Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Friend, can we have a heart-to-heart about something that’s been weighing on my mind lately? With Christmas just days away, I’ve been thinking about how we as entrepreneurs navigate this beautiful but challenging season. Let me paint a picture you might relate to: It’s 10 PM, you’re surrounded by half-wrapped presents, multiple to-do lists are scattered around you, and your inbox is overflowing with client emails. Sound familiar?
The Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
I want to share a story that completely transformed how I approach the holidays as a business owner. Years ago, when I was grinding away at what I thought was “success,” my younger son came to me with a Christmas wish that stopped me in my tracks. All he wanted was one day at home with me, watching movies and drinking hot cocoa – just like we used to. Cue the mama tears. Here I was, thinking I was giving my boys everything by working longer hours and making more money, when what they really wanted was something money couldn’t buy: time with me.
The Truth About Holiday Hustle Culture
Let’s be real for a second: The pressure to “finish strong” and “maximize Q4” while simultaneously creating picture-perfect holiday memories is INTENSE. But here’s your permission slip to do things differently: You don’t have to subscribe to the hustle narrative. You get to define what success looks like. Your worth isn’t measured by your productivity.
Your 48-Hour Holiday Game Plan
Ready for some practical magic? Here’s how to navigate these final days before Christmas without losing your mind (or your joy):
1. The Present Over Perfect Principle
Your presence is your power. When you’re fully present – whether in business or with family – you make better decisions and create stronger connections. And here’s the plot twist: you actually achieve more with less effort.
2. The December 23rd Decision Filter
Before saying yes to anything, ask yourself: “Will this matter on December 26th?” This simple question has saved me from countless unnecessary commitments. If the answer is no, it’s a no for now.
3. The Both/And Mindset
Here’s the truth: You can be both a successful entrepreneur AND present for the holidays. It’s not either/or. Schedule time for both, but remember – family first, business second.
A Practical Tip You Can Use Right Now
Want to transform holiday tasks into mindful moments? Try this: While wrapping presents, take three deep breaths between each gift and express gratitude for the person you’re wrapping for. It turns a simple task into a meaningful ritual.
Your Permission Slip
Consider this your official permission slip to:
- Say no to “should-do” tasks
- Prioritize presence over perfection
- Put your business in a box (it will be there after the holidays!)
- Choose joy over obligation
Looking Ahead to 2025
Speaking of choosing joy, I’m so excited to share something that’s going to make next year’s holiday season feel completely different. My Ignite Your Digital Marketing Class is coming in January, and it’s all about creating automated systems that work for you – so next Christmas, your marketing runs smoothly while you sip hot cocoa with your loved ones.
Your Next Steps
- Write down your three non-negotiables for the next 48 hours
- Set those boundaries with grace
- Give yourself permission to be present
- Join me in January for Ignite Your Digital Marketing (because future you will thank you!)
Remember, friend: You are already successful. You don’t need to prove anything in these final days of the year. Your worth isn’t measured by your productivity – especially not during the holidays. Want to dive deeper into this topic? Listen to the full episode of She Is Unstoppable wherever you get your podcasts, and let me know your biggest takeaway by leaving a review! With joy and intention, Deanna P.S. Know another unstoppable entrepreneur who needs this message? Share this post with them! Together, we can create a new narrative about what success looks like during the holidays.
Transcript
[00:00:00.110]
So it was during this time around Christmas when my younger son told me he only wanted one gift for Christmas, and the only thing that he wanted was one day home with me to sit on the couch, watch a movie, and have hot cocoa like we used to. Well, boy, did that go right through my heart. I really didn’t get it. I thought that working as hard as I was working, working the long hours and making the money and buying the gifts that everything they wanted, they would get. And they didn’t want any of that, what they really wanted. Both of my boys shared was time with me.
[00:00:42.590]
Welcome to She Is Unstoppable, the podcast for ambitious women ready to break free from the 9 to 5 and build a life and business they love. I’m your host, Deanna Hinsz, digital marketing strategist, entrepreneur, mentor, and a woman who took the leap from corporate life to full time entrepreneurship and never looked back. I’ve been where you are, and now I’m passionate about showing you how to build and scale a business that works for you. In each episode, we dive into actionable tips, inspiring stories, and real strategies to help you grow your business, boost your confidence, and create unstoppable momentum. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to elevate to the next level, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started.
[00:01:31.830]
Hey there, unstoppable entrepreneurs! Welcome back to another episode of She Is Unstoppable. Today’s episode is extra special because we are just two days away from Christmas. We’re going to dive deep into something that could not be more timely. Entrepreneurial resistance. I’m talking mindset, self-care, and how to protect your peace when life’s pace is at its absolute peak. And let’s be honest, with Christmas just around the corner, we are feeling that peak intensity right now. Now, I know you’re probably listening to this while wrapping gifts or prepping for family visits, or squeezing in those last minute business tasks before the holiday break. That is, if you even take a holiday break. So I’m asking you to go grab your coffee, find a cozy spot, and let’s dive into exactly what you need to hear right now. Now let’s get real. Like really, really real. The hustle mentality is screaming at us right now. There’s this intense pressure to finish the year strong or maximize those Q4 sales, and somehow also create this hallmark picture perfect holiday memories.
