My Results and Reflections from the 75 Hard Challenge
Before I started, I did a body scan at the gym and then retested halfway and again at the end. This was never about weight for me, I actually wanted to put on some weight, tone up and gain muscle 💪 I ended up putting on a half a kilo, and I gained centimetres around my arms, legs and butt, which I was super happy about 🤩 I lost some centimetres around my waist and I did go down in body fat too 👊
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’ll know I just finished the 75-Hard Challenge 🙈 I had plenty of you cheering me on and I am so grateful for your support, so firstly a BIG thankyou for your messages on encouragement along the way 🥰
I was actually inspired to do the 75-Hard Challenge because a couple of my girlfriends had done it. If you haven’t heard of it, you can click here to read my last blog about it! It’s more of a mental toughness challenge than a health challenge.
For 75 days you have to:
✨ Do two 45-minute workouts a day, including one outdoors
✨ drink a gallon of water a day, which is about 4 litres
✨ Read a personal development book
✨ Take a progress photo
✨ Stick to a diet – My partner and I chose vegetarian
✨ No alcohol
If you miss a day or messed up on a day, you had to go back to day one!
After watching some of my girlfriends do it, I thought – you know, I’m pretty healthy! 🙋♀️ I’ve come a long way with my health over the past few years and we live a pretty healthy lifestyle, but I wanted to do it to test my discipline. I eat pretty healthily during the week, but on weekends I love a cheeky cocktail or a doughnut 🙊
Our Focus
My husband and I are both in a chapter of our lives right now we’re really focusing on business, and we can’t travel so we we’re looking for a new way to tap into our full potential and test our limits.
Before I started, the thing I was most worried about was the alcohol 😅 I don’t drink a lot (I used to in my early 20s!!) but I’ve gotten a point in my life where I will enjoy a cocktail or two when I’m out on the weekend 🍹 I drink pretty consistently but I don’t drink a lot I don’t think I’ve done more than a few weeks without alcohol since I was a teenager, so I was pretty impressed with myself to last 75 days.
I shared my experience along the way on Instagram and had a lot of you reach out to ask how the experience was for me. So here is some of the answers to your questions, some tips and my results!
After completing my 75 days, I’ve drunk 75 gallons of water, completed 150 workouts (many in the rain! 🌧), I read 8 books and had no alcohol or junk food (I will confess, I did have lollies one day 🙈 BUT ☝🏼 they were vegetarian and had no gelatine in them so I decided that wasn’t technically cheating 😅).
Although I did the challenge as a mental test, I did notice some physical changes…
75 Day Hard Challenge Results Before and After
Before I started, I did a body scan at the gym and then retested halfway and again at the end.
This was never about weight for me, I actually wanted to put on some weight, tone up and gain muscle 💪 I ended up putting on a half a kilo, and I gained centimetres around my arms, legs and butt, which I was super happy about 🤩 I lost some centimetres around my waist and I did go down in body fat too 👊
If I tried to do the 75hard challenge 5 years ago, I have no doubt I would have failed. Many of you didn’t see or know me back then, so I don’t want you to compare your chapter one with my chapter 21. I have come such a long way thanks to all the education and support from the Healthstyle Emporium, and health is a lifestyle for me now.
I move my body because it makes me feel strong, energetic, positive, clear and reduces my anxiety 😇 I don’t look at calories, I eat nourishing and wholesome foods because it nourishes and fuels my body with energy AND tastes yummy 💥 But if I want to have a doughnut, I’ll have a doughnut 🍩 If I want to have a cocktail, I’ll have a cocktail 🍸 I LOVE to read.
It’s something I seriously just enjoy doing these days! So all in all most of the 75 hard was what I was already doing… I just would be excessive and disciplined about it every day… instead intuitive and honouring how my body feels.
BUT that was the point…
This challenge was about showing up and being disciplined everyday! Not just the days you felt like it or had the time to do two work outs…or when the sun was shining 🌞. Trust me - there were many days where I didn’t ‘feel like’ running or walking in the rain and wind.
Especially when Gold Coast had an weather event with torrential rain and floods for a whole week 🤦🏼♀️ I still tried to honour my body though, especially as a women through my cycle if I needed to be a little more gentle on my body I would choose to walk instead of run, yoga instead of the gym and I even picked up dancing again to mix things up 🙌
The Biggest Challenge…
The biggest challenge for me five years ago would probably have been the food. I had a really bad relationship with food and looked at all foods as either good ✅ or bad ❌.
Even trying to eat plant based or vegetarian diets would have left me confused on what I could actually eat! It wasn’t until I joined the Healthstyle Emporium that I realised eating healthy didn’t mean I had to cut out all my favourite foods. I’ve learnt there are healthy alternatives for everything, and it’s okay to eat the foods we love in moderation ☺️
While I enjoy a drink or two on the weekends now, I used to binge drink pretty much every weekend five years ago 😳 I used alcohol as a way to manage emotions. When I felt shit, had a bad day at work or just wanted to lose myself, I would reach for alcohol or a weekend out with the girls to just get drunk and let of some steam 💃 rather than learning healthier ways to manage stress like I do now - exercise, journalling, meditation, deep breathing, understanding and honouring my cycle and hormones.
It’s so important not to play the comparison game…
The 75 Day Challenge is Too Hard
To all the girls out there thinking the 75 Hard Challenge is too intense or difficult, this is your reminder that everyone is at a different stage of their health journey. While I would have struggled with the challenge at 23, the 2.5 months honestly wasn’t difficult for me at 28 💁♀️ It was inconvenient and there were days where I really didn’t feel like sticking to it, but I still made it through pretty easily.
Mix It Up Then…
If you’re someone that still has a while to go on your health and wellness journey, I probably wouldn’t recommend throwing yourself into the deep end with this challenge ✋ Instead, try moving your body because it feels good – not because you’re punishing it for a big meal, one too many drinks or because it’s been a while since your last workout 👊
Skip The Diet… Try Education…
Skip the diet and educate yourself about nutrition, so you learn to enjoy and eat nourishing foods because you want to fuel your body with the energy you need to get through the day! 🙏 The funny thing is too - once you start to eat better and cut out processed foods and refined sugar - your taste pallet changes and it starts to crave more of the good stuff making is not only easier to eat better but you actually prefer the taste of wholesome plant based meals and treats 🍫🤤
Make Time for You!
My highest value is freedom, so the biggest thing for me is during this time was the mental game of knowing I was restricting myself! I believe everything is okay in moderation! We’re not going to look back on our deathbed and be grateful that we never ate a doughnut!
But when we feel good, we do good 🥰 Some of the best days of our lives are in front of us, and if we don’t have our health, we’re not putting ourselves in the best position to enjoy them ✨
Reflecting
I realised just how far I’ve come in the past few years when I realised that many of the things in this challenge were already part of my life.
The day after finishing, I still went for a 10km run, read a whole book and drunk my 4L of water 💦 The one thing that will be changing now that I’ve finished is that I will be treating myself to a cocktail when I feel like it 🙈 Why? Because I enjoy it! And that’s a good enough reason if you ask me 🤷♀️
I think that’s a really important point for us to consider though.
Why do you drink alcohol?
Is it because you feel like you need it to be fun and social?
Do you do it be outgoing?
Do you do it to manage your feelings and emotions?
The same thing applies to sugar! 🍬 I used to reach for sugar to treat myself after ‘being good’, or when I was feeling down or at the end of a long and stressful day. Cutting these things out of your life gives you the opportunity to reflect on the relationship you have with them 💁♀️
Why are you doing the challenge?
If you decide to do the 75 Hard Challenge, I encourage you to consider if you’re doing it for the right reasons before you start ✋
Are you doing it to starve yourself?
Are you doing it to punish yourself?
Are you doing it to lose weight?
I would say that these may be the wrong reasons to do a challenge like this!
I think it’s far more beneficial to do the 75 Hard Challenge to test things like discipline and unlock your full potential.
