When my third receptionist quit on me suddenly, I was face-to-face with the possibility that I was on the wrong track.
I was supposed to be walking out the door with my kids to go to our homeschool co-op and instead, I was reading an email that said, "Sorry, but I got a better job offer. Next week is my last week." My breath caught in my throat and I eeked out, "Get your shoes on, kids" and shut and locked the bathroom door. I fell to my knees and started sobbing.

"I can't do this anymore! God...help me..." 

It was a half sob, half prayer, and mostly desperation.

This was the final straw. I was SO stressed out and unsure that I was even on the right track anymore.
Was I really supposed to be growing a company while my kids still so desperately needed me?
Should I really be trying to hire staff that continually let me down and left me in a lurch?
Did I have ANY clue what I was doing?
Should I shut it all down and just start over when my kids were older?

I stopped all my thoughts and prayed. "God, you HAVE TO take over. I cannot do this. I need you."
I had a commercial lease signed, a building, students who needed me, and teachers who were counting on me. I couldn't quit. I just couldn't.
I dried my tears, put my shoulders back, and faked a calm I did not feel because I had to get my kids in the van.

How do you know if you're on the right track?
The questions swirling in your mind will terrorize you. I have been there so many times.
Running a company is easier than all of this questioning and confusion, in my opinion.
One you have absolute clarity with the direction you are headed, it's actually quite easy to soldier on.
But the doubt? The confusion? The pain? That will suck you under.

I made it through that day. And another. And soon I figured out how to hire the RIGHT people. The dream team. The staff that wouldn't give 6 weeks notice and then just not show up the next day (just to spite me). The employees that have MY back and who will do anything to keep this machine rolling along.

If you are questioning if you are on the right track...if you are really qualified to even run this business...if this is really the right time for your family, then you need focus, strategy, and support. 

If you just can't figure out how to hire the RIGHT staff who will support you (and not make your life harder than it is right now), you need our Inner Circle. This month's focus is on hiring the RIGHT people. I've discovered tools and tricks for the entire interview process (I've been hiring people for 20 years!) and I'm going to lay them all out for you. It does NOT have to be guesswork and luck (in fact, that's exactly what it cannot be).

(And when you commit to yourself and your business for 1 year in our Inner Circle, you'll get a 1 hour strategy session with me. You'll end our session with clarity and direction. I promise.)

I know December is crazy. I know you have a million things to do.
​
But if you don't prioritize YOU, then who will? You will continue to do all the things for all the people and YOUR dreams will continue to be pushed to the bottom of the To Do list (I know because I've been there. And it actually sent me into depression. But that's a story for another day).

Turn on those Christmas tree lights. Grab a blanket and your laptop. Instead of Netflix, let's binge watch videos in the Inner Circle. I've given you all my best tools to help you get out of the spin and overwhelm.

2019 can be your best year yet.
But first you need clarity.
And that can be found in the Never Alone Inner Circle. Just come join us. 
You don't have to do life alone. You don't have to keep pushing through. 
Take the first step. Then keep prioritizing YOU.

If God has called you to this mission, HE will give you the next steps. HE will lead and guide. Just ask.

Afterall, this isn't about you at all. It's about the people you are leading and serving.

And they need you to fulfill your calling.

For a couple weeks, I've been trying to get up the nerve to read the first chapter of my book, "Happy Kids, Growing Biz," out loud on Facebook Live. 
I knew I was supposed to do it.
But it was scaring the crap out of me.
It felt so vulnerable. To read my story from my writing out loud online? Seemed like a crazy idea.
But I knew I was supposed to do it. So I did.
The response was better than I even anticipated. Did you get a chance to watch it? You can catch the replay HERE.
And if you know someone who needs this story? This hope? This message? Would you share it with them? You can tag them or share it to your timeline or even share in Messenger.
Hope is contagious. Let's spread it.

Join us in the Inner Circle. The price is just $97 per month but it goes up to $197 on January 1. So grab your seat and let's get you on the path of clarity. 
If God's called you, He will equip you. Just follow His lead.
​
Join here>>>>>> The Inner Circle Program

It's been a long week.
It's been a long month.

