certain point, it's like cool, like how many bags do I need? Like, do I need a new car or am I just happy with the dream car I've already got? Like what? The only thing I'm holding out on is the yacht. Like that's still coming for me, but once I have that yacht, I'm like I don't need to buy anything else ever again, and I think that's a realization that I've had as well. It's like where do I want? What impact do I want to make? And my impact it's like let's improve this marketing industry, because it's a shit fight out there.

Speaker 2:

And then, also, I really love speaking to like teenage girls about what's possible. You know, you catch me at a party. I was at my friend's 40th, and I was upstairs speaking to the teenage girls about how women should take over the world. Wasted, but like yeah, but I agree, I think it's like I also. I also think, though and I'd love your perspective on this I used to really like put myself down for being so like obsessed with making money, but then I kind of realized, when you're in this almost survival mode state or not even survival mode when you're in the beginning of your business and you have to get this money coming in because that is a lifeline. It's okay to kind of be obsessed with that, but I think you hit a point where you're like, okay, I'm stable now, how do I make a difference? What's your thoughts on it?

Speaker 1:

yeah, look, I think again this, this relationship with money.

Speaker 1:

It's okay to desire things like it's okay to want to have a waterfront home, to want to fly, you know, in a private jet, and I think that having goals and having ambitious ambitions is a really good thing at every stage. And the thing is, when you look at the big billionaires around the world, that the reason that a lot of entrepreneurs, people, don't get to a point like people who are truly purpose-led, who are driven by their, why they don't go. Oh well, I've hit a billion now, so it's time for me to clock off. Yeah, you know they're like I'm here for a bigger thing, I'm chasing a bigger goal, I want a bigger thing, and I think that this is why impact and purpose is so important, because money is a really cool tool.

Speaker 1:

Like firstly for your own personal survival, then for your personal financial freedom, but on a macro scale, it's also money is power, money is impact, money is we're talking about this earlier money is being able to provide an entire village with fresh drinking water at the drop of a hat, and so all these people are now avoiding all of these horrible diseases because I'm in a privileged enough position to be earning the kind of money where an insignificant amount of money to me can make be of huge significance to someone else. Aside from you know, charity kind of work as well, even like the work that we do. I know for me, I have people who, six years ago, did my course and they come to me and they're like I'll see them at an event and they're like still use that cash flow forecast every week and I still feel so confident about I don't think I'd be in business now if it wasn't for that template or that course. I'm like, yeah, wow, I have people years later like I know you did. You sent me a picture like, hey, I got the car, hey, I bought the house. Oh, my gosh.

Speaker 1:

And that isn't just the effect on those people, it's then the effect on people in their whole worlds. You know, one of my former clients has gone on to build her own manifestation business and she's now teaching people all about manifestation and mindset and how to use these tools and strategies. Other clients of mine are teaching about business finances and I'm like how cool is that that we get to help more and more people through the work that we do? And I know that that is so, so deeply rewarding. For me is seeing that success and knowing that that is not just helping that person buy nice handbags, it's helping their family have financial security, it's helping them have more confidence. It's helping them show up and inspire and impact more people. And I think that this is the thing that we get to step into and what will keep us motivated and excited to keep on going and going is finding that true. Why?

Speaker 2:

100%, we're drinking the same Kool-Aid. I said this in a keynote speech a few months ago as well. It's like we can all change the world with what we do. It doesn't matter what we do. It doesn't matter if we're coaching, if we're doing beauty facials, if we're a manicurist, if we're mowing lawns, whatever it is. If you do that with such passion and such purpose that you do it really well. It means that you can then go hire people in your business, for example, and treat your employees really well, pay them above minimum wage, like give them really great benefits, they're great, but when they're here for at least six months or so, it's like a whole new person ends up blooming. Because for me it's very important that I create a great culture here where people's authenticity can come through and then they go home and they're better parents or they're better partners or they're better friends and then they can help Like I look at my agency director, maria, for example.

Speaker 2:

She was literally sworn off marketing at her last agency. She was so done with it. I managed to get her back back in. She now loves it again. Now she has inspired her sister to open a um, a not-for-profit, where she's helping, where she's helping people with fertility and it's like, just because I was a nice boss and created a great culture, that's helped Maria, that's now helped Anna launch a chat like charity stuff like that has a flow on effect just by showing up and doing things we want to do the way we want to do them and I think, too, that we don't need to like everyone's work and gift is important.