Read More: My Goal for 2021 and Why 75Hard Challenge
Key Reflection Points
There are a few things I reflected on at the end of my time in the challenge that I would love to share with you ✨
I think we’re all capable of doing anything we set our minds to 💪 Too many people say things like “I’ll try that!” or “I’ll give it a go!”, but that to me sounds like you’re half in-half out. I honestly believe that all it takes to be successful is to completely commit and throw yourself in whole heartedly 💖
Structure is your freedom! I think some of the reasons the 75 Hard Challenge was so easy for me is because I had structure. First thing in the morning I did my first workout. I made sure I drunk 1L of water before my first workout. I made sure I drunk 2L of water before lunch. I made sure I read my 10 pages every night before I went to bed. It’s the same in business or anything really! Structure helps you gets more done in less time, so that you’ve got my white space to enjoy the things you like.
.Don’t make it about how you look – focus on how you feel! Think about how it feels to feel strong, energised and prioritised. You’re worth being an inconvenience! I see so many people put themselves and their health on the back burner, but you’re not going to be able to achieve anything if you don’t have your health!
.Surround yourself with people that have the same values as you. I did this challenge because I was inspired by some of my girlfriends that had gone ahead and done the same thing before me. It was also easier doing 75 Hard Challenge because I was surrounded by other people that also value their health, personal development and self-discipline 🙌 It wasn’t hard to have fun on the weekends, have friends over or go out for dinners, because there was no peer pressure or bullying for what I was doing and I wouldn’t be drinking or couldn’t eat what they were… They respected what I was doing and knew it was important to me. If you’re delaying doing a challenge like this (or anything in life!) because you’re worried about what your friends might think or say, it could be a sign that you need to rethink the people you spend your time with.
Most Importantly…
Like I’ve said, I’m a big believer of anything in moderation! My husband and I celebrated finishing the 75 hard with a little Island getaway where I enjoyed lots of cheese, wine and a donut for breakfast…with absolutely no guilt ⚡️
Test yourself, push your boundaries and further your growth, but remember to take a moment to enjoy the little things in life too 💖
My Goal for 2021 and why ✨- #75Hard Challenge
If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a mindset and discipline challenge that goes for 75 days. two 45-minute workouts a day, drink one gallon of water, read 10 pages, stick to a diet, no alcohol / or cheat days, and take a progress picture every single day.
Have you heard of the 75 Hard Challenge?
It seems like more and more people are starting to talk about it!
If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a mindset and discipline challenge that goes for 75 days. For the two and a half months of the challenge, you need to:
two 45-minute workouts a day (at least one needs to be outdoors rain, hail or shine) 🏋️♀️
drink one gallon of water 💦
read 10 pages of a personal development book 📖
stick to a diet 🍉
have no alcohol / or cheat days🥂
and take a progress picture every single day 📸
If you skip anything or have a cheat day, you’ve got to go back to day one and start all over again 🙈
MY 75 DAY HARD CHALLENGE
Last week I started the #75Hard challenge myself 💪
Why? Well, I’ve seen heaps of my friends and other people in my life doing the challenge recently. After chatting with these people, I’ve discovered that most aren’t doing it as a health challenge. It’s really more of an opportunity to test your mental toughness, discipline and commitment.
I’ve got a personality that means I’m either all in or all out when I do anything – especially when it comes to health. Up until about 4 or 5 years ago when I joined The Healthstyle Emporium, I didn't have a healthy relationship with food or exercise, I was always trying to do something excessively and restricting myself in another which just led to me yo-yo-ing my weight and my happiness.
From my experience diets don’t work. I’m a big believer that every time you restrict yourself of anything, you end up just binging or over indulging in the end anyway. My five-year journey with The Health Style Emporium has taught me how to be happy and healthy on my own terms, in a sustainable and holistic way by skipping the diets and learning how to just move and eat intuitively (with healthy alternatives) which has been such an incredible and life changing experience 💖
Now, my principle in life and business is the 80% rule 🙌🏽. Eat healthy 80% of time, move well 80% of time, work hard 80% of the time because from my experience this is the consistency that leads to sustainable success and health without burnout or binging and allows lots of time for rest and play 🕺🏼✨
The 80% principal has served me really well…but because I live by this rule in every aspect of my life, I don’t really know what it’s like to commit 100% of the time and go all in. If I feel great at 80%, imagine how good I could feel at 100%?
I’m doing the #75Hard challenge to test my own discipline, to show up more for myself and really just see how good I can possibly feel 👏
Discovering a new version of myself
One of the aspects that interested me the most about this challenge was the no alcohol rule. I’m not sure when you first started drinking, but I am embarrassed to admit that I don’t think I have gone more than about 2 weeks without alcohol since I was 15 😬.
I probably was a bit of a binge drinker between the ages of 17 and 20 (aren’t we all 🙈), but I’m not like that anymore. I do drink regularly but it’s usually just enjoying a cocktail at dinner, a Pina Colada’s in the sunshine or having a port in the bath🍷. It may not be large amounts all the time, but it’s definitely consistent.
Given it’s been so long that I’ve lived like this, I’m excited to discover how I might feel without having that much alcohol in my life. Plenty of people I’ve spoken to are saying their clarity, intuition and overall mood are much better! I’m really keen to see if I will experience the same results.
Self-worth does not equal work ethic
Another motivating factor for me was my self-worth. When it comes to my business, the reality is that I AM my business.
Have you heard the saying – ‘Don’t kill the golden goose’?
In my mind, that saying is a reminder of how important it is to look after the golden goose in your life – the thing that lays the eggs and provides your wealth and abundance. Don’t get caught up on burning your goose out over one egg when (if you look after it) it can continue to deliver you a lifetime of golden eggs. Being my own boss and running my own business means it’s so important to invest in and look after… me! 🥰
I had a massive breakthrough last year that I shared with you all on my birthday…
I had this really old belief that I was carrying around with me that my work ethic equals my self-worth 😰 When I’m not working hard, I didn’t feel like I was worthy of my income or my lifestyle. I felt like I needed to work even harder to deserve more.
I decided in 2021 to discover how I could increase my self-worth, without always tying it to my work ethic. I saw the #75Hard Challenge as a great way to put myself first and remind myself that I am worthy of what I have – without linking it back to my professional life.
So it’s time to turn that worthyodometer up gf! 🙌
Getting started on the challenge
I’m super excited to bring you guys along the way on this journey and I can’t wait to see the results of giving 100% to myself. Before getting started, I thought water was going to be the hardest part, but I’ve realised that I do drink pretty much a gallon a day. The real tough part for me is definitely going to be the alcohol and no cheat days 🙈
The 6 week Glow Up inside The Healthstyle Emporium is helping me stay inspired and creative with my work outs and yummy healthy meals and treats, along with our babes for support and accountability 👯♀️🙌🏽) but I got tempted over the weekend with donuts 🍩 🙊
Donuts are my weakness 😅 WARM JAM DONUTS ARE LIFE 🤤🤤
I found myself mentally battling myself being like ‘who said I can’t have a donut 😡’...I hate rules, restrictions and being told what I can and can’t do... but I quickly caught myself and realised I was giving my power away.
I can eat that donut. But I am ‘choosing’ not to.
I see this so often, we give our power away by saying we are forced to do something when you’re not ...
You’re choosing to go to that job, be in that relationship, to not eat the donut 😝
You have a choice - and reminding yourself takes you out of the victim mentality and gives you back your power.
What does the next level of you look like?
When one of my highest values is balance, I will admit I feel pretty torn already and I am only a week in!
Half of my brain is telling me '“f*&K it! Just have the drink / donut if you want it”, but I keep having to remind myself that I really want to step into that next level of myself this year and if I want to grow, I need to try new things and push myself outside of my current comfort zone and realm of reality.
The old Lauren wouldn’t say no to a good time.
The old Lauren wouldn’t deprive her body from what she felt like. But becoming the new Lauren means I need to say yes to new things, I need to think like I wouldn’t usually and I need to behave like I wouldn’t usually… if I want to experience new things and manifest a new reality or results. It’s exciting to be in this zone of discomfort because it’s a great sign that I’m on the way to reaching the next level of myself.
If you’re considering your goals for 2021 or you’re thinking about the #75Hard challenge, I would really encourage you to think about what the next level of yourself looks like?
How can you make yourself uncomfortable and start taking steps in the right direction towards who you can / want to be?