My grandpa, 91 years old, died one week ago.

He spent his whole life on his Iowa farm, working the land, growing produce and corn and beans and farming his pigs. I never once heard him raise his voice and he was as steady as the sunrise. He worked hard, loved to read and think and discuss ideas, and he was the patriarch of a huge family.

The oldest child of 8 kids, his own father died young, leaving my Grandpa to walk his sisters down the aisle when it came time for them to marry. When we visited him a few days ago, he told us, "I'm not afraid to die. I just don't know how."

My Grandpa was eager to pass on his heritage. He spent countless hours labeling photos and making copies for all the branches of his family tree. He didn't want any of us to forget where we came from.

On the day of his funeral, all 18 of my cousins were the pallbearers. I looked into the faces of the grown adults that I had once played "house" with on the farm. We ate Freezes and ran in the sunshine together. We picked apples and strawberries and ate countless holiday dinners together. And now we are grown. And we are the parents of the 47 great grandchildren who flanked the walkway of my Grandpa's last journey to his final resting place. We all sang The Doxology around the gravesite one last time, with my Grandma in the middle of all our love and tears.

My Grandpa will never be forgotten.

And it leaves me to wonder if I'm leaving a legacy.
Am I doing enough? Am I leading my children? Am I loving like he did?

Today my heart is tired. Tired from the tears and from the travel to Iowa and home again. Tired of the big family gatherings, even though they filled my heart with joy and thankfulness.

So how do you go on when you're tired? How do you keep pushing forward when your heart needs to grieve a little?

I am choosing to watch a movie in bed and be gentle with myself.
I'm choosing nourishing food and walking a little slower.
I'm letting the chores pile up a little and I'm hugging my kids a little tighter. 
We keep sharing memories of Grandpa and I think that's exactly what he would want us to do.

It's a new week and it's almost a new year.
Be kind to yourself. 
Step back and notice what really matters: family.

That's exacty what I plan to do.

We are halfway through November and Thanksgiving is upon us. Because I'm grateful for YOU (and I love celebrating my birthday) I'm going to give you a gift. If you enroll in the Never Alone Inner Circle before November 30, you'll get these bonus gifts from me:

• My book, Happy Kids Growing Biz mailed to you (it's a real book--not a digital copy!)
  
• The audio version of Happy Kids, Growing Biz! Yes, after two years, this is finally coming to you!
• LAST chance to grab founding member rate of $97 per month. The price goes up to $197 on December 1st!
  
• Access to the November content! It's super good and I don't want you to miss out. Each month, the Focus Topic of the month goes away and cannot be accessed anymore. So if you want to learn about the ONE tool that will help you build mini habits, systematize your workday, help your family, build your team, and keep your marketing easy and flowing, you'll want to take advantage of this birthday sale.
• BONUS: In addition to our Focus Topic video and Strategy Zoom, you will now get 1 more Q and A video from me each month! I'll answer any questions posted in the FB group and you can jump on live and ask questions, too! (I know you're schedule is busy so I want to give you more opportunities to connect with me!)
  
• Plus, if you jump in now, you'll get to be with us on our first-ever Focus Zoom call on November 28! I'm sooo excited to see you all face-to-face.

​You can jump in the Inner Circle here: https://www.neveralonebusinessservices.com/join.html

We had so much fun celebrating my birthday downtown Minneapolis! A wonderful dinner, hotel, and Cirque du Solei. It was relaxing and rejuvinating. You can connect with us more regularly by following us on Facebook. Every day I post encouraging and funny stuff, and pics of me and my family!
Find us here: www.facebook.com/jenhickle1 (The page is called "Never Alone in Business.") 

I've been talking to a lot of business owners lately who are absolutely stressed by the feast and famine of their business.

One month will be a record month and the next they are wondering if any money will come in. 

It's super stressful and causes them to PUSH their marketing (desperate for something to work and bring in new business!) and then, when things dry up, they have to start PUSHING again. Plus, they find that it is super hard to even pay for marketing when no money is coming in!

