Life + Business + Creativity

with Whitney English

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Introducing: My Favorite Things!

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I’ve been sharing more and more: behind the scenes on my journey to launch H.E.A.R.T. Goals, dipping my toe back into interior design, and even a few products that I’m using and enjoying! I have absolutely loved sharing my favorite things and engaging with so many of you over there. If you’ve been following along, shoot me a DM and say hi!

Because it’s been so fun to share, I wanted to start a regular series here where I showcase some of my favorite things. From beauty products to productivity tools, health stuff to home decor and everything in between. If I find something I love, I want to share it in case you might love it too. Sharing is caring, friends!

So, let’s get started with my first favorite things!

Christmas is my favorite time of year, but the stress that comes along with it will wear you down. These are the things helping me take on the season and enjoy it a bit more at the same time. This list is part preventative, part prepare, and part pretty!

The Christmas Season presents its own set of challenges in staying healthy. Food is everywhere, the Christmas Party season is in full swing and goodies are brought, shared, baked and gifted. One of my most hated physical reactions to poor nutrition and stress is losing my hair! To combat hair loss, I mix a couple of scoops of Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides in with my coffee, tea or smoothie. The results have been phenomenal! My nails are strong and healthy, my hair stays in my head, and I have the skin of a 20-something. If stress is a challenge for you, this little hack might help limit the effects.

Another little hack is to store those pesky pillows and shams that take up valuable space in your linen closet or get stuffed under the bed. Get your house ready for the influx of new things by creating some additional space in your home! I spent a solid day rounding up the “extra” pillows we have around the house and used these Spacesaver Storage bags. They worked great! Just open a bag, stuff your pillows inside and suck the air out until it’s flat. You could use the included pump or a vacuum for even better results (your shoulder will thank your vacuum for doing the work). To make sure you get as much air out as possible, find a partner to wiggle around on the bag while the vacuum does its job. Pro tip: give your vacuum a rest in between jobs, ours had a little overheating problem. Whoops.

I have also found a few little things that I would love to see under our tree. (hint, hint David, read this part). I have fallen in love with the classic styling of Vietri. From platters to table runners, they have done a fantastic job combining classic style with new design. This Vintage Olive Oil Can is definitely a fave. The idea of using the classic oil can as an olive oil dispenser makes me swoon! Also, Kris Kringle will be delighted to eat one of your famous Sugar Cookies off this Old St. Nick Cookie plate by Vietri. The hand-painted Santa is cute as a button and your kids will have a ball dreaming of what he will leave under the tree for them.

So what are your favorite things to help you survive and thrive the holiday season? Share all your recommendations!

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All About the 2019 Edition of H.E.A.R.T. Goals™!

H.E.A.R.T. Goals by Whitney English

Have you ever tried setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, only to find yourself frustrated because you didn’t achieve them?

ME TOO.

I set S.M.A.R.T. goals for years, but constantly found myself discouraged when I missed deadlines, or didn’t track and measure my goals “the right way”. I thought if I just followed all the steps, that would guarantee me success, right?

Not so much. Turns out, S.M.A.R.T. was an acronym that debuted in a business management journal in 1981 (before technology, which is not the main point of this article, but a very important point—we’re dealing with a lot more today than we were then.) The author, George Duran, was posing the the S.M.A.R.T. acronym, when applied to employee goal setting, would help managers motivate and monitor employee performance.

In other words, S.M.A.R.T. was never intended to be a personal goal setting system.

If you’re having a major light bulb moment right now, you’re not alone. Goal-setters all across the world are ready for a new goal-setting system, one that is actually designed for individuals, not managers and employees.

I mean, let’s be honest: have you ever seen anyone hold up their annual list of goals on December 31 and show you that they measured, tracked, and achieved all of them by a certain deadline?

S.M.A.R.T. goals aren’t so smart, when it comes to needing to set goals for our personal life, goals that lead to joy and balance and give us hope.