How can you think, speak and act in ways that you usually wouldn’t?
When I sat down to nut out my 2021 goals, the #75Hard Challenge was really the only thing that I really wanted to do when it came to my own personal health and happiness - so here I am getting it done and sharing it with you for some public accountability! ✔️ I’m one week in so it’s early days and I don’t want to get too ahead of myself, but so far so good! I am enjoying the process and the mental toughness and can not wait to share with you my results (both mentally and physically). 🙌
Bring on the next level of Lauren!
If you’re doing the challenge, I’d love to keep updated with how you’re doing too! Feel free to drop me a comment on Instagram and keep me in the loop and let’s cheer each on! Together, we’ve got this 💪
P.S If you haven’t set yourself any goals yet for 2021 - last week I hosted a Goal Setting Masterclass exclusively for our clients inside the Healthstyle Emporium but… I wanted to offer it to my online community as well coz I love you guys ❤️ I hope it helps you get clear on what you want to focus on this year so you feel like you have direction, purpose and something to strive towards and get excited about too!
I talk about:
How to set goals that align with your highest values
Why its so hard to set goals AND stick to them
The psychology of goal setting and how to use it as your super power
Strategies to help you see your goals the whole year through
+ BONUS a free goal setting template so you walk away feeling empowered and clear on what you want to consciously create this year!
Let me know what you take from it, I hope it serves you ✨
2021... My wish for you this year
Set Goals on How you Want to Feel
⭐My wish for you is this year you set goals on how you want to feel, not the numbers on a scale or likes on a photo 🙅🏼♀️
⭐My wish for you is that you glow from the inside out because you nourish your body with wholefoods 🍓
⭐My wish for you is that you radiate happiness from the endorphins you release daily from moving your body (because you’re grateful you can) 🤸🏼♂️
Set Goals on How you Want to Feel
⭐My wish for you is this year you set goals on how you want to feel, not the numbers on a scale or likes on a photo 🙅🏼♀️
⭐My wish for you is that you glow from the inside out because you nourish your body with wholefoods 🍓
⭐My wish for you is that you radiate happiness from the endorphins you release daily from moving your body (because you’re grateful you can) 🤸🏼♂️
⭐My wish for you is that your energy lights up a room when you walk in because people can feel your peace and joy 🥰
⭐My wish for you is you attract soulful and abundant relationships because your level of self worth wouldn’t accept anything less 👩❤️💋👨
⭐My wish for you is the confidence and security that comes with prioritising your own wealth creation and career so you can have the freedom to pursue your dreams ❤️🙌🏽
Welcome to 2021…
Hello and welcome to 2021! I hope you all had a super relaxing Christmas and New Year, and that you’re ready to tackle the year ahead!
Given many of us have just returned to work for the year and we’re starting to get back into the swing of things, I thought it was a great time to talk about NEW YEAR GOALS.
Lets get started…
⭐How many of you have set goals for 2021?
⭐And how many of those resolutions are around your weight?
Us women are the worst for it 🙈
Days of a Professional Dancer
If you have read my book you will know in my days of being a professional dancer, I didn’t have a healthy relationship with food, exercise or myself. And when Christmas would come around I would enjoy everything, and then I would spend January self-loathing. I would punish my body, start a diet or plan out an unrealistic exercise regime 😣
But I haven’t set goals like this since I was 21. It’s been around seven years since I placed these unfair expectations on myself and would beat myself up for not reaching the goals. I had to pull myself up and change my thinking when I realised just how much I was damaging myself.
Why Didn’t I Achieve My Goals…
I’m sure many of us have set resolutions that depended on a number on the scales, but I’m sure just as many of us never actually achieved those goals 💁♀ The reason we never ticked them off our list is that we were focusing on the wrong thing.
A New Way to Goal Setting…
⭐This year, I want you to shake up the way you look at your New Year’s goals.
⭐Instead of making it about what you look like, make it about how you ‘feel’.
⭐Think about how you’re going to feel when you start nourishing your body with the right foods.
⭐Think about how radiant you’re going to be when you’re so positive and happy because you’ve been moving your body every day and releasing endorphins.
⭐Think about the confidence you’re going to have when you have good self-worth and boundaries.
Getting Back Into The Swing of Things
As you get back into work for the year, I encourage you to set some intentions for yourself.
Ask yourself – “How do I want to feel?”.
⭐Skip the diets, skip the restrictions and skip the weight loss challenges.
⭐Instead, move your body because you’re grateful that you can.
⭐Nourish your body because you’re grateful for everything it does for you, and you want it to keep looking after you.
⭐Think about the sort of person you want to be in your relationships with your family, friends and colleagues.
If you’re looking for a romantic relationship in 2021, this is something you can consider too…
⭐Do you need to make yourself feel worthy and content in your own company before you can be with someone else?
⭐Do you have your own routine, hobbies and things that bring you joy?
⭐Are you stable in and passionate about your career?
⭐Can you confidently stand on your own two feet financially?
⭐Have you filled your cup to the brim so someone can come share your happy bubble and compliment your already amazing life?
⭐Or are you needing someone to ‘make’ your life and be the reason for your happiness.
Remember we are attracted to people that want us…not need us.
Self love and self worth is sexy AF.
Are you caught in the Trap of Unrealistic and Unfair New Year’s Resolutions?
These are concepts that we slowly learn as we grow older and develop healthier relationships with our food, movement, relationships and ourselves.
But there are plenty of women, particularly young women that follow me that are still caught in the trap of unrealistic and unfair New Year’s resolutions. I’m here to challenge those girls and say – Don’t do it.
⭐Make this year the first year that you don’t set a diet goal.
⭐Make this year a year where you focus on how you want to feel.
⭐If you’re focusing on restriction and deprivation, you’re only going to feel like a skeleton and a shadow of your best self.
Choose abundance, nourishment and alignment…
I take a deep dive on this in my book, and I’ve got a whole chapter dedicated to setting healthy goals for yourself. If you’re looking for further learning and want someone to hold your hand and be a cheerleader, send me a message and have a look into the Healthstyle Emporium.
Healthstyle Emporium - How it Can Help…
I used to have such a bad relationship with food and movement, which I think resulted from my dancing background. When I came across the Healthstyle Emporium, I learned a little more about nutrition and the effects of stress on my body.
Before this..
I used to run endless kilometres every week, skip meals and restrict my eating. But you know what? Despite me focusing excessively on my ‘health’…it was the unhealthiest and unhappiest I have ever felt 😅
Finding Myself…
After going through that journey myself, I really want to encourage you ladies to make this year the year that you have a different relationship with food - that you focus on loving yourself from the inside out 💖
⭐The best way to start this journey, and commit to yourself is to surround yourself with women that lift you up, inspire you to be the best version of yourself and encourage you to dream big...
⭐Fill your feed with these women. Spend your time with these women. Stop making space and time for things and people that bring you down and don’t enrich your life, or at the very least challenge you to be better.
⭐Let’s start by thinking of one healthier habit you can focus on cultivating today…
⭐Whats one thing you can focus on this month that would you become the happiest, healthiest and most inspired version of yourself?
Lets start there 😉
What is the Healthstyle Emporium?
Earlier this week I did an IGTV explain what The HSE actually is, what it includes and I shared a sneak peak of the magic that happens behind the scenes inside the program if you would love to check to out!
Get Healthier and Happier Program
If you would love to get healthier and happier with me this year, be sure to check out the program here.
Partner with Lauren Kerr
And if you would love to get paid to share the program and create an online income, check out info about our team here.
If you have any questions, let's connect!
Send me a message on the below platforms...
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Email
So excited to see what magic 2021 has in store for you!
To your health and happiness,
The glorification and vilification of work ethic
You probably saw that I was celebrating my birthday recently and if I’ve ever wished you a happy birthday, you’ll know that I always ask people the same question on their birthday, “What was your biggest lesson?” 🤔… And I do the same to myself too.
You probably saw that I was celebrating my birthday recently and if I’ve ever wished you a happy birthday, you’ll know that I always ask people the same question on their birthday, “What was your biggest lesson?” 🤔… And I do the same to myself too.
Reflection of my 28th Lap around the Sun
Every year I take some time out to reflect and think about the biggest lesson I’ve personally taken from the previous 12 months.