I've been there. I remember times of digging in the bottom of our freezer to find whatever food was still there to feed my family and avoid the grocery store completely (because it was the end of the month and we were out of money).

So how do you avoid the ebb and flow of cash problems?

1. Set your clients up on autopay. What could they pay for every single month (like Netflix) and then you can consistently deliver a service or product? You would only have to get their credit card ONCE. No more selling, selling, selling. One and done.

2. Sell once and continue the relationship. It's hard to keep selling something over and over. Instead, build a relationship and have them stay for years. Really lean into what they want, what they need, and how they will feel cared for. This relationship piece is the secret sauce to keep people with you for a long time.

3. Do your marketing strategically, when people are most likely to respond (hint: this does not mean advertising on every holiday, like every other business out there). You have to track when are people buying from you. When are they responding? And when are they distracted by other things? By tracking this, then you can put your marketing money in place when you are most likely to get the most responses. Farmers plant in the spring, not in the early fall when they are desperate for a good harvest.

4. Really, truly understand your audience. People are busy! They don't want to have to consistently re-evaluate and keep saying "yes" to you. They want to say YES once and then keep the relationship with you. Then, they cancel when needed.

5. Creatively package your services so that people have an all-inclusive feel. I LOVE Disney vacations where everything is included. I can just relax and enjoy the vacation when I know all our snacks and meals are rolled into the price. I don't have to freak out about buying one more water bottle. I want my clients to feel the same way. Free recital. Free picture day. Free awards and trophies. 

If you are still selling one item at a time, how can you implement this concept? (If you sell retail, how could you get creative and set people up on memberships? I know you can. Listen--I have my toilet paper and paper towels on auto ship so I know you can do this!)

I'm so thankful that my YMCA doesn't ask me if I want to continue every month! I would say "forget it!" Instead, we bought a membership and whether we go or not, we still pay. It reminds me of the importance of fitness and makes me prioritize the commitment I made to myself!

How can you incorporate this into YOUR business model?
By setting up programs or packages, you can sleep better at night.
Then, by putting your marketing  on auto pilot (like I teach in The Strategic Biz Marketing System), you truly will have a business that is not feast or famine, but a steady flow of income for your family.

Sometimes all it takes is looking at things slightly differently for everything to click into place.

If you need some help with this, join our free Facebook community. Let's brainstorm this together. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1715473611806455/

​You're smart. You're talented. You can do this. I believe in you!

Welcome to all of our new members to our Never Alone Inner Circle!
What they're saying: "I'm incredibly excited about this group. I have already read the Happy Kids, Growing Biz book and have already done some work with Chris and Jen. This Inner circle is SO what I have been needing."

"I have been working with Jen and Chris for about a year now. They created an amazing website for me and have helped with my marketing as well. I look forward to learning more and gaining insight and direction as I implement new services. ​"

"Jen and Chris created my website. I am so SO thankful for this group and being able to fully understand what to do next. I've felt a little lost lately! Happy to meet all of you."

Regarding the November training video in the Inner Circle:
"This will help me tremendously to focus! I'm doing this today."
"Oh my gosh Jen! I am setting this up right now and I am LOVING it even more than I thought I would!!"

A BIG Congrats to those who have recently published a new website! We are so happy for you!
Daisy at Steamboat Academy of Music
Klondike at Orpheus Music Academy
Rick at Los Angeles Music Teachers 
​Renee at Valley Conservatory

Is your site 2-3 years old? Out of date? Can't edit it? Web person is MIA?
We can help. Now is a great time to get this project done before the January rush!
Book a call here and let's get this done. I promise that we make this a PAINLESS process for you!
​https://www.neveralonebusinessservices.com/new-project-call.html

​Our full time mission is helping YOUR business grow!

Have you ever felt so completely alone that you were convinced no one understands you?

Have you ever felt like the outsider, not even sure how to blend in (or if you even want to)?

I've felt this way many times in my life. 
Honestly, it's an awful feeling. 
Like you're flying alone. An eagle, in the sky, soaring, but lonely.