If you’re reading this, I bet you’re a dreamer, like me. I bet you have ideas about what you want to do and where you want to go. You might be feeling super ambitious about those right now, or you might be feeling a little bit timid—because, failed goals are a reality we’ve all experienced at some point in life.

No matter what you’re feeling, I want you to know that I believe to my very core that you and I are meant to achieve a beautiful life. A guilt-free life full of hope and rich in joy.

Here’s what I want you to believe, right now: your goals don’t fail because of YOU. Your goals, my goals, all of our goals—have failed time and time again for one simple reason: you’re not setting them correctly. The system is broken.

Most of us don’t need any help dreaming up new ideas, brainstorming things we’d like to try or places we’d like to go. It’s not that hard to imagine a life where you’re perfectly fit, have plenty of money, and great relationships. As we all know, dreaming that up and getting there are two TOTALLY different things.

Most people run into one, if not all three of these problems when using a traditional method of goal setting:

  1. You are more focused on probability than possibility.
  2. You’re letting the non-essential distract you from what really matters.
  3. Your goals end up so all over the place that they never get scheduled in your planner.

The H.E.A.R.T. Goals™ method addresses each of these problematic areas of goal setting by walking you through 10 exercises that build across three separate sections. The H.E.A.R.T. Goals ™method teaches you how to find and keep the right mindset, have a real conversation about your priorities, and helps you outline the practical steps you’ll need to take to achieve your goals.

The H.E.A.R.T. Goals™ method has features you won’t find in any other goal setting system, including:

  • A process that has been iterated and improved upon since 2009.
  • Information backed by the latest researching in psychology and goal-setting.
  • H.E.A.R.T. Life Segments™ to help you identify and set balanced goals based on your needs, hopes and dreams.
  • Our signature Goal Grid™, the best way to sort and organize your goals into actionable steps.
  • Practical instructions for implementing your goals into daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly routines and habits.
  • Access to tutorial videos walking you through each of the ten H.E.A.R.T. Goals™ exercises.
  • A supportive community that offers shared accountability through a private Slack channel, exclusively for H.E.A.R.T. Goals™ owners.

Over the last week I’ve done a series of workshops on the H.E.A.R.T. Goals™ method.

In the first workshop, I talked about why our goals fail.

In the second workshop I covered the right mindset for setting goals and the H.E.A.R.T.™ acronym.

And in the third and final workshop, I gave you a behind the scenes look at my own personal 2019 goals.

You can watch the replay of the entire free mini course here: whitneyenglish.com/heartgoalsminicourse.

I recorded the free mini course as a way to get you motivated and excited about setting goals for the next year. I want to encourage you and empower you through the H.E.A.R.T. Goals™ system because I truly believe–no, I KNOW–this system is life changing.

I am so excited to talk about goals and to get this system into your hands. I can promise you that your best year ever is at the other end of H.E.A.R.T. Goals™, and I would love to invite you to join me in this journey in 2019! Click below to purchase the printable PDF download and get started right away!

This pricing is only good until Wednesday, December 12th at midnight CST. After that, the price will go up to $49, during our next round of free workshops that will start December 27th!

Click here to get started now!

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FREE! Goal Setting Mini Course Starts Tomorrow!