I think it’s important to reflect as not everyone got the last 12 months so I put the time aside to think about what I did with the ones I was gifted with.
This year’s reflection on my 28th lap around the sun came with some pretty significant breakthroughs.
The Abundance Code
I’ve been reading this book called ‘The Abundance Code’, and it’s challenging me to ponder on my own self-limiting beliefs 🙈.
For many of us, it’s been a year of surrendering, which is what led me to create a little blog series called, The Surrender Project. I’m using this blog to talk about what I’ve learnt throughout 2020, and I’ve shared my thoughts on learning to surrender, discarding beliefs that no longer serve me and how to battle my self limiting beliefs 👊 in business, marriage, money and life.
My Journal 🖊️
While journaling on my birthday, my breakthrough started because I *thought* one of my biggest self-limiting beliefs 👊 was the idea that you have to trade time for money.
I know that’s not true logically because obviously, I’ve created a business that offers lots of different residual and passive income streams, so I don’t always have to trade my time for my money 🤷♀️.
But over the last 12 months, I’ve really noticed that I have this guilt around slowing down because something unconsciously tells me that the only way to be successful is to keep working hard, like I had for the first couple of years in my business.
I used to take pride in the fact I have a great work ethic and all my success I have had - nothing was handed to me - I worked hard to create it for myself, by myself...
This reflection happened around the same time that I hit a massive professional goal and pinnacle leadership position within my company called EMD being the same week as my birthday.
My Work Ethic 💪
It’s really interesting because as I was getting recognised, I was getting a lot of beautiful messages celebrating me. Something that kept coming up was comments like “I don’t know anyone more deserving”, “You’re a unicorn Lauren!” or “I don’t know anyone that works as hard as you, you’ve got such a great work ethic.”.
These kind messages reminded me that people also know me for my work ethic but it also made me feel guilty because I don’t feel like I work that hard anymore! 😳 It is like ‘working hard’ makes someone deserve respect and their success. Work ethic is like a yard stick we use to measure our respect for ourselves and others.
Was I still deserving of my success?
HUSTLING VS FLOW
All these comments also made me realise that ‘hustling’ isn’t cool anymore.
For most people it feels unattainable and not something people aspire to do (including myself). A few years ago there was a glorification around working ourselves as hard as physically possible, yet the last two years I have realised it’s just not sustainable (especially for women as we aren’t wired the same as men - we are cyclical)…
and instead being “in flow” is the new cool... 😎
Flow
I’m all for flow! But I do think it means in the process of making it cool, we’ve now also built a vilification around ‘hustle’ – It’s no longer sexy to hustle. I’ve noticed within my business it can be really polarising to have work ethic because a lot of people say they can’t do what I do, or that they just don’t want to do what I do.
It’s like ‘hustle’ has become a dirty word and women are no longer inspired by hustle, working hard or work ethic. Comments like this trigger me because I genuinely don’t think you have to work hard to be deserving of your success.
But - because I am a straight shooter and I care about your success, you can trust me to tell you the truth and not just what you want to hear that is going to make you feel comfortable, trust me when I say those people who are enjoying ‘flow’ had a season where they hustled.
WORK ETHIC DOES NOT EQUAL WORTHINESS
To achieve anything or get anything off the ground 🚀, you need to have commitment and energy💪. It’s going to take a burst of inspired action, and you might have a bit of strategic imbalance for a while as you create what you want, but it won’t stay that way forever.
Although I threw a lot of energy into my business at the start, and it was ‘harder’ in the early days, it was only tough because I was building up an income around a full-time job. If I didn’t have the work ethic to get started and continue to show up even when didn’t feel like it (lets be honest most days it would have been easier to sit on the couch after work), I never would have gotten anywhere, let alone where I am now.
It didn’t stay that way though, because I was in flow and I loved what I was doing, I persisted, I mastered the skills I needed to grow my business and as my confidence grew so did my income. I simply believe that you need to have a passion and put in the hard yards to set yourself up, and the rest will follow naturally ✨.
Consistent Work
The last two years of my work haven’t been ‘hard’. Yes I’ve been consistent. I’ve been passionate. I’ve been committed to my growth and stepping out of my comfort zone, taking inspired action and having uncomfortable conversations (those things come hand in hand with leadership).
But I have also had good boundaries, I’ve scheduled my joy every day and have made sure I’ve prioritised my own health and happiness. I don’t believe that takes away from my success at all. My income continues to grow, and I keep creating more white space, new opportunities and freedom 👏.
So if this self-limiting belief wasn’t coming from the idea that I had to swap time for money, what was it? 🤔
THE WORKING-CLASS BELIEF
If you come from a family that is very abundant and very wealthy, very rarely will you stop and consider if you are worthy of it.
You’re born into it, so you don’t doubt if you’re deserving, you just accept that it’s the way things are 💁♀️.
Are you Worthy of Success?
The flip side of that is that when people like me come into money or start creating money that they don’t necessarily have to work as hard for, you start feeling like it’s a dishonest way of life.
It’s almost like you think that you’re cheating the system or doing something wrong because you’re not working hard to create it, despite seeing so many of your loved one’s working hard their whole lives.
This realisation has been my biggest breakthrough because I acknowledge that this has been my blockage.
I did have the belief that work ethic equals worthiness and I needed to flip it. it was no longer serving me. Because when I dig deeper, I do know that you can create more and do less, business can be easy, wealth can come easy - And none of those things makes you less deserving of it 🙌.
THE VILIFICATION OF HUSTLING
Real talk, though. I still do honestly believe that getting anything up off the ground, in order to create flow and build abundance; you do have to have some work ethic or hustle at the start to get momentum. As well as then needing the skills and confidence to maintain it.
My advice for you is that if you’re working hard on something, make sure that it’s something that brings you joy or will mean you won’t have to ‘work hard’ long term.
My highest value is time freedom and flexibility 👐 So, I worked hard for a season, which was only around 2 to 4 hours on top of my full-time job each day to get my business off the ground and build that residual income stream.
But I only ‘worked hard’ so that I didn’t have to continue to work at that level, pace or intensity forever. I want to spend my time with my friends and family, with my future kids enjoying being a stay at home mum, relaxing, at the beach, prioritising my own health and happiness and more time researching, reading and writing.
What is ‘hard work’ anyway?
Maintaining your efforts and committing to being consistent to get a side hustle or business off the ground whilst juggling a job is hard. But is staying in a job where you commute 2 hours a day, miss magical moments, have a capped income, feel unfulfilled, uninspired and hungry for more, but do nothing about it…any easier?
There is a big difference between ‘working hard’ and ‘hard work’. Yes I ‘worked hard’ for a season to set myself up and get momentum in my business and build my brand, but it wasn’t ‘hard work’.
If you align yourself with your highest values and passions and work out a way to either monetise them or create a lifestyle so you can enjoy them - you want to show up and put the work in. Because it’s important to you.
THE CURRENCIES OF LIFE
There are three currencies in life:
1. Money 💰
2. Audience or your relationships (your network) ❤️
3. Time 🕐
I believe you need to leverage off at least two of those currencies to create the third one.
For example you leverage off your time and audience to create money (either by selling a service or product).
You leverage off your audience and money (by outsourcing, hiring employees or paying for systems to automate) to create time.
You leverage off your money and time (by investing in your network) to create more audience and be connected or introduced to other high achievers or world thought leaders / influencers / business owners.
When I first started, I didn’t have the money, but I had the time, so I focused on building and investing in my relationships with content and value to create the money. And now I use my money and audience to create the time I was missing.
Whatever goal you’re working towards, remember the difference between working hard and hard work.
If these are goals that align with you and your highest values, you should be in a feeling of flow. After your season of strategic imbalance, where you go all in, and you work a little bit harder than you usually do, you won’t have to continue this way of life forever.
Are your beliefs outdated?
Did you realise that you carried the same belief that work ethic equals worthiness?
Not only does work ethic not equal worthiness, but you don’t need to find your worthiness in what you do for work either 🤩.
Money that comes easy isn’t dishonest - it’ smart!
There are so many ways to create wealth these days that no longer require you to trade your time or work hard for it.