I used to feel like this all the time. (In fact, it's why we named our company "Never Alone.")
But I don't anymore. 
Want to know what changed?
I found a community of support that gets me. They don't look at me like a strange bird. They don't question the thoughts I timidly express. They nod in sympathy with the things I'm going through. They don't judge. They don't look at me quizzically. They just get it.

I think everyone deserves a tribe like this.
Absolutely no one should feel completely alone and ostracized. 
The problem is trying to find the people who are your people.
It can feel like the childrens' book, "Are You My Mother?"
We poke into group after group (at church, at a homeschool co-op, in our neighborhood, at the Chamber of Commerce, with various friends groups) asking, "Are you my people? Are you my people?"

And when you don't find your tribe, it's pretty tempting to just assume there is something wrong with you.

It's simply not true.

You were created ON purpose, with a purpose. (Yes, I know that phrase is over-used. But it's true!)

GOD created you the way you are. Wrinkles, funny laugh, quirky expressions, faults and gifts and strengths....all came from God, the maker of heaven and earth. And if you don't believe that, I'll gladly debate you. I KNOW each of my kids came out of the womb with personality. In fact, IN the womb they were all different! Ethan was active and kicking all the time. Elias was snuggly and barely moved. Abigail went crazy when I ate chocolate or coffee (she still loves both today!). Lydia LOVED music, even inside of me (she now plays 4 instruments!).

It's CRAZY, but true. You came into this world pre-programmed to be uniquely YOU.
But just because you are unique does not mean you have to be lonely!
You just need to find your tribe.

That's why I'm opening the doors to my Inner Circle.
If you need focus, strategy, and support to make your REALLY BIG dreams a reality, then you will find your people in this group.

We are all determined to make a difference in the world.
We are supportive of each other.
We are encouraging.
We are cheering each other on.
We all own businesses and we want to celebrate YOUR wins and commiserate with you on the low, dark days, too. Because this CEO/Boss life is HARD, man. It just is! But it's also AWESOME.
 
We need each other to keep going and to celebrate the really super awesome moments.

If you're looking for community, focus, strategy, and support, let's talk. Let's see if this group is right for you. Schedule a call with me. Let's see if this is your tribe.

https://www.neveralonebusinessservices.com/get-to-know-you.html

All my love to you.

Jen

I share a very personal story in today's video. It was the lowest point of our marriage and the turning point for our business. 

When our boys were just babies, I almost grabbed them and ran. I was hurt, angry, sad, and disillusioned and I almost ended our marriage.

I didn't leave, but it was a very dark day.

​Watch this video now:

I need you to know one thing today: You are amazing.

No, I'm serious. You may not really see it or feel it, but you are.

You keep showing up in the lives of your students and staff. You keep improving your studio and making it better. You keep making hard choices and hard decisions and maybe it feels like no one ever pats you on the back. Well, I am today.

I KNOW you are working long hours and making all the hard decsions. I know you agonize over hiring decisions and performance dates and all the million little details that makes your studio keep chugging along.

I know the days are long and the nights are short and you are wearing all the hats.

I know sometimes your employees let you down and teachers make you nuts.

I also know that you LOVE the work that you do. You love the arts and you love making the lives of your students better with music, dance, art, theatre, or whatever you offer at your studio.

I know you have big goals and sometimes you're just tired.

Today, I want you to write down 3 things you are thankful for. Go ahead-- grab a random sheet of paper. What is good right now? What goal have you accomplished? What staff member is supporting you incredibly well right now? What are you celebrating? A new name of your studio? A second location? A record-high enrollment? A stellar recital performance? That you made it through the September rush? It doesn't matter how big or small--just close your eyes and push thankfulness out into your life right now.

Feels good, yes?

It's a trick I play on myself regularly, especially when things are hard. I stop. I think of 3 things that I am grateful for. It's amazing what shifts in that moment. My heart lifts. My mind clears. I feel grounded.

I want you to know that I am praying for you. I know you, the business owner, are carrying a heavy load. A huge responsibility. That's why I know you are amazing.

I hope you feel that today.