[00:02:50.410]
But here’s what I really want you to hear today. You don’t have to subscribe to that narrative. I am not a fan of the the hustle culture. Now I’m going to share a story. One year I remember I found myself in my home office. It was about 10:00 at night. I was surrounded by half wrapped Christmas gifts. I had three different to do lists. I was working on a family Christmas party, what I needed to do personally and what I needed to do in my business. And then I had at least a dozen unread emails from clients. Does that sound familiar? Well, I stopped myself in the moment as I looked around in this chaos and feeling overwhelmed and stressed out and asked myself, Deanna, who are you trying to prove something to right now? Here’s the truth bomb I need you to hear. Rest and reflection aren’t just those nice to haves. Those are essential for your success. And as an entrepreneur, you get to define what success looks like, especially during these final days of the year.
[00:04:05.960]
So let’s do a quick exercise together. Go grab a piece of paper. Yes, I’ll wait right now and I’ll wait for you to come back. I know I asked you to do this on the last episode, but sometimes we have to write things down, so go ahead and get that paper. Okay? Got it. Perfect. Now I want you to write down three things. The first thing I want you to write down is what’s one holiday moment you absolutely don’t want to miss this year? Did you get it? Okay. Now, what’s one business achievement you want to celebrate before the year ends? Write that down. And now, the last question. What’s one thing you can let go of right now? Okay. Did you answer all three questions? Now take a look at what you wrote Those three things. Those are your true priorities. Everything else, it’s negotiable. So I want to share another story from several Christmases ago that completely changed everything for me. And you may have actually heard this story before.
[00:05:23.760]
And if you haven’t, you’re going to now. So during the holidays, it was Christmas time in our house. I was working a great job, a job that I love, but a job that took a lot of time. I was away from my home. I was a divorced mom with two young boys, and I made pretty good money, so they had everything that they wanted. Or so I thought. So it was during this time around Christmas when my younger son told me he only wanted one gift for Christmas, and the only thing that he wanted was one day home with me to sit on the couch, watch a movie, and have hot cocoa like we used to. Well, boy, does that go right through my heart. And I share that story so much because I didn’t get it. I really didn’t get it. I thought that working as hard as I was working, working the long hours and making the money and buying the gifts that everything they wanted, they would get, and they didn’t want any of that.
[00:06:30.790]
What they really wanted, both of my boys shared was time with me, and it was in that moment, at that Christmas that I made a decision to choose family time over business. Right. There’s a balance. There were certain times I put in place where there were those non-negotiable moments, and I was not going to miss something that was important to both of my boys. Again, I was going to be there, and I made them that promise. And what’s funny is I didn’t have a safety net at that time. I didn’t even know what I was doing, and it broke my heart because it was during those times at Christmas, what showed up under the Christmas tree was so much different. My budget was $150, and that was $70 per child that I could spend for Christmas. That following year, that was all that I had. And that was so hard, and it was so heartbreaking for me to not be able to put under the tree everything I wanted to buy my boys. It absolutely ripped my heart out.
[00:07:40.490]
I was embarrassed, I was sad, and I wanted so badly to do something more for them. But here’s the really cool part of that. My boys never made me feel bad. Whatever. I bought them and trust me, they were not the best gifts because it was just what I could afford. The closest knockoff. But they treated it every Christmas like it was the best gift they ever received. And that made such a big difference. And what that told me was that my boys, even at a young age, understood that material things weren’t as important as the time we had together. That’s what really mattered. Family is what really mattered. Spending time and showing up for each other is what really mattered. And I can tell you that I do not regret that decision. It was hard in the beginning. It was extremely hard in the beginning, and there were times that I questioned it and thought, well, let me just get a job because they’re going to have to figure out how to deal with my work schedule, because then I’ll be able to have the money to buy them what they need.
[00:08:50.330]
But I never did that. I stayed and I continued working hard, and I grew my business to one day it just changes, right? It just changes. I don’t regret doing that now. Everybody has a different story, and I’m not telling you to quit your job by any means. If I could go back and do that a little bit differently, I probably would do it a little bit differently. But I didn’t. And that was my story. And that’s my journey. And I don’t regret it. But the message is clear and it’s about those non-negotiables. And for me, my family is a non-negotiable and spending time with them is a non-negotiable. So now I want to talk about mindset because no strategy can outwork a negative mindset. Let’s just be real about that. And with Christmas just two days away, our minds can get pretty noisy. You’re probably seeing other entrepreneurs right now posting about their biggest launch ever or their perfect holiday marketing campaign. And maybe you’re thinking, oh my gosh, should I be doing more right now?
[00:09:54.180]
Look at everything they’re doing and I don’t have anything happening. I am just so busy in all of this chaos right now. Well, my friend, here’s your permission slip to stop that thought in its tracks. I want to share with you three powerful mindset shifts specifically for these final days of the holiday season. First, the present over perfect principle. This isn’t about being present. Being, oh, just about being present versus being perfect. It’s about recognizing that your presence is actually your power. When you’re fully present in your business and with your family, you make better decisions. You create stronger connections. And believe it or not, you actually achieve more with less effort. The second thing I want you to think about is the the December 23rd decision filter. Right now, before you say anything, before you say yes to anything in these last few days of the holiday season, I want you to ask yourself, will this matter on December 26th? It’s a simple question, right? And this simple question has saved me from countless unnecessary commitments.