Beliefs are just thoughts you keep thinking.
They are tools to help you get where you want to go. When you’re experiencing frustration in an any area of your life, it usually means there is an old belief system that needs to be updated and when you’re being triggered in any area of your life, it usually means someone or something has contradicted one of your beliefs.
So here are some tips to help you rewire yours to help you have your own breakthrough:
Identify the belief that is no longer serving you.
Weaken that belief by looking for evidence of the contrary to prove to yourself that belief is no longer true.
Override that belief by getting clear on the new one you want to keep thinking, the one that is going to help you get to your next level. Write it out daily as an affirmation until you believe it. Get as much proof and evidence as required to convince yourself of the new belief when you have doubts.
And if you’re struggling to get your head around your new belief just remember that you believed in Santa for 10-years, so beliefs can change! They’re just thoughts, not facts.
So in saying that personally right now, I’m working on:
Continuing to look for evidence to prove that money, success, and business can be easy.
Writing and reading my new affirmation daily - Let it be easy. My business and wealth continue to grow with ease while I focus on joy!
I will stop asking people what do they do for work when getting to know them and instead ask them questions like ‘What do you do for fun? What do you want to consciously create this year? What do you dream about? What are you passionate about?
Likewise, when people ask me what I do - I will respond with ‘Do you mean with my time or for money?’
I hope this serves you! If it reminded you of a gf or bizz bestie be sure to forward it to them too!
A big thanks again for sharing my 28th lap around the sun with me…it’s been wild! Excited to see what the next 12 months have in store for us all!
Love always your biggest cheerleader and friend,
LIFE AFTER COVID: Finding your flow again and working out what you should do next
I realise how important it is to slow down when I need to. I've been journaling a lot during the past few weeks, and it's made me realise that this rest isn't a choice. I'm not sure if I was on the verge of burn out, but I just have no more gas left in the tank – mentally, spiritually and physically.
Hey guys!
If you've been following my Instagram posts and stories over the past few weeks, you'll know that I am in an interesting season of life right now. As we all are - I too, am working through my own shit.
You know you guys can always rely on me to be real and raw with you so I wanted to take the time to drop in, give a little life update and share with you what I’m currently navigating, as well as a few strategies I'm using to reconnect with my intuition.
Anyone else here a recovering human doing?
It seriously feels like I've been hustling my butt off for the last 10 years. I went straight from school to university on a scholarship. I was juggling multiple jobs whilst studying Psychology at university striving to get into honours. Next, my focus was on getting a job, but when I got my job in child protection, I enrolled to study life coaching on the side and started my my side-hustle.
Then I spent 18 months pouring all my energy into getting my business off the ground to replace my full time income. I’ve spent the last three years investing in my personal and professional growth, mentoring thousands of women how to master their mindset and create a life on their own terms, writing and publishing my book ‘Life Above Zero' and continuing to pour my soul, sweat and tears into my business in order to duplicate that success and keep the momentum going…
After what might seem online like an ‘overnight success’, is actually 10 years of pushing, striving, pursuing and doing… and now I've been gifted with the time to stop and breathe, and just ‘be’ and enjoy the fruits of my labour and the residual income I have been able to create with the network marketing profession.
It sounds pretty relaxing right?
Well, in theory, it should be. But I'm the sort of person that thrives off doing. I find flow and fulfilment in setting goals and then achieving those goals – all at a million miles an hour. It might sound odd to a lot of you but stopping and trusting in the future, the universe and its divine timing is uncomfortable for me.
Learning to slow down and relinquish control…
Although I'm not very good at it, I realise how important it is to slow down when I need to. I've been journaling a lot during the past few weeks, and it's made me realise that this rest isn't a choice. I'm not sure if I was on the verge of burn out, but I just have no more gas left in the tank – mentally, spiritually and physically.
I think it's quite a familiar feeling among creatives. When you're creating something, whether it's music, writing, art or anything else, you often feel so inspired and driven, that you become all-consumed. Then, when you finish your masterpiece, you're left feeling a little empty, lost and confused.
In my case – I've spent what feels like forever working on my book! Then when COVID-19 hit, everything was thrown out. I was no longer in control and could not push anything…shipments got stuck overseas; I couldn't record my audiobook as my flight to record interstate had been cancelled with my publisher, bookstores couldn't order my book and connecting with overseas suppliers was pretty tough.
But here I am learning to trust the universes divine timing and I am excited to announce my audiobook is now available on Audible and launches on the 12th of July, and the book will start popping up in book stores over the coming months.
So now that chapter is done, and out of my control, I'm left asking myself – what do I do next?!
To help with the changing of seasons and to reconnect with my flow, I've been trying something a little different:
My Surrender Project.
The Science of Flow…
You'll hear me talking about flow a lot, and it might sound wishy-washy, but there is actually science behind it.
It's called the Art of Fulfillment and the Science of Flow. I've got a Free Masterclass if you'd like to learn a little bit more about that. Basically, research shows that people need to create specific circumstances in order to feel particular emotions. Being in these situations is also a massive predictor of fulfilment. So, if you're not feeling fulfilment right now, it could be because you're not creating conditions where you can find your flow.
My Surrender Project…
My Surrender Project is about identifying what brings me joy, allowing abundance without the guilt that I am no longer hustling for it and unpacking my own self limiting beliefs around the need to run at one million miles an hour. Here are some of the things that are helping so far:
Every morning ask yourself: What would feel good today? Some days I book my hair in to get done, other days I might swap the gym for a nice walk, and sometimes it's about baking a banana cake and calling my best friend. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time, but it can make a huge difference.
Another thing that has helped me is asking myself these three questions:
a. Do I trust and believe in my big vision? My Free Happiness test can help you find clarity in this goal and identify how you can work towards a goal that you believe in and aligns with your values if you don't feel like you have a vision right now.
b. Are your needs met today? Do you have what you need to put food on the table, have a roof over your head and do you feel safe?
c. If so, then what is the next aligned step? This question has really helped me lean into the actions that feel right and allow me to experience more flow and connect with my gut / intuition / inner truth.
I am a very logical, rational and science-based person (hence why Life Above Zero is about making spirituality science) but I do believe that we're all here because we've got something we're meant to do. Sometimes we make it so complicated because we let what's rational or logical get in the way of taking the next inspired step towards that vision.
So another strategy that has been helping me work out my next move is to ask myself what I can give, rather than what I can receive. Because so often we make decisions and take action based on what we will receive in return for doing it e.g. money, recognition, accolades.
But this strategy flips that on its head and makes you realise you have already received, look around at everything you have been gifted with; life, health, love, relationships etc.
So rather than feeling like you have to do something in order to receive something in return, now you have already received, what would you like to give?
When you come from that space; what would you love to give, contribute or create out of choice, inspiration, flow and alignment?
Putting pen to paper again…
The result of my time of reflection is that I'm spending every morning writing. It feels so good to be connected and in flow again. It could be my next book, who knows!
I'm toying with the idea of calling it "The Surrender Project: The Diary of a Recovering Human Doing" and just share the journey, the inner workings of my crazy mind and the things I'm doing to rewire my workaholic brain, the strategies and activities that I've been exploring and the magic that unfolds from learning how to relinquish control and surrender to faith instead.
Let me know if you guys would love me to share those journal entries with you has I continue to surrender and navigate this next chapter in hope it might help you fellow human doings too.
Until then - Hopefully, these tips serve you and will help you find your flow again and work out what your next move is navigating life after COVID! I’ll keep leaning into My Surrender Project, and following the breadcrumbs.
Keep an eye out for my book too! Make sure you tag me in your photos if you see it in a book store close to you. I have been loving hearing what you guys are taking from the book.
Chat soon,
Our Wedding Video arrived!
Hello lovely, how are you?
I wanted to drop in and see how you're going. I know it's a crazy time in the world at the moment. I hope you're staying safe and healthy. I also know it is a stressful time financially for a lot of families and small businesses right now, so I just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
Hello lovely, how are you?