Nothing fires me up like a big, crazy, messy, hairy, ambitious, nutty dream. I mean REALLY huge, awesome, impossible, gutsy, ridiculous dream! Why? Because very simply, I believe you can achieve anything you put your mind to, outside of defying the natural laws of physics.
Really! I do!
I’ve achieved some crazy amazing stuff in my day. I’ve had press that’s broken websites, national tv mentions and local tv appearances, I’ve bought companies and sold businesses and then there was that whole Target thing!
And I BELIEVE goal setting makes a difference! And I’d like to invite you to join me on that journey!
I am so excited to announce that I’ll be doing a FREE mini course on H.E.A.R.T. Goals, my proven and practical goal setting method! It starts tomorrow and trust me, you are not going to want to miss it. I’m actually going to be giving away my first three steps in the H.E.A.R.T.  Goals Workbook in the mini course, absolutely free. You can register here: https://whitneyenglish.clickmeeting.com/heartgoals/register
Not quite ready? Wondering if you should invest your time in this? Are you worried I’m going to make you dream too big, or tell you that tame goals are ok?
You know what? You do you. If you want to dream big, yes, I’ll tell you there’s a time and place for that. And if you’re more comfortable with tame goals, that’s ok, too, as long as you don’t mind me pushing you a little bit to get you out of that comfort zone. I mean, sometimes we all need a little kick in the pants, amiright?
I’ve been fascinated by goals since I was 16, and used to drive and used to head to Barnes & Noble to sit on the floor and read. It was there I had a chance encounter with the idea of making a goal list. So, I made my first goal list at 16.
I’ve had lists upon lists of goals since then, some big, some small. I made progress on many of those goals (started a business! and a family!) but been very overwhelmed by others (the first business I ever started had to file bankruptcy after ten years of business and millions grossed in revenue).
Here’s the thing, though. I’m still setting goals. I still love where they take me, and the person they make me become in the journey. I love the confidence they bring—and yes, I love the lessons from the failures. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m not signing up for another business failure. But the things that experience taught me were INCREDIBLY valuable! I’m now motivated to try new things because I know what I’ve been able to overcome!
Throughout the years, I would find myself discouraged by the books and methods that simplified goal setting and made me feel like I was just not working hard enough to achieve them. Set a specific goal and you can achieve it, they said. So I did, and then nothing happened. Many of the methods I tried lacked focus, and I felt like I ended up setting goals that conflicted with one another. Some lacked ambition, and I ended up just making a list of things that were going to happen anyway. Some methods just flat out weren’t motivating, and I didn’t feel like moving forward.
The old standard way of setting goals didn’t work for me. I wanted a system that held me accountable yes, but also connected each goal to the greater vision for my life. I wanted a system that helped me uncover my goals, my potential, and wouldn’t put my life into an out-of-balance tailspin. I wanted a system that made me feel brave—that would help me look at those big time failures and still help me find the the courage to start over again. And I found it all by using the H.E.A.R.T. Goals method.
Selling a company has always been a huge, bucket list, goal of mine. I know entrepreneurialism is a dream for some, but as I got deeper and deeper into the business of running Day Designer, I was finding myself emotionally spent. My kids were young and I wanted far more time with them. My husband and I had some dreams we wanted to chase, and in some ways, the business held us back from being able to chase those things. So I set a goal: sell the business, to the right buyer at the right time.
It took years of prep work and milestones, but in 2016, I sold Day Designer. Big, huge, bucket list goal achieved! Thank you, H.E.A.R.T. Goals!
The H.E.A.R.T. Goals system can change your life. I know because it has certainly changed mine. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be offering a free live mini e-course. In a series of three webinars, I’ll be teaching you how to overcome the obstacles that keep you from achieving your goals, the mindset shift that moves you past your limiting beliefs and into action territory and how to achieve balance.
This is going to be fun. Join me, if you have time, for some encouragement and inspiration! You can register for the free mini e-course here: https://whitneyenglish.clickmeeting.com/heartgoals/register
I’ll look forward to seeing you there!

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September 2018 Mastermind Recap! (October Registration is OPEN!)

We’ve had a busy month over here! From moving houses to my big HEART Goals announcement,  the last month has been filled to the brim. I’m overflowing with creative energy as we launch a few things I’ve been working on for months and dreaming about for years.
 
One of those projects I’d been dreaming about for  years is the Mastermind Intensive. I talked a few posts back about how much value I’ve derived from being part of a mastermind group throughout my experience as an entrepreneur. I’ve always wanted for this to be a regular thing–a beautiful, collaborative effort that pulls together women from all stages and types of business ownership, and uses collective experience to give clarity to each other. I’ve tested the format over the years, named it a few different things, but never been able to offer it on my own turf–until now. In September, I a small group of women entrepreneurs gathered to share a few days with me in Carlton Landing. I knew this was going to be an incredible retreat but was blown away by how inspired, motivated and encouraged I was–and they were!–getting to spend a few days with these women.
Before I get going on the recap, a huge thanks and shout out to Kassey Weaver Photography, who joined us for the event and made all of the beautiful pictures shown below! And to our sponsors: Lindsay Letters, Natalie Chang, Day Designer, and Lifeguard Press!