Speaker 1:

I know that I had a client of mine who was, um, she was an artist and she's like oh right, she goes, well, you're helping people make more money. What I do is not important. I'm like. I know that I had a client of mine who was she was an artist and she's like she goes, well, you're helping people make more money. What I do is not important. I'm like I am clueless when it comes to visual stuff. Like, my office would not look like this If you're listening to the podcast, you might have to go and check out the YouTube, but I have a beautifully styled office behind me.

Speaker 1:

I don't know what looks good together. I don't even know how to buy clothes. I literally work with a stylist because this stuff and you know, when I get to show up on stage or go to an event looking, feeling confident and magnetic, it's because I've hired people who've got this really beautiful special skill set. And if everyone was good at the same thing, if all of us just knew how to build a social media platform like Meta, you know there wouldn't be any space for it. Like we need people who have other skill sets. You know I would be completely lost without my assistant and my beautiful cleaner. Like everyone's got a really important role and skill set and strength and I think that whatever you're doing it, matters.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

I agree. I believe that you can be successful and change the world with whatever it is that you do. You just if you love it, if it's your art, if it's like what you live and breathe, then you will make a difference. It doesn't matter if it's rubbish removal, like be the best darn rubbish remover that exists.

Speaker 2:

Oh my gosh, how lost would we be without like like, seriously, I know I'm like with my like car detailer, like she loves cleaning my car and I'm like I love that you love cleaning my car. That makes my life better. But I'm also like, look, look, how like you can tell she really takes pride in her work and it's like that's all I ask for out of anyone that I interact with. I want it to be their art, I want it to be their craft. Yeah, it doesn't matter what it is people are doing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 2:

Nice, okay, so let's just quickly dive into some practical stuff. So what are like? What would you recommend as some of the daily practices or habits that could help someone build a healthier relationship with their money?

Speaker 1:

So I'm going to start with a plain or boring one, but look at your numbers.

Speaker 2:

That's triggering for a lot of people.

Speaker 1:

Look, I've coined this term, anxiety, which is a fear of an anxiety around your finances. Yeah, and I think that a lot of business owners from my experience have got it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, look, this is one of the first things that I really get people to do is I'm like I'm sorry, you've got to look at it. I know it sucks, but that is where you will really start to get that confidence. You cannot change something if you won't look at it. It's like saying I want to change my relationship but I'm not willing to actually talk about what's going on. It's like you need to look at the source of it to really be able to unpick it and to up-level it. So that's the number one thing.

Speaker 1:

I recommend doing money meetings, and the way that I do that is that they go in the diary. So once a month I meet with my accountant. Once every Monday morning I meet with my bookkeeper and my husband. We look at both our businesses and our personal finances for the coming. We look over a 12-week period and every Friday my husband and I do a money meeting as well, which is like it's more of a household, that's more of our personal.

Speaker 1:

People are like what do you talk about for an hour? I'm like we talk about super, we talk about our wills, we talk about our investment property, we talk about our house, we talk about our renovations. There's a lot of things as a household. We talk about our kids' future schooling. We've got it sounds really dorky, but we've got an agenda and there's recurring things which is like our primary place of residence, our investment property, our shares, things like that. And then we have things that pop up along the way. So it might be like are we going to hire that new employee, what are we going to do about this situation with our mortgage, Whatever it might be? And so we spend a full hour every Friday as a couple on that and then, like I said, every Monday morning, 15 minutes on cashflow forecast and once a month with the account.

Speaker 1:

So that's the very first thing. Look at your numbers. I know it feels overwhelming, I know it feels scary, but when you know what is going on, that's the first step in actually starting to create change. And then the second thing I would say every single business owner if you want to change your life, work on your money mindset, Because when it hits the fan, if you have that faith that I'm talking about, that deep, deep faith of I know I'm going to be okay, I trust myself, I know that my success is inevitable, you are able to weather the bumps along the way and, honestly, this work, it will change your life. So really like starting to understand, like, what are my stories, what are my fears, what are my limitations, why am I terrified to invest in my business, why am I terrified to show up on my social media? And then, when you start to break through those limitations and fears, that's where you start to get the traction and the results. So those are my two big things Money meetings.

