Are you tirelessly spinning your wheels but going nowhere fast? Let's all say goodbye to the hustle that doesn't pay off and hello to actionable insights from Amanda McKinney, an accountability coach who's transforming our understanding of productivity. Together, we're digging past the busy work and focusing on income-producing activities that will take your wedding business to the next level.
IN THE CONVO: We get real about what being "busy" truly means and the mistaken pride it often carries. Amanda opens up about her leap from the corporate grind to entrepreneurship, and how it uncovered unhealthy habits that might be holding you back too. We'll help you identify and shatter those invisible barriers, guiding you to shift focus onto what truly moves the needle in your work and personal life. Plus, we'll let you in on the secret sauce of goal setting and morning rituals that prime you for success.
Tune in and let's take the first step together towards mastering our calendars, setting ambitious yet achievable goals, and embracing our unique productivity styles!
CONNECT WITH AMANDA:
🌐 https://www.amandamckinney.com/
📸 https://www.instagram.com/theamandamckinney/
🎁 What's Your Productivity Personality? (Free Quiz) - https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz
CONNECT WITH CARIN:
Hey CEO! Join us over at our new membership the Success Cellar 🍾 - exclusively for growth-minded wedding pros just like you!
🌟Write a review, share, and tag @celebrationpros for your first month free!
Are you tirelessly spinning your wheels but going nowhere fast? Let's all say goodbye to the hustle that doesn't pay off and hello to actionable insights from Amanda McKinney, an accountability coach who's transforming our understanding of productivity. Together, we're digging past the busy work and focusing on income-producing activities that will take your wedding business to the next level.
IN THE CONVO: We get real about what being "busy" truly means and the mistaken pride it often carries. Amanda opens up about her leap from the corporate grind to entrepreneurship, and how it uncovered unhealthy habits that might be holding you back too. We'll help you identify and shatter those invisible barriers, guiding you to shift focus onto what truly moves the needle in your work and personal life. Plus, we'll let you in on the secret sauce of goal setting and morning rituals that prime you for success.
Tune in and let's take the first step together towards mastering our calendars, setting ambitious yet achievable goals, and embracing our unique productivity styles!
CONNECT WITH AMANDA:
🌐 https://www.amandamckinney.com/
📸 https://www.instagram.com/theamandamckinney/
🎁 What's Your Productivity Personality? (Free Quiz) - https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz
CONNECT WITH CARIN:
Hey CEO! Join us over at our new membership the Success Cellar 🍾 - exclusively for growth-minded wedding pros just like you!
🌟Write a review, share, and tag @celebrationpros for your first month free!
Hey everyone, we are back on the Celebration Pro podcast. I'm Karen Hunt, your host, as always, and today and honestly this month we've kind of kicked off with time management because I have spoken to so many of you listening in and within the membership and within the Celebration Pro community and we just can't seem to get it together with time management. You know, on wedding day we're on point, everybody knows the timeline, like all of that is very organized and a well-oiled machine. And then, you know, monday comes along and there's, you know, a lot of guilt about taking breaks and getting everything done and catching up from the weekend and it all seems to kind of fall apart until you know we're able to get to the next event. That goes so seamlessly. So what I wanted to do was bring in somebody who could really help us focus on those income producing activities, because it's something that we are, you know, we're so rooted in in the Celebration Pro community is focusing on those IPAs. And it's easy to say it right, it's easy to have that good intention, but we want to make sure that that road we're paving actually leads to the results and not the other way around. So today I've brought in Amanda McKinney and again, this is just somebody else that I have been connected with outside of the wedding industry and getting some of that perspective, and she's an accountability coach.
Speaker 1:She's also the author of Amazon Best Seller why Not you? An Accidental Entrepreneur's Guide to Success. And she's the host of the top of a top rated podcast, the Unapologetic Entrepreneur, and I just love the name of that podcast. I'm like, yes, we're doing this and we're doing it our way. So, amanda, thank you so much for being here on the podcast. This is going to be a really fun and, I think, a really helpful conversation for those listening in.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much, karen, for having me today. I am so excited about being here and talking about this. I know it's one of those topics that, like you said, it's easy to say that we're really focused on these things, but it's really hard to do. But I think your audience has such a unique advantage and it is that when they tap in on that wedding day, everything goes seamlessly and so the skill set is there and I think that's a unique perspective to have and to really tap into that on an everyday basis not that you have to be on like that on an everyday basis, but really using those skills. I think you all have such a unique advantage in this.
Speaker 1:Well, and that's really exciting to hear because I think when we in the industry here like, are you being productive, are you using your time wisely? They don't know what to hold on to. And so I love that where you're pinpointing and saying, like, think about how you're making it happen on wedding day. I know how can we translate that into the everyday workplace? So we love to hear a good origin story, and so I'm gonna kick this off and hand it over to you to