The Setting

The event was hosted at The Meeting House, the coffee shop/bed & breakfast my husband and I co-own. The Meeting House provided a charming setting for the event! We also hosted a dinner at one of the houses we used for additional accommodations! The Meeting House has been a joy to bring to fruition this year. Only weeks after opening it, I had the lightbulb moment to host a retreat there, and it worked beautifully!

The Format

The goal of the Mastermind was to bring together female entrepreneurs in fellowship and in personal and professional growth. We use a unique process and framework to engage the collective voices of the group. Our journeys are more similar than they are different, and by interacting in a safe and encouraging environment, we can learn from others successes and failures, and empower each other in a way that heals us each individually.
I’m excited to share some behind the scenes and recap our first ever Mastermind Intensive!

What We Did: Day One

Everyone checked in and gathered at one of the houses where we were staying for chicken tacos, guac, and some yummy sangria. We kicked off the evening with some fun ice breaker questions and a quick walk through some business strategy stuff, just to get us all on the same page. And we broke pretty early to get some rest for our big brainstorm sessions the next day.
And yes, I cooked dinner for all of us! I LOVE cooking, but that was way more work than I thought it would be–next time, we’re having it catered!
 

What We Did: Day Two

The Mastermind Intensive is all about the group brainstorms, and we provide a signature format to facilitate best group interaction and feedback for each attendee. I’ve used this format hundreds of times, and it is always encouraging to see women coming together, gathering around tables to make progress on their businesses. Each attendee not only had a chance to speak ideas and feedback and experience into her fellow attendees businesses, but receive that feedback for her own business and life.
 
After a productive and energizing day full of brainstorms and breaks, we gathered for a dinner under the lights of the pavilion at Carlton Landing. The wine and laughter flowed as the conversation about business and life continued and new friendships were forged.

What We Did: Day Three

After a REALLY late night, we gathered a bit later the next morning to work through feedback as a group. Each women got a chance to receive amazing, third party feedback on her brand. Lots of ideas were swapped and notes were taken!

What the Attendees Said

It’s hard for me to put into words exactly what this experience offers, so I’m going to borrow from some of our attendees voices.
“After the Mastermind, I felt refreshed, creative, and most importantly excited again. With a lot of help from my new business friends, I was reminded why I started my business to begin with. I learned so much more about what I crave in my personal and professional life than I ever knew existed within me. It was already there inside me, but there was magic in the combination of the leadership and willingness from other members in the intimate group of women that helped me find it, define it, and chase it again from an entirely different {and stronger} perspective.” –  Layne Brookshire Haughee
We’re hosting two additional Mastermind Intensives this year and I promise you will not want to miss it. This is a game changer for your business and your life. If you need clarity around your next steps… If you’re ready to take your business to the next level… If you could use the fellowship of fellow female entreneurs… the Mastermind Intensive is for you. You can’t afford not to invest in yourself and your business.
“I’d only been home from Mastermind Intensive for a couple of hours when I made a really tough decision. Instantly, I felt like I took the first step of many toward a more successful business. Mastermind Intensive is the best investment I’ve made for my business and I feel like I’ve only seen the beginning of how my life is going to change.” – Alex Schauer
If you’re looking for a little pic-me-up in life, please consider joining us in October or November for our next three day events. It’s one of the most heart-filling, rewarding things I do as an entrepreneur, and I’m positive you’ll leave feeling the same way–encouraged, inspired, motivated–AND–with a lot of clarity!
We’ve got a few spots left in both October and November Mastermind sessions, and then that’s it, until next spring when it starts to warm up again!

Register for our OCTOBER Mastermind Intensive HERE or the NOVEMBER Mastermind HERE today!

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