Speaker 2:

Look at your numbers and money 100%. You're so right and I mean I'm living proof of this. I was a financial avoidant for all my life and I mean I still probably am, but now I have the luxury of paying my mother to look after my business and my personal finances and she doesn't let me escape when there are things to talk about. So get a bulldog, if that's the other answer. That's the thing, like.

Speaker 2:

I think it's important. You need to get across it in the first place on your own and getting you know, hiring someone like yourself and working with you to train yourself on it. Once you then know it, it's okay to then outsource it or outsource elements, as long as you're still across it. But I think the worst thing you could do is just like blindly hire a bookkeeper or an accountant and be like I don't know, you just fix it. You have to be in there yourself and you have to have understanding. But it's the same with marketing. It's exactly that's why even big companies, even if you don't plan on doing your marketing yourself, I still say there's a lot of benefit to actually knowing how to do it yourself, even if you're going to outsource it, so that you can be in control of it.

Speaker 1:

I think about some of the big companies that I used to work for and the stuff that our agencies would tell us, and now I'm like it is so embarrassing the fact that we didn't understand that. And now that I've come into my own small business, I'm like they were literally just completely ripping us off and lying Lying yeah, Like straight up lying about the strategies and what was working and how they were doing it. And I really like now I'm like I wish that I'd had a base knowledge of that when I was in my commercial role to be able to say uh-uh that's not right or that doesn't make sense.

Speaker 1:

So yeah, I do agree, Having a base knowledge in my commercial role to be able to say, uh-uh, that's not right or that doesn't make sense. So yeah, I do agree. Having a base knowledge in any area of your business is very important.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, 100% Amazing. Anything else you want to share before we let people know how to find you and how they want to work with you? Are you taking clients? What's going on?

Speaker 1:

I am launching a new program in 2025. I'm feeling so excited and inspired about really helping more business owners to step into the next level of growth. So if you want to find out more about it, come check me out on socials. I'm sure Maddie will share the links, absolutely, but my website's just Claire Wood, c-l-a-r-e-w-o-dcom.

Speaker 1:

And if you're listening to podcasts and you're like, how do I get started, I really just want to remind you that absolutely incredible things are possible for you.

Speaker 1:

I have witnessed it in so many clients of mine, like Maddie, for example, and so many other clients who've, like, literally grown their business from like 10, 20k months to over a million dollars a year.

Speaker 1:

People messaging me saying the transformation that's happening in my own life like my life looks so different to what it did just five years ago. I literally have 18 meters of beach at the back of my house and you know I fly business class all the time. I fly business class all the time. Things can just change really, really quickly and I just want you to start to have that faith and start to say and look at other people and don't be triggered by it Say, if they can do it, I can do it. And that is truly how I started to change my life was that I looked up to mentors online and, instead of saying, well, that would never happen for me, I'm like well, hey, if it can happen for them it can happen for me and really just starting to go for whatever your dreams are, because you'll be amazed at how much your life can change in five years' time.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

I mean 18 months' time. That's how long we worked together and my life. I went from failing business to six figures a month, you know, with small babies in tow. It's insane. It's insane how quickly things can happen. Thank you so much, claire. Thank you for being my very first ever business coach and for everything you've done for me as well, and for being my friend now and showing us what is possible with just the right mindset and actually looking at our financial numbers.

Speaker 1:

Oh, and thank you so much. You know you inspire me so much as well, maddy. And yeah, I hope the listeners get inspired and excited about business by listening to this episode.

Speaker 2:

There's no doubt. All right, thanks everyone. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Not so Kind Regards podcast. We hope you enjoyed it. If you did, we would really appreciate if you left a review, on whatever streaming platform you are using. It helps us to grow as a brand new podcast and to help many more business owners and content creators reach their goals, just like we hope this brought you one step closer to your. Remember, connect with us on TikTok, at Maddie Birdcage and at Birdcage Marketing and the same handles on Instagram again, and if you really want to learn how to work with us, make sure you head to our website and book a call. We would love to speak with you.