I'm sending you a giant air hug right now!

((HUGS))

Carry on, strong one. You've got this.

I passionately believe that you are wired with your exact personality and strengths for a reason!

God made you for a purpose and if you are constantly frustrated or banging your head against the wall, it's a clue that you are NOT in your sweet spot! (Don't worry. I've been there. We ALL have!)

Often, we become martyrs. "I'll just do this. No one else wants to."
Or, "I'll be nice to my staff. Even though I suck at this, I'm the boss. Someone has to do it." 

Newsflash: Your staff might LOVE to do what you HATE to do! That's because they are wired to do it!

Last week, I was consulting with a business owner who, in the past, had begrudgingly put together their complicated class schedule. His business partner told me, "I LOVE doing it! It's like a puzzle!" They both truly did not understand the other one's point of view. That's because we are ALL unique, with gifts and talents in different areas. If someone loves Excel spreadsheets, by all means, let them handle the details and the data! If someone else loves to come up with the big ideas, let them!

Have you taken the time to really discover your strengths? Have you intentionally focused on them, instead of improving your weaknesses? Deep down, do you actually believe life is just hard, so when things come easily, it's almost cheating? Like it doesn't count? 

One of the best tools for finding your strengths is the book "Strengths Finder." Grab it here, on Amazon (link here) and take the test online (the code is in the back of the book). Once you have your results, read the chapters about your strengths. Now glance at the other chapters. Can you relate to the other strengths? Or do they actually repulse you? It's okay. We are all different. And when your whole team can cover the wide variance of strengths, you can cover a lot of territory and can get a lot accomplished! I have team members who LOVE chatting with clients, others who love the numbers and details, and others who prefer to stay in the background, working on the inner workings of the whole operation.

Every time I hire a new staff member, I give them take several personality assessments. I want to know what they are good at and I want them to stay in their strengths. Why? Because they'll have more energy to get the tasks done, they will be happier, and they will stay longer! I want you to do the same thing! BELIEVE that God has wired you for a unique path. It won't look the same as your spouse or team members. That's good! You are called to do something that no one else can do. Embrace it. Lean into it. (I'm STILL learning this.)

And if you are thinking, "I have no idea what I'm good at," then it's time to buy the book Strength Finders and discover some of your unique gifts. At first, they may seem too simple. When you read your strengths, you may say, "Yeah? So what?" But the key is that other people do NOT think those skills are easy at all! They are "easy" because you are wired to do those things.

If you've been told you're bossy, you probably have Leadership skills.
If you talk all the time, you probably have the gift of Communication.
If you tend to go with the flow, you probably have the gift of Adaptability.
If you love to take in information, your strength could be Input or Learning.
If you tackle big things and get a lot done, you probably have the gift of Achiever.

What if you could take some time to discover exactly how God has wired you and dream about how you could turn up the volume on those things in your life? What if it shifted things in your business? What if it actually made life easier and, at the same time, more fun AND made your business grow? (Hint: I know it can!)

I believe in this stuff.  But I'd love to hear your thoughts. Send me a message. Or reply to this blog.

Do you agree? Or disagree? Do you stay in your strengths? Or do you find yourself frustrated and can't figure out why? I'd love to help.

Don't stay stuck. The world needs YOU. Beautifully unique YOU.

Need help with your marketing? Want to shine your light and make a bigger difference in the world?
Let's talk. Schedule a free call here: 
https://www.neveralonebusinessservices.com/new-project-call.html 

Life is hard. It just is.
Running a business is exhausting and exhilarating and can, honestly, drain the life right out of you.
So what do you do when you're running on fumes and your soul is tired? When you wake up and you're already dreaming of crawling back in bed that night? When you longingly think of unplugging your computer and silencing your phone and hiding under the covers for 36 hours? When you want to hide but people are depending on you and the To Do list is a mile long?
What now?

I've just returned from 2 weeks of conferences and traveling. I went from feeling on top of the world to flat out exhausted. My soul is tired. My brain is tired. And yet, there are one hundred things to do and people who need me and who are asking me questions every minute of the day.