[00:11:13.280]
Right. If it’s not going to matter on December 26th, then I’m not going to do it on December 23rd. Does not matter. I’m not going to force myself into doing something that I think I need to do. Set those boundaries. It is okay to say no. And the last thing is the both and and mindset, right? I want you to really adapt this mindset. Listen, you can be both a successful entrepreneur and present for the holidays. It’s not either or right. And the way that I structure my days, I create. I put time in my calendar to honor both my business and my family. And I’ve shared this in another episode and I’ll put the link down below. But in that episode, I talked about my calendar and I wrote down what my non-negotiables are. And some of those things include time with my family. time with my husband, and if I put those down, I am not going to change it. You know, I had a client several years ago who struggled with setting boundaries, and she was saying yes to everything and trying to do everything.
[00:12:27.410]
Let’s face it, when you’re an entrepreneur, everybody has an opinion of what you should be doing, whether it’s about you should be on all these social media platforms, which is garbage. Don’t buy that. Or you should be involved in that organization and this organization, or you should volunteer for all of these things, or you should create. Right. They don’t stop giving you ideas and it comes from a good place. But if you try to take in everything that somebody shares with you, all of a sudden you feel overwhelmed, you feel stressed out. And if you stay in that season of yes, you may feel resentment for things that you said yes to that you really didn’t want to. It really doesn’t find joy. Like you don’t find joy in it. So I shared with her how to have a season of no, and how to really think about what your non-negotiables are. Scheduling your calendar time for you. Time for self-care, time for the people that you love, and then put in the things that you need to do for your business.
[00:13:32.700]
You should be present for the things that you love and your family and then put in business. I truly believe that it doesn’t work the other way around in my opinion. So let’s get super practical. Take time in the moments for like these super practical tips, right? I have another tip I actually want to share with you that when it’s really crazy this time of year and again, I’m getting practical with you because I understand you’re doing a lot of tasks. You are busy your to do list. You’ve got family, you’ve got Christmas parties, holiday parties, you’re wrapping gifts. You still have to go shopping. You have to hide the gifts. If you have children at home still, and it can be really hard to separate yourself from that craziness, that hustle culture, right? So here’s something you can do if you’re wrapping gifts and just find moments. This is one example. You can modify this to fit something in your own life. But if you’re wrapping gifts right, use that gift wrapping session as like a mindfulness moment.
[00:14:40.550]
So as you’re wrapping, just focus on three deep breaths between each present and then express gratitude for the person that you’re wrapping that gift for. And here’s what happens when you do that. It transforms a task, a basic task that you’re just trying to get through into something more meaningful. Right? So I want you to create a specific action plan for the next 48 hours. I want you to do just a few things. First off, prioritize your absolute must do’s. These are your non-negotiables. These are the three things that you wrote down in the beginning of this podcast about what really were important to you, and I want you to prioritize that. Then I want you to communicate boundaries with grace. We know during the holiday season, you are going to get pulled in a million directions. There are going to be a lot of holiday events, a lot of holiday parties, a lot of things that need to get done. And it’s okay to say no. So set those boundaries and communicate that.
[00:15:45.320]
Don’t feel like you have to say yes to everything. And then I want you to maintain your business, all that momentum, but without sacrificing holiday joy. Don’t let it control your holidays. Don’t let it take the lead in the holidays. Put your business in the box that it belongs in and enjoy the holidays with the people that you love. I also want you to do one last thing and that’s set yourself up for a strong start in January. Sit down and think about what your goals are for 2025 and write them down. Set up some priorities and set yourself up for success for the new Year. Now, before we wrap up, I want you to hear this. You are already successful. You don’t need to prove anything in these final days of the year. Your worth isn’t measured by your productivity, especially not during the holidays. I want you to celebrate your choice to prioritize what truly matters. And speaking of what matters, I’ve got something special coming in January that’s going to help you start 2025 and your digital marketing with so much more clarity.
[00:17:00.500]
It’s called Ignite your Digital Marketing class. I do this once a year. I may do it twice a year this year, and it covers everything in your digital marketing. It provides you with a roadmap. It covers everything you need to do and how to automate everything from your website, your SEO, your email marketing, your social media, and your email. I’m not sure if I said email already, right? And it sets it up as a well-oiled machine so that you can enjoy things. So by next Christmas, your marketing at least will be working perfectly and working for you. And you don’t have to focus on that so much. So if you’re ready to create the business that serves your life and not the other way around, you’re not going to want to miss this. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review and share this episode with another unstoppable entrepreneur who needs to hear this message right now. Your reviews help me reach more women who need this community. Thank you guys for spending this time with me today.
[00:18:06.270]
Now go enjoy these holiday moments. Protect your peace and remember you are truly unstoppable.
