Creating a business 'for fun'. Is there such a thing?

Hi friends!

In today’s episode, I want to share some behind-the-scenes struggles I was facing when I wanted to set up a NEW business ‘for fun’.

For context, I am a creator. I love creating content, particularly self-help and mindset content. I am trained as a counsellor and I create done-for-you coaching tools which you can use or sell to your clients.

Recently, I wanted to set up a new affirmations and mindfulness business because I love it. It is driven by passion purely and I want to make some income out of it because I don’t want all my efforts creating podcast episodes to go to waste.

So I set up a YouTube channel and also a podcast of the same name. In my idealistic vision, all I have to do is pick up my mic, record my motivational episode for the day and publish it on my new podcast. And then hopefully it will gain traction and grow.

But I ran into many little roadblocks.

Number 1, I am someone who needs a script before recording any podcast epsiode because I have a tendency to go off-topic or get nervous half-way. I needed to draft a script before recording even a 7-minute episode for this new podcast. It sounds manageable. So I did it.

I also need to edit the recording. I have to delete some pauses, delete some stuttering in the podcast recording. Perhaps even add auto-captions to it. All these are extra work. And if I want to upload this podcast episode on YouTube, I would need to open up Canva and create thumbnails for it.

After that, I realised that I do need to market my new podcast somehow. Which means, I have to create YT shorts, reels and more.

And then, I would also need to have a new blog to park my new episodes to rank in SEO. I know how to do that with my current business, so it’s not anything new for me.

And then I would need an email marketing service. Because, all businesses need email marketing in some way, in my opinion. As you can see, a small business which I wanted to create for fun (and some income) needs a lot of work.

Also, my current coaching content business is a B2B business whereas my new mindfulness business is a B2C business. The approach is different. I am a one-woman show so 2 businesses was a lot to handle.

Not to mention the new expenses that I will have to incur if I want to start a new business. The blog hosting, the email marketing service and more.

What I want to share is that setting up a business for fun is not as easy as we imagine it to be. Creating free content is not free on our part.

How can we solve this? I would say a mindset shift is needed if you want to set up a business ‘for fun’.

Number 1 : Don’t place high expectations on it. If you expect or have the goal to make money from this business, it’s not ‘for fun’ anymore. It will need work and commitment. If it is truly a passion project, let it remain a passion project. Create for the sake of your love for creating.

Number 2 : If you want to launch a passion project for fun, dont let naysayers bother you. There will be people who tell you that it’s a waste of money and effort. They might say “Why are you spending $300 a year and wasting your time creating and editing podcast episodes when you are not making money or have the intention to make money?”

My argument for that is : everyone has a hobby. If your hobby is creating podcast eps and videos, so be it. Most hobbies cost money! Someone else might have cooking as a hobby. That costs money too. If you are a foodie and you love exploring new food places, that costs money too. As a creative person, if creating gives you joy and you can afford the expenses that come with it, do it for the fun of it.

All in all, if you have an idea to create a business ‘for fun’, and you are going to treat it like a fun hobby, you are probably not going to make much money for it, in my opinion.

I may eat my words in future, I don’t know. I stand corrected. But from my viewpoint and experience, a business no matter how small, needs consistency and marketing.

I don’t know what I’m going to do with my new podcast channel.

I might just treat it as a fun project, as a way to inspire listeners and not put any expectations on it. My mistake was to place monetary gain as part of my expectations when I do not have the time to commit to another business, truthfully.

Let me know your thoughts about creating a business!

Shikah

Tips for proper mental rest which worked for me when I was approaching burnout (share these tips with your coaching clients)

Hello friends! Let’s talk about how to have proper mental rest without feeling guilty.

Hi! I’m Shikah, I’m a former counsellor and I create done-for-you lead magnets and workbooks for coaches. 

In this video, I share advice and tips for proper mental rest which worked for me when I was on the verge of burnout two weeks ago. You can modify and share these tips with your clients or in your content. You can also apply these tips for yourself if you feel yourself reaching burnout.

Let’s get to the topic. Why did I choose ‘mental’ rest instead of physical rest or emotional rest? Well, you’ll realise that when your mind is racing, thinking, brainstorming during your rest days, the ‘off’ day feels completely wasted. You end up feeling just as confused, exhausted, foggy brained and as restless as when you are having a stressful day. We have to somehow slow down our racing minds and calm them before we can enjoy the sweet experience of having a true day off.

The first tip I have is to consume content which is a 180-degree turn from your work or business.

If you are a coach, don’t watch or read self-improvement videos and books on your rest days. For example, when I was approaching burnout two weeks ago, I binge-watched house decorating videos, makeup tutorials, hairstyle tutorials, esoteric content such as psychic readings,videos on how to follow your intuition. Really out there stuff. I also  read fiction books, romantic comedy books - basically books I rarely have the time to read on most days. The content I consumed during my ‘healing from burnout days’ was 100% not related to my business at all. Like I mentioned, I create done-for-you materials for coaches, so I avoid all forms of personal development content on my day off. This tip works for your clients if they need a concrete, tangible, logical suggestion on how to have proper mental rest on their days off. 

Another tip I have is to indulge and rest for a few days if you need to.