I wanted to drop in and see how you're going. I know it's a crazy time in the world at the moment. I hope you're staying safe and healthy. I also know it is a stressful time financially for a lot of families and small businesses right now, so I just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
If you are at home being quarantined right now (welcome to my life! haha working from home nothing has really changed for me!)... I am sure you have been scrolling the news feed and feeling heavy and fearful with the media's scare tactics, so I am hoping this is something fun and light to lift your spirits and energy.
We just got our wedding video back and I am on cloud nine!
How good is love? And friends and family! My heart is so full, I want to go back and do it again. You can check out my previous blog for all the details including vendors, prices, locations and advice for any future brides to be planning their special day. A massive thank you to Beccy at BXCSMXTH you're a wizard behind the camera and we so grateful you captured all the special moments.
While most people are stressing out right now I wanted to challenge your mindset to see this time as an opportunity...
it’s the perfect opportunity to ring that friend ⠀
it’s perfect opportunity to read that book ⠀
it’s the perfect opportunity to catch up on that webinar (P.S we had one on moon tracking inside the HSE this week)
it’s the perfect opportunity to order that wholefood product you’ve been pushing aside for months to boost your immune system
it’s the perfect opportunity to check in with your mum and dad ⠀
it’s the perfect opportunity to pay off your mortgage whilst interest rates are low
it’s the perfect opportunity to look at getting into the stock market (what goes down must come up)
it’s the perfect opportunity to rest ⠀
it’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on your work and lifestyle and ask if you’re really happy? ⠀
it’s the perfect opportunity to work on your side hustle ⠀
it’s the perfect opportunity to write your content⠀
it’s the perfect opportunity to start looking into creating an additional income stream
it’s the perfect opportunity to start looking into working online.... have you looked into Babes in Business yet? ⠀
it’s the perfect opportunity to try that recipe ⠀
it’s the perfect opportunity to watch that documentary ⠀
it’s the perfect opportunity to practise kindness, compassion and gratitude ⠀
⠀
Sending all my love and light (because let's face it, the world needs more of it right now)
Is the Healthstyle Emporium a pyramid scheme? Learn the Truth Now
They love the idea of creating a smart second income online, or totally changing their profession and working alongside a team of inspiring and passionate women and are excited to enjoy all the fun, personal development, support, community, connection, purpose and travel that comes with being welcomed part of our Babes in Business team. But then they learn more about our business distribution model and think "it is one of THOSE things", and decide it’s not for them (maybe this is even you, or someone you know who has already looked into joining our amazing team).
So many women I meet love the mission behind the Healthstyle Emporium inspiring holistic healthy living around the world and helping women put their health and happiness first again.
They love the idea of creating a smart second income online, or totally changing their profession and working alongside a team of inspiring and passionate women and are excited to enjoy all the fun, personal development, support, community, connection, purpose and travel that comes with being welcomed part of our Babes in Business team. But then they learn more about our business distribution model and think "it is one of THOSE things", and decide it’s not for them (maybe this is even you, or someone you know who has already looked into joining our amazing team).
To be honest, I completely understand, I felt the same way when I was shared this business opportunity and actually said no for a few months before I said yes because I didn’t understand our business structure and I knew there was a stigma around it in society...I wanted to know:
- Is the HSE a pyramid scheme?
- Is the Healthstyle Emporium an MLM?
- How does MLM work?
- It really is a win-win situation for all?
- Don't only the people up the top make money?
- I still think it's a Pyramid Scheme
- If the products are so good why not stock them in the supermarkets?
- I don’t know if network marketing is for me?
- So why HSE?
- What is Residual Income?
Which is why I wanted to be real and raw with you, and answer those questions because I had them too, and I would hate for you or someone you know to miss out on an amazing opportunity because they didn’t truly understand it.
Is this one of those things?
I totally understand how you feel, I felt the same way and to be honest…I couldn’t be stuffed working out whether it was or wasn’t so I said no for a few months to this business, I just knew that there was a stigma around things like this (didn’t understand why nor did I take the time to).
However - I saw people I really looked up to in the health and wellness industry getting involved, they weren’t being salesy, or sleazy, they didn’t change. They were still heartfelt, genuine and it was clear they weren’t out to scam anyone. They were being authentic, having way more fun than me and living on their own terms. Meanwhile, four months had passed since someone shared the opportunity with me… I was still commuting, I was stilling working 9-5 pm, my salary was capped and I didn’t feel like I was helping anyone. I was on the verge of burnout at the age of 23 thinking is this literally what my future looks like, working 40 hours for the next 40 years…I thought those 4 years being poor and hustling at university with this $30,000 HECS debt I am still paying off - was supposed to give me more freedom?
So I did my research and I can now say hand on my heart I am extremely proud of the beautiful community we have created and the business structure behind it…but like I said I can relate as I was where you were so…
Is the Healthstyle Emporium a Pyramid Scheme?
No. They were made illegal in the 1900s.
However, I understand why you are cautious about it because the pyramid schemes you’re referring to are known as “Ponzi schemes” (which isn’t what we do and I will explain that in a second). Most of our parents have had an experience with these illegal pyramid schemes at some point in their life before they were made illegal, which is the reason there is a stigma around what we do. These schemes are a form of financial fraud where people make money purely by relying on people buying or investing in their business and recruiting people to join them in their business. There is no exchange of goods and services.
Is the Healthstyle Emporium MLM?
The short answer is no. The Program is independent and was created by our team of health professionals however we have partnered with an MLM company and use its business distribution model. So long answer is yes. We love and use a Multi-level network marketing / Direct Selling business model to deliver next-level value for our customers and provide flexibility and autonomy for our team.
How does Multi Level Marketing work?
Oh my god. I said it... it’s like MLM is a dirty word. But why…do you understand it?
So the best way to explain it is just like the checkout chick selling fruit and veg at your local grocery store! We do the same (although may I add, we are selling fruit and veggies that are better than organic, are tested over 4 times for pesticides, herbicides, mould and bacteria) and P.S just for the record…you don’t have to be a health professional to sell fruit, lets just clear that up! If you don’t agree please take that up with your local checkout chick at your grocery store and demand you see her qualifications, and the research on the health benefits of the fruits and veg before buying them - or god forbid the health benefits of the butter, chips and biscuits you’re putting in your basket!
So just like that checkout chick, we sell the best fruit and vegetables you can get your hands on - Juice Plus, which is a world-class wholefood nutraceutical support which aligns with our beliefs of health being holistic and food being medicine. But instead of all the money that goes into advertising for Woolworths or Coles, the rent the building is on, the rates, shipping costs, stock that just sits there and goes to waste that has to be chucked out, electricity bills, the wages for the teenager that doesn’t rock up on Sunday for his shift because he is sick (we all know he is hungover) ….in our business structure the middle man is cut out which means there is more opportunity for more money to end back in the ‘checkout chick’s’ pockets.
It really is a win-win situation for all?
Did you know in traditional business, distribution and marketing equals about 85% of the price we pay for the product?
As opposed to MLM, where only 40 - 50% of the product cost goes to distribution and marketing costs, allowing you to take advantage of a higher value product at a lower price?
The Consumer wins!
Consumers get better value for their money as less is being spent on advertising and distribution. Usually, companies that take advantage of the MLM business structure have a product or service that is cutting edge. These products are often expensive to manufacture, lots of science and research goes into them and consequently the local ‘checkout chick’ isn’t going to be educated on the millions of products in her store, nor is she going to take the time to explain why you should pick the product that is $1 more over the product you are familiar with because they really don’t care! They are there to get paid their $19 an hour and go home. If you put a cutting edge product next to the other health products in a health food store or grocery store people don’t know what they are looking for. Think of it like this… you don’t find a Porsche at your local car dealership, do you?
The Franchisee wins
This business structure is great for people like me, who have a great work ethic because we get to dictate our wage, and how much we are worth. If we want to get to work and share the product or service with others, our pay is a direct reflection of how many people we help and share our product with. This is another reason why we are not an illegal pyramid scheme, we are compensated for selling a product. We do not get paid for recruiting people in our business. Another reason why this business structure is great for people like me who have the entrepreneurial spirit, is there are low start-up costs and no risks. In AUD its $165, $50 in USA, Europe and UK £50 - which again is another reason why we are not an illegal pyramid scheme - as they rely on large start-up fees to make money usually in the high thousands. This structure is also great for women who are just looking to create a 2nd income sharing what they are passionate about or an income that works around their values whether it be kids, family, education or travel.