So what now?

1. Pray.
It's so simple, and yet, "I surrender" thrown up to the heavens can activate God's presence to show up and take over. Sometimes I walk through my neighborhood and pray, sometimes it's just as I go through my day, and sometimes I lock my door and literally kneel beside my bed. It's an act of surrender and it's more effective than working for 6 hours straight. So why don't I do it more often? Who knows. It's the human condition. But when I do pray, my strength is renewed and my soul feels a little lighter.

2. Play.
I honestly hate to have fun. I know, it's weird and terrible. But it means stopping the hustle and the energy flow. It means letting go and relaxing. And it's hard for me! (I know, I'm strange.) But when I do really, truly, let myself relax and play a game or enjoy my kids, or laugh until I almost pee my pants, or ride a ride at Disney World, something shifts. We are made for play and we were created to rest and NOT work all the time. (Yes, I'm guilty of enjoying Netflix WITH a computer on my lap.) Sometimes walking away from the never-ending projects brings clarity when we return. Fun and laughter are healing for our relationships, marriage, and our kids (or grandkids) love it. Sigh. I need to play more often.

3. Self-Soothe
As little children, our parents are supposed to meet our needs when we cry, are hungry, fall down, or are scared. When we are adults, we are responsible for meeting our own needs. If you are hungry, are you giving yourself delicious, nutritious food? If you're cold, are you lighting a fire and wrapping up in a sweater blanket with fuzzy socks? If you're lonely, do you pick up the phone and reach out to a friend? We don't have a parent nurturing us anymore, so it's our responsibility to self-soothe. We have to hear what our body and soul is asking for and NOT ignore it. Don't push through. Take a moment and light a candle, play your favorite music, prepare a simple meal. Yes, other people can take care of us, too, but we can't wait or rely on it. We have to really listen to what we need and either make it happen or ask for it. And the next day you just may wake up refreshed. Renewed. Ready to tackle the world again.

Is your soul tired like mine? Do you need a little break? Maybe schedule a massage or a night out with friends. Maybe stop working early tonight and just take care of YOU.
After all, if we don't take care of YOU, what will happen to your employees and your company? We need you to be okay. We need you to be thriving and happy and alive and excited about what's ahead.
So go ahead. Make some plans. Take care of yourself.
I'm going to take care of myself, too.

September is here! I hope you survived your Summer and you are ready for a HUGE, wonderful Fall at your Studio!

This summer, we intentionally carved out some family time with our kids. We enjoyed the Minnesota State Fair last week, famous for its amazing food! We spent a day riding rides at Valleyfair the week before, and also enjoyed renting a relaxing cabana at the water park. It's so important to make these memories with your kids. After all, isn't that why you started your business? To make a better life for your family? In fact, we've already booked two trips for winter to escape the Minnesota cold! Can't wait to travel and relax in the sun when it's FREEZING here in January and February!

I've been spending some time thinking about YOU and how Never Alone Business Services can serve you better. We are adding more team members and we want to be a full service agency to meet all of your marketing needs. Please know  that we believe in the arts and we believe your studio is a positive force for good in your community. ​We are here for YOU so you can do what only you can do.  We can manage your website, your ads, and handle the techy stuff.  We are honored to free up your time so you have less stress, and so you can manage what really matters: impacting the lives of your students and their families.

We're here for you. So please just let us know what you need.

Now, if your studio isn’t filling up as quickly as you wished it would, usually one of these 3 things is off: your website, your email marketing,  or your social media marketing.

When these 3 are all working in unity, your enrollment is buzzing, your phones are ringing, and your studio is filling up!

We enrolled 65 new students last month, pretty much JUST using our website, email marketing and Facebook/Instagram. It WORKS!

If you’re feeling stuck or discouraged, you’re not alone! There’s nothing wrong with you. We just have to figure out what’s missing or not quite up to par.

Message us at info@neveraloneservices.com a free phone call.
​Let’s figure out what’s missing and FIX it!

Let's have an AMAZING Fall at your studio!

I believe in the power of the arts.

And I believe in YOU.