Many of us will naively think that having just one day off is enough to recover from the start of burnout. But from my experience, at least for myself, I will need at least 2 days to recover from my burnout and get motivated to work again. I am lucky in that sense because 2 or 3 days of proper mental rest is sufficient for me to get excited about my business again. I have heard of business owners who need months of recovery before they can touch their laptops again. You have to know your nervous system and your mental health intimately and come face to face with how your mind and body works. Work with your mind and body instead of against it. Does that mean you will feel frustrated that you may need one week of rest instead of just one day? Maybe you will. However, working with your body will ensure a speedier recovery.

At this point in the video you may be wondering how you can help your clients identify if they are stressed out and lacking self-care.

That’s why I want you to download my Free Self-Care Audit which you can use as a lead magnet to grow your list. Simply sign up below to get your copy for free! 

Now with that out of the way, let’s move onto the next tip on how to have proper mental rest.

The next tip I have for you to have proper mental rest is to spend time ‘being’ instead of ‘doing’.

What does that mean? It just means being present in the moment, present in your body, present with your thoughts and present with your emotions. Sounds like a lot to do, yes? Actually, being present recharges your energy like no other.

I did a mistake when I was ‘resting’ for my burnout. I decided to escape my ruminating and racing thoughts by doing tasks and chores. Instead of accepting that my mind was racing and actively looking for activities which calm my nervous system, I started doing chores. On my ‘rest’ day, I did the laundry, baked brownies, I cooked dinner mopped the house, vacuumed the floors, I created Pinterest pins for my business because it is a creative and so-called relaxing thing to do.

It may be relaxing when I am not at the edge of burnout, but doing anything remotely work-related is not relaxing at all. Anyway, my reasoning for doing tasks on my rest day was : “At least I get to escape my racing thoughts by doing things and being productive today.”  It was a big mistake. The next day, I experienced burnout. Thankfully, it took just a couple of days to recover from that burnout, but I learned my lesson. Spend more time being with yourself instead of escaping yourself when you are burnt out or stressed out. 

You can experience ‘being’ with activities which, number one : stop your racing thoughts and number two, which make you feel positive emotions. Some examples are meditation, working out, running, hiking, creating something with your hands, cooking, visualising, reconnecting with your hobby which is not tech-related hopefully.

Let me know activities which can slow down racing thoughts in the comments below.

Another tip to have proper mental rest is to add joy back into your life.

In our busy-ness with running a business, or if your clients have demanding 9-6 jobs, it is easy to ignore and forget joy. Joy even seems like an indulgence and not a need for some people. Well, human beings need joy in our lives. We do not come into this world to suffer, sacrifice or lead joyless lives. There is no point in living life like that. Anyway, I don’t have to even elaborate much about the importance of doing activities which trigger joy in you. It can be as ‘indulgent’ as spending time alone with a good book in a cafe or binge-listening your favourite podcast episodes, dancing or listening to your favourite music, eating your favourite food, exploring your city as though you are a tourist, creating art, visualising your dream reality. 

Now you know the tips on how to have proper mental rest, but you may not know how to coach your clients to prioritise self-care and mental rest. If that’s you, you can check out my ready-to-launch Self-Care masterclass which you can launch and sell to your clients. You can conduct the masterclass once via Zoom and sell the recordings on your website. That’s how you can create a more passive income stream in your coaching business. 

It is so much easier to have someone who is experienced in the self-improvement field - which is me - to write your coaching materials for you. You feel good knowing you are offering coaching materials which work, and you can take time off or focus on servicing your clients. The link to purchase this done-for-you Self-Care masterclass is here.

And if you want me to create a custom lead magnet for you to grow your email list and clients, you can see the full details such as pricing and scope of work here.

Thank you and see you in the next episode Goodbye.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself in business

(Transcript coming soon!)

How to be okay with making mistakes and be more resilient

In this video, I'll be sharing 4 ways for you to get comfortable with mistakes and failure - and be more resilient in pursuing your goals.

I recorded in a ‘livestream’ fashion - all real, raw and in the moment. 😄

I shared 4 ways to get comfortable with mistakes and failure including

• A little experiment you can do to loosen your intense fear of making mistakes (scary, but effective) 

• How it’s important for us to feel our discomfort instead of avoiding or denying it

• Why it’s good to keep trying new approaches even though this means we will fail and make even more mistakes 

If you want a done-for-you Overcome Fear of Failure masterclass to launch and sell to your audience, click here.

If you want done-for-you mindset coaching tools to use and sell with your audience, head here.

⭐️⭐️

In case you are curious about my background, I used to work as a counsellor with a government ministry.

I now create done-for-you mindset materials which you can sell and share with your audience.

Take care,

Shikah

What does a fear of failure look like? 3 common signs

In this YouTube livestream (this is my first!), I shared 3 common characteristics of someone with a fear of failure for your self-awareness and self-discovery.

As an entrepreneur or a self-employed person, I think it's good for us to know if we have a fear of failure and slowly work on it.

Thats’s because having this fear is going to hold us back from many opportunities, from business growth and from personal growth.

Watch this video if you are curious to see if you have a fear of making mistakes and failure :).

If you want a done-for-you Overcome Fear of Failure masterclass to launch and sell to your audience, click here.

If you want done-for-you mindset coaching tools to use and sell with your audience, head here.

⭐️⭐️

In case you are curious about my background, I used to work as a counsellor with a government ministry.

I now create done-for-you mindset materials which you can sell and share with your audience.

Take care

Shikah