The Company wins
This business structure is also great for companies because instead of paying those employees who pretend to look like they are busy for the whole shift (you know we have all been there, spending the shift looking busy cleaning up an isle), they just pay the workers who are getting the work done. Don’t do the work - don’t get paid.
You don’t have to have a background in business to know this isn’t a scheme...its smart business!
Ok, I get it but don't only the people up the top make money?
In those illegal Ponzi schemes I was telling you about, yes - where there is no product, no service, no business opportunity - just an investment, large enrolment fees and a mission to recruit others to put $$ in a ‘make-believe’ kitty - as you scam people into this scheme you make your way up to the top where you get to collect go and say byeeee suckerssss!!
But as I said (and I hope you’re picking up what I’m putting down), your earnings in this business are a direct reflection of the work you put into your business and how many people you help by flooding their body with the nutrients it needs to do what it is designed to do. There isn't some greedy guts at the top taking everything while you get a small percentage (which is more like a traditional business these days, the CEO takes the big bucks and everyone else works hard for minimum wage. Do you work in a hospital, government, retail, apprenticeship? That is more like a “pyramid structure” you were referring to earlier).
There can be people new in this business making more money than the person who shared this business opportunity with them who had been doing it years longer - it’s just how many people you share the product or service with. If you’re really into compensation plans and the nitty-gritty - (this isn’t a blog for that but we can send a training video to you that goes for about an hour explaining how it all works if that’s your jam, I am sure you would even be able to find it on the Internet!)
I still think its a Pyramid Scheme
If the products are so good - why not stock them in the supermarkets?
I hope I did a good enough job at explaining why this is earlier... but if you still have doubts (I love my stats guys, I had to learn to in my honours year writing my thesis!)
Science and research studies have found we trust our friends and family more than advertising, funnily enough, we know that even though we see an advertisement of a famous singer/model advertising she’s loving $5 shampoo and conditioner…we know to call B*$#shit!
But on the other hand, if your mum or best friend saw a great movie, found a great restaurant or a skincare product and recommended it…we trust them and often will go try it for ourselves.
That is why cutting edge products with lots of research behind them that are making massive ripple effects in peoples lives, wellbeing and health is not found in a supermarket. A satisfied consumer is way more powerful with 78% of people buying a product from peer recommendation vs 14% from advertisements. Because these products are so amazing they rely on helping people get amazing results so others can genuinely and passionately share them with their loved ones. Most online businesses have caught onto this which is why they pay pretty Instagram models on your feed to post and endorse their products because they know you’ll trust them over paying thousands of dollars for advertising on tv, shops or magazines.
We have seen first hand what these products can do, from our own experiences or our clients inside the Healthstyle Emporium. Seeing the results and how amazing the Juice Plus products can be, adds fuel to my fire and makes my why so much bigger than me. That is what gives me the courage to get out there and share our mission (despite others out there not understanding and still having an ignorance towards MLM, maybe you were one of these people? I hope after reading this, I may have changed that for you).
Ok, I think I get it... But I don’t know if network marketing is for me?
I understand how you feel, trust me like I said I felt that too… even after learning all about pyramid schemes and realising this isn’t one of them.
But can I let you in on a little secret? You’re already a network marketer. In fact, we all are!
You know that TV series you recommended to your mum on Netflix? And that amazing lipstick from MAC you told your bestie about? That’s network marketing in action. And I am willing to bet that your mum and your bestie were both so grateful for a recommendation from someone they could trust. Now imagine if Netflix and Mac paid you for making recommendations just like that - for products you already love and know are making a massive difference in peoples health and wellbeing. That’s all that network marketing is, and when it works? When it’s done with authenticity and passion? Well, there’s no more powerful business model in the world.
So Why HSE?
We are in a health crisis. The World Health Organisation 2017 tells us that Chronic diseases kill 40 million people each year, equivalent to 70% of all deaths globally. The 4 groups of diseases that account for over 80% of all premature deaths are; cardiovascular diseases, followed by cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. High processed packaged diets all increase the risk of dying from a chronic illness.
Prevention is one of the most powerful things we can do when responding to chronic illnesses, providing our body with the nutrition it needs to be able to do what it is designed to do - is a massive part in it. When did we make life so complicated? We are killing ourselves, we need to stop eating shit and eat more whole foods that are touched by the sun, move our bodies, stop stressing and drink more water (we all know this!!)
However in our fast-paced lives, it’s not that we don’t know better, it is just we struggle to do better. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that only 2.5% of children are getting the recommended daily serving of fruit and vegetables.
So many of us are aware of this and are trying our best, but fail to realise that the “fresh produce” the vast majority of us are eating is sprayed with pesticides, injected with colours and preservatives and grown in nutrient-depleted soil - so the fruit and vegetables we are eating and feeding our families do not have the same nutritional value they did twenty years ago...
So Juice Plus is a convenient and affordable way for us to help our clients bridge the gap, not only for their health but for their children’s. With any adult order, the company sponsors a child under 18 years with free nutrition for up to four years. We have a responsibility to share this - this is where real meaningful change can happen. With education and support, we can start to change the terrifying health statistics I shared earlier. The results have already been amazing.
Most people who join our business have a massive passion for health and wellness and are actually health and wellness professionals themselves. They take their credibility very seriously, so we aren’t willing to share something that isn’t backed by research and a company they can trust. Juice Plus is the most research nutraceutical in the world, it has been around for 24 years and has over 30 medical journals published, proving its effectiveness.
Ok I get it, the product is amazing but I just want to be part of the Healthstyle Emporium, why not just run the program itself?
Ok, want the honest truth?
Because health is holistic, it is about the mind, body and soul. But we also know people are lazy! For example, I have a background in Psychology and Neurolinguistic Programming, and some of our clients won’t do the life coaching activities I set them, they won't try the meditation’s the team psychologists recommend, they won’t make the recipes our nutritionist has put together or the fun work out guides our PT’s have put together - but they will take their wholefood capsules every day… so if all else fails we know that they can get great results from taking the products alone and stall gain amazing health benefits. This in turn (from a business perspective) will keep them as clients in the Healthstyle Emporium, even if they don’t use the resources we have put all our love, expertise and energy into creating for them.
Partnering up the Healthstyle Emporium with Juice Plus - also means our gorgeous clients get more value for their money. The coaches in the HSE do what we do because we are passionate about helping others and don’t believe in bandaid effects and love sharing the message of holistic and preventive health.
We are here because we want to help. Our clients are getting their wholefood products for the same price as they would if they just bought it off the international Juice Plus website, but through us, they get a beautiful holistic health program worth hundreds of dollars for free. They also have access to a range of health professionals inside the Emporium, as well as their own wellness coach, which essentially is their very own cheerleader and accountability buddy in the program to love on them and help them get back on the bandwagon after a bad day (because we all know we have them!).
P.S when do you ever buy a product from your grocery store and have the lady at the counter check in every few weeks to see how you’re loving the product and to ensure you’re having an amazing experience?
And the MLM business structure we use is what allows us to be part of the Babes in Business team and be our own boss (meaning we get to work where we want when we want and with who we want), with low start-up costs, have a mentor showing us exactly how to build a business, a blueprint and proven system we get to put our own flavour on, community to lean on, laugh and cry with, leverage resources and skills AND create a residual income doing something we are passionate about.
What is Residual Income?
Residual income is when you continue to get paid after the work is done.
If you are literally working for a living…how do you live when you’re not working?
If we ran this program without the product not only would we be doing our clients a disservice but we would all still be exchanging time for money… I know that is what you may have been taught at school but I promise you, you will never get ahead working for a living (that's a whole other video, but if you want to watch that, you can check this VLOG I shared previously).
Ok - so if we have decided we don't want to work for a big corporation where the man up the top makes all the big bucks and we want the freedom to work for ourselves. What happens when you are your own boss but you get sick, clients cancel on your appointments, you go on maternity leave… you don’t get paid! That is why the residual income in our compensation plan is so powerful and why so many entrepreneurs choose this business model either to supplement their existing income streams/jobs or coaching practises or replace it altogether.
