How it Started

99% of millennial women in their 30s hate their job and regret their career choices. Despite having higher education they still struggle to build an online business. They continue to fail and stay stuck in a rut they can't stand. In this letter I'm going to explain why and the exact process for how to overcome this.

Lets start off  that most women grew up learning that if they got good grades and a job then everything would be 'ok'. Millennial women got taught that they needed to focus on their career and getting paid as much as a man. They also got taught that :marriage is bad, people are bad and to be strong, independent and to not need anybody.

How its going

What women weren't told was that this lifestyle was not sustainable. And that it was going to lead to an unbalanced life resulting in burn out and unfulfillment. It put them in a place where they became sick from the stress of working long and hard hours. Women became competitive rather than cooperative. Millennial women found themselves without friends whom they could call on and trust. And they became slaves to the system of working when, where and for how long they got told. This lifestyle stripped them of their creativity and ability to express themselves. It only added to the growing problem of dysfunctional and broken homes in the community. And it turned into a life of 'chasing the carrot' where there was no time, energy, focus or motivation to do anything.

 I know because I have lived this hell. I am grateful and proud of my accomplishments but hustle culture was robbing me of my time and energy. I could not do things that actually mattered to me. I found myself making lots of money but then not having any time to enjoy it. When I did have the time, I found it hard to relax, didn't have anyone to spend it with, and felt guilty for not working 24/7. I was so drained that even if I wanted to create content I didn’t have the energy or motivation to do so. I also knew that the consequences of not changing were very serious. Over time hustle culture only leads to illness, loneliness and a life unfulfilled. I had to find a way to structure my life so I could make the transition from 9-5 worker to a content creator online. This way I could finally live life on my own terms and teach and share what I wanted.

 As a solution to this problem, I built this system that I'm about to share in this letter. This system made it possible for me to have more flexibility in my schedule. And as a mother quality time with my children is very important. It also resulted in having more money to invest in my business and learning new skills . It helped me improve my mindset. And it put me on a path to build a personal brand business that will soon replace my 9-5.

Burn out or Bust

Next, I will outline the importance of having a system and what it costs us to not have a system that orders our steps . This concept of 'burn out or bust' is something we can all relate to. Many of us have pulled an all-nighter to get something done. Hence #teamnosleep culture. At first this leads to sudden bursts of productivity. But is then followed by a period where nothing gets done. This leads to inconsistent progress making it hard to get anything 'off the ground'. This is what I call 'burn out'. Without a system we find ourselves struggling to maintain any kind of momentum long term. This is where you might be successful for a little while but not for long. This results in us remaining in a vicious cycle living a life we want to escape. The results are not sustainable in the burn out phase.

 The next  issue is that we struggle to take consistent action on relevant tasks long term. For example waking up at 3 am to get some work done. This will only last so long - especially if you have children and are working full time.  At first you may have some success. But overtime it becomes impossible to do because you feel tired and unfocused. This leads to you abandoning your dream. I call this 'bust'.

The 'burn out or bust' cycle makes you feel like a failure. I was in this cycle for a long time until I developed a solution. I needed something that helped me be consistent and focused on relevant tasks.

 The Tree of Life Flow System

 I love trees so let's visualize a fruit tree. A tree has different sections: roots, trunk, branches and fruits or flowers. The tree needs every part to produce good fruit. If you take away or neglect any parts of the tree then it takes away from its ability to produce fruit.  The same thing happens with women when they are starting to build an online business. If any parts of their tree (system)  goes neglected then they fail to produce fruit (make progress). So if you want good fruit you have to take care of the whole tree. Likewise if you want favorable results you have to take care of the whole woman. Women have to nurture themselves in a holistic way to make progress that is fulfilling.

There are 4 distinct levers to pull each day to keep us making consistent progress. If not we will never 'bloom' and transition from a draining 9-5 job into an online content creator.  We need to  manage our time well, and build a workflow that allows us to make holistic progress in less than 4 hours a day.  If you don't get organized and focused, then you will never build a successful online business. You will then stay stuck in the 'burn out or bust' cycle and fail to evolve as a brand, business and individual.

 So here is that system.

The Roots: Time Management

If women were trees the roots would represent her time. Roots are to a tree what time is to humans. If there are no roots then the tree does not live just like if we don’t have time then we don’t live either. If there is no time for our projects then they die! If we don't have time to take care of our health then we perish. Time is very important and deserves respect.

Most problems stem from forgetting something ,and procrastination. Time management is our responsibility- Either we manage our own time or it will be managed for us.  Women are busy individuals who usually have a lot going on. It's stressful trying to remember everything in your head. Writing it down and referring to it daily is necessary. We must become cognizant of where our time is being spent! Awareness is half the battle.

You must stop 'winging' things. I used to think 'going with the flow' and 'multi-tasking' were good but I learned the hard way that they are not. You burn way too much brain power trying to figure things out last minute and do everything at once. Sure , there is a time and place for that - but it should not be a lifestyle. You waste valuable time when you are not prepared.

