Staying Home, Rising Up with Kaylene from Startup Creative

Written by Kaylene Langford
on 24 September, 2020

Today we catch up with community minded, empowering business coach Kaylene from Startup Creative! An expert in bringing people, ideas and resources, Kaylene joins us in this fabulous series ‘Staying Home, Rising Up’ where we talk to Pioneers who Pivot to survive crisis. Missed a post? Don’t worry you can still catch up on all our Together We are Stronger content right here!

Kaylene has established a reputation for empowering individuals to harness their passion, create viable businesses, and ensure they thrive. She draws on her diverse experience and global perspective to encourage clients and audiences to explore non-traditional pathways to achieving their goals, giving them the tools and support they need along the journey. Find out more about StartUp Creative and Kaylene’s inspiring business here. But for now read and take away some mindful tips from Kaylene’s positive approach to life!

2020 has been a challenging experience for everyone so far! What keeps you focused, inspired and productive?

I’m grateful for my established meditation practice, without it I can imagine I would be totally lost. I start my day with a 30-45 min guided meditation by Dr Joe Dispenza, a slow coffee in the sunshine followed by planning and goal setting for my business.

I’ve been lucky to have had an influx of people who have been wanting to start a business in the downtime or have felt the urgent need to since losing their jobs so my days are kept busy with business coaching and created online resources and support for entrepreneurs.

Early in the lockdown, I felt deeply for those whose business would take a massive hit and those who are without work so have been offering weekly free webinars and online training to help upskill my audience and keep their mindsets strong.

Personally, my partner and I aim to stop work to watch the sunset and go for a walk in nature. We also started doing themed dinner nights at different spots in the house most nights to make it feel like we’re going out somewhere – we rotate through sitting on the floor for Japanese night, at the benchtop for NYC style pizza night and outside with a white table cloth for Amalfi Coast pasta nights on Sunday. 

How has your business been affected during this time, and how have you managed to navigate and pivot where necessary?

My business was mostly online so I’ve continued to do my coaching sessions and workshops via zoom. I will admit it’s getting a little hard to stay enthused and I do miss being on stage and at networking events with 100’s of like-minded people – there’s something about the energy of a room full of people that zoom breakout rooms don’t quite give you!

I lost a big contract of work for a festival I was meant to be hosting and another overseas speaking gig that was cancelled but I decided to throw myself into supporting and upskilling others with my platform and knowledge in digital marketing which has brought in more work. I think the biggest loss is not being able to bounce off the energy of others which is where I tend to come up with all my good ideas. A few colleagues and I have been having knockoff drinks via zoom which has been helpful. 

What has been the silver lining in all of this?

I realised how much money I spend on eating out – so saving $. The extra time not travelling to and from meetings and with no pressure to feel like I need to have a social life outside of business has meant I’ve had more time to work on some behind the scenes of my business which needed attention. Things like email sequences, website edits, new promo materials and finally getting my Mindset of an Entrepreneur online course up and running – launches mid-September. I’ve also used the time to brainstorm and plan for the future of StartUp Creative and how I’d like it to look and work in five years from now. Oh and I wrote my first book! 

I’ve also used the time to brainstorm and plan for the future of StartUp Creative and how I’d like it to look and work in five years from now. Oh and I wrote my first book! 

What are you currently reading, watching or listening to?

Loved listening to Tim Ferris Episode with Sia. Plus Wim Hoff and practising cold showers in the morning – good for building the immune system

Reading the Limitless by Jim Kwik. Plus Dining In – cookbook to upskill on my go-to recipes 

I’m watching – Dr Joe Dispenza’s Unlocked Course . Plus Amazon Prime for some light-hearted series & Disney + and old-time classics (Avatar was a great rewatch)!

What are some words of advice you have for small businesses trying to survive and thrive this season?

It might not seem like it right now but there is a lesson here for you to learn and if you can keep your mind and eyes open for opportunities and conjure up the energy to take action on them..

Think on your feet, so many businesses before and during the pandemic have had to do so and it’s a powerful skill set to master as an entrepreneur. Do your best to stay grounded, create yourself a morning routine and breathe deep through those dark days, hours and minutes. This too shall pass and you’ve got this. It might not seem like it right now but there is a lesson here for you to learn and if you can keep your mind and eyes open for opportunities and conjure up the energy to take action on them, you’ll come out the other side a few steps ahead of those who get stuck in the worrying and overwhelm. Stay connected to others and do one thing every day that’s going to take you in the direction of your dreams. When all else fails, pour a cocktail and have a dance – just as good for you. 

Bonus Q! Who are you watching who are doing things really well?

I’ve been asked to speak at a few fun events (online) for those who can no longer do it in person – a friend launched his book and did a 24-hour live stream with guest speakers who popped in to join him. Another events company in NYC did something similar and hosted a full day of workshops and speaking gigs online and have since pivoted their app to be an events finder – think Bumble meets Eventbrite. I’ve been inspired by people creating online content to help meet the needs they are seeing in and around them right now – starting podcasts, having live IG discussions and artists performing from their bedrooms (IsoAid) and it’s certainly been the catalysis for getting my mindset course up – seeing how much people need to master the mind when things get tough so as to stay focused, confident and optimistic about their business future. 

Follow Kaylene:
instagram.com/startupcreative
facebook.com/startupcreativeau

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