Did you know 300 000 people every week are starting a home-based business, at a time where daycare is more than most mums wages, where mums are being forced back to work before they are ready because they don’t have maternity leave and are missing magical moments with loved ones. Where people are wanting to travel but don’t have enough recreational leave, people are losing their jobs and being made redundant because online businesses, technology and machines can do things better than we can - our business structure itself is in high demand.
I personally am about teaching others how to live a ‘Life Above Zero’. That is what my book and my coaching practice is called. It is my message and mission in life and this has been the vehicle I have used to create a life I love rather than settling for one. I would be doing you all a massive disservice if I didn’t share it with you, and invite you along so you can see how I did it or at the very least even explain to you why I did it, in case it has been your own lack of understanding or others uneducated (but probably well-intended) opinions that were preventing you from making a decision that could completely change your life, like it has mine.
As I said, Babes in Business is a group of passionate women helping and empowering others to live a life of health, wealth and abundance which is why I hope you can understand now why were are proud of the community we have created, the business structure we use AND the products we have partnered our online holistic health program The Healthstyle Emporium with.
Our personal motto is “knowledge is power but only when shared”, this is powerful and we care enough about you to share it with you and explain and clear up some of the misconceptions we had too.
If this is something that resonates with you - we would love to teach you how to do what we have done, just reach out. All the girls on our team are open books with such big hearts. It might be something for you, it might not be - but what if it could be exactly what you’ve been asking the universe for?
BOOK UPDATE + 2019 REFLECTIONS / oh and let me reintroduce myself...
I hope you are feeling energised and excited for 2020 after having some quality time with your loved ones over the Christmas Break (I also hope you and your family are safe from the Aus bushfires) all my love, light and strength is being sent out to my fellow Aussies, our country and wildlife right now) and a reminder to open your heart, wallets and home where you can.
Happy New Year fam bam!
I hope you are feeling energised and excited for 2020 after having some quality time with your loved ones over the Christmas Break (I also hope you and your family are safe from the Aus bushfires) all my love, light and strength is being sent out to my fellow Aussies, our country and wildlife right now) and a reminder to open your heart, wallets and home where you can.
I guess I should reintroduce myself? Hi, I am Lauren Kerr! haha we had the most beautiful wedding the week before Christmas and spent the last few weeks in our love bubble with our nearest and dearest who had travelled all around the world to share our magical day with us.
The day itself was more beautiful than we could have ever imagined - despite everything leading up to it being a disaster (but I promise to share that in a later blog and all the wedding details/vendors - for now I will share a sneaky photo with you!)
So what now…
Over the last three weeks in my down time, resetting and getting re-inspired myself for a new year - I have read and listened to 5 really great books that I would love to share;
Emma Isaacs / Winging it
Aubrey Marcus / Own the day, Own your life
Louise Hay / You can heal your Life
Carmine Gallo / Talk Like Ted
My book “Life Above Zero” twice - before the final edits went to its big print THIS WEEK! It feels so surreal! Have you ordered your copy yet?
Take my Happiness Test Now for Fun…
I only have limited copies for my community so get in quick and order yours if you would love to be one of the first to read it! Otherwise you will have to wait for the official launch date in book stores in Aus in March.
Signed Pre-ordered Copies
Pre ordered copies (will also be personally signed to say A BIG THANKYOU!) will start to arrive in your mailboxes the last week of January - the perfect time after the festive season has slowed down to set or revisit goals for 2020, dig deep and get clarity on what truly makes you happy and learn how you can make small shifts in your health, relationships and career to find the fulfilment we all seem to be chasing and try save as many as I can from the mental health epidemic.
AND YES WE SHIP WORLD WIDE!! - Order your copy here - and be sure to tag me in photos as they arrive. I can not wait to hear what you take from the book and what breakthroughs you have - all my heart, lessons and education has gone into it and I can not wait to gift it and pay it forward to you.
Annual goal setting…
Between reading, reflecting and journaling over our Wedding and Christmas hiatus - I did my annual goal setting where I set clear intentions for the year in each of my highest values (health, relationships, business, travel, wealth and personal development).
Goal 1
One of my goals I identified was to enjoy stillness. It sounds so simple but I honestly struggle to not only create more white space, but ENJOY it. I have the tendency to run a million miles per hour, juggling a hundred things at once (and getting them all done too may I add ) and then feeling guilty or uncomfortable resting. I’m your “I’m your get shit done girl 🙋🏼♀️” - but one thing I realised amongst the hustle is I lost my connection to my intuition.
OH OOH…
Some of you may know I twisted my ankle a few days before my wedding! I was supposed to be clocked off and in holiday mode but I felt restless and so decided to go for a big run and BAM!
As I was reading Louise Hays book “you can heal your life” over Christmas, I had a little chuckle to myself that in her book she explained injured ankles translates to the “resistance or guilt around enjoying and accepting all the pleasure life has to offer.” Which rang so true for me.
Bouncing Back!
So here I am, committing to myself (and publicly to you too for extra accountability). This year I am making my spirituality and stillness a priority - connecting to my intuition through journaling, meditating, moon tracking and yoga AND rejoicing and accepting all the joy life has to offer (without the guilt 🥰).
I would love to hear your reflections from 2019 and what are you publicly committing to this year? I can not wait to start seeing my book in your hands, for all of you beautiful souls who have already ordered it - I am excited to see what 2020 has in store for you, be prepared for some mindset shifts.
I have been DYING to share this with you - 3 years in the making.
There has been days where I have felt overwhelmed and fell into a slump, days where I have felt burnt out and defeated by the amount of people I know who are out there struggling and in pain wishing I could give and help more.
I went LIVE yesterday on my facebook because I was so excited to share with you what we have been busy working on behind the scenes and what has been 3 YEARS in the making...
The Healthstyle Emporium Official website and log on portal for our gorgeous clients is officially launching next month!
I wanted to thank you guys for all your love and support over last few years while we have been getting this baby off the ground.
I am not going to lie, starting your own business is scary. There has been days where I have felt overwhelmed and fell into a slump, days where I have felt burnt out and defeated by the amount of people I know who are out there struggling and in pain wishing I could give and help more, days where the self doubt has been louder than the self belief and days where I have thought "f^&k it" it would be easier to go back to working for someone else - rocking up at 9am and clocking off at 5pm...
But then I look at our private members group where I read all the real and raw testimonials of the thousands of women and families WE HAVE been able to help over the last 3 years with their health, wellness and happiness and I realise...
it has all been worth it…
Love and Nourish
We started off with a deep aching working in the welfare and health care systems, wishing we could do more to help more people be happier and healthier in our crazy fast paced lives.
Where somehow despite all these 21st century gadgets and social media outlets which were designed to make our lives easier and connect more people.
We have found ourselves running around like crazy people, trying to meet the crazy expectations we placed on ourselves and others, overcomplicating our health, being confused and overwhelmed with the mass amounts of information + advice out there and admittedly, although we have never being this "connected" with social media still never feeling this "disconnected" with mental health statistics still on the rise.
Our mission was to help people slow down, get back to basics and have a one stop shop where you can be supported, encouraged, celebrated, educated and empowered to make small sustainable healthy lifestyle choices to nourish your mind, body and soul.
because prevention is less painful, less costly and way more enjoyable than cure.
Health really is your wealth - without it...what do you have?
So in case we aren't already connected on Facebook, I wanted to share with you the story of where it all began so you can understand why we are so passionate and excited to share our online holistic health program with you and invite you to be part of our beautiful, supportive and positive community.
To show my gratitude for your continuous love, support and encouragement - I wanted to offer you the opportunity to be one of the first members inside next month.
If you are own your own health journey and are sick of trying and spending your money on quick fixes and bandaids or if our mission of inspiring holistic and healthy living around the world resonates with you contact me.
I would love to chat and make you a member of our free private group so you can see the impact we are making around the world to see if The HSE could be something that you would love to be part of that could also help you on your health and healing journey too.
If there is someone on your heart that you would love to help with their own health and wellness please pay the gift forward and share this blog with them - the world needs more education, more support and a place to be nurtured and reminded everything they need they have inside of them, they are loved and more than enough.