 We also need to be able to focus on what matters and cut what does not. That way, we aren't wasting any time or energy. We all get the same 24 hours - the ones who are intentional with their time are the ones who get ahead.

 There are so many different systems, so I encourage you to find what works best for you. I use both paper and electronic checklists, planners and calendars for this. I preplan as much as I can but generally I map out my life on a monthly, weekly, daily and hourly basis.  I include important information such as when I'm paid, my time sharing schedule and when the bills are due.  I write down any obligations that I have and any deadlines. On my weekly checklist I organize my work schedule and priorities. I plan out when I'm going to go grocery shopping and clean the house . Each day I make a checklist of my priorities and I work in 90 minute blocks of focused work. Organize your time how you want. The important thing is that you are thinking ahead, planning and being mindful not to waste time.

 The Trunk:  As above so below as within so without- Consistency

  If you want to show up for others, then first be consistent showing up for yourself. Think back to our tree analogy. What if the tree's trunk chose to stand tall on some days and not so much on other days? If the tree could do this-  it would die. If anything happens to a tree's trunk then the chances of it growing back are very low. Think of a tree stump that never grows again. Same principle is reference to our progress. When we fail to be consistent we stump our progress. Without consistency we cannot grow.

 You should be sleeping , eating and toileting at the same times every day. Meaning you should have a set bed and wake up  time. I'm generally in bed by 9:30/10pm and am up between 5:30/6 am. If I miss my bedtime then it can take me a few days to get back on track. Missing my bed time sets off a domino effect. It throws me off resulting in me missing the appointment I have with myself to work on building my platform. I do give myself some leeway on the weekends but not much. Our bodies perform much better when they know what to expect.

Strive to have regular elimination. Stomach aches and foggy thinking is linked to constipation and other stomach issues. Not feeling well throws off your consistency and reduces the quality of your work. Same goes for eating. Personally- its very tough for me to work after I've had a huge meal. I plan my bigger meals for slower parts of my day. I  can't give my best when I'm full because all I want to do at that point is lay down. Promote  and embody consistency on all levels of your life. 

The branches : Movement & Stillness 

This one is pretty straightforward. Movement is necessary because without it we remain stuck. However, remaining still is necessary as well. Think of the cycle a tree goes through of shedding its leaves every winter only to regrow them again in the spring. Reflect on how the branches move in the wind to keep from breaking.  Furthermore, without branches a tree cannot bear fruit or flowers! Even though a tree stays in the same spot its entire life -it still moves. We are also like the tree in that we are always moving through different cycles. Just like there is a time for movement, there is also a time for stillness. Meditation calms and rests the mind.

There are a million different ways to embody movement and stillness in your life. I always recommend  meditating, going for  20 - 30 minute walks and stretching afterward. Not only does it keep me in shape and limber but it clears my mind so I can write better. Moving your body helps you stay in shape physically and mentally. Every successful person I know has some sort of work out  and meditation plan that they stick too.

 The fruit and Flowers: The project

The fruit of a tree is like the project you are building. You need to start building a project now. Don’t wait until you feel ready because that will never happen. Similar to how we know a tree by the fruit it bears so will people know you from the content you create . There is no fruit without the other parts of the tree. There is also no product to share without the other parts of this system. You need to build a project because it will teach you what you need to work on within the Tree system framework. Fruits are valuable because they are delicious and they carry seeds so you can plant more trees.  Likewise your projects are seeds you grow and nurture. (Think: no seeds no trees and no trees no seeds). The project also helps you determine where in your system needs attention. For example, I'm working on building a consistent newsletter with a growing audience. I am at the trunk stage where I'm working on making sure I show up consistently.  Without my newsletter I have nothing to be consistent with. But without consistency  I have no newsletter to work on. Certainly you understand how these 2 things work hand in hand. So start a project asap. It’s the fastest way to learn and make progress.

 Take the next steps…

 I love the Tree of Life flow system because it works especially if you have a 9-5. The 4 parts of the system include : time management, consistency, self-care and a project!  If you stick to this system for 6-12 months there's no way you won't make progress. You now have everything to get started with building a brand you believe in! If you stick with it, then you're that much closer to the life you desire. A life where you are more balanced and have time and money to spend doing what you want with who you love.

 In my upcoming 4 week cohort,  I'm teaching this 4 step system more in-depth. If you have been trying to find something else to do with your life then this is for you. If you are a busy millennial woman who regrets their career choice then come join me. I teach time management, how to be consistent,  movement and meditation. I also help you begin building a meaningful project so you can start making changes now.

 If you want to  start building a business so you can leave your  9-5 then consider applying for my next cohort here: https://calendly.com/kendallliann369

 All you have to do is book a time for us to meet to discuss your needs and how my services can help you on your journey to the next level!

Thank you so much for reading my letter.

XOXO,

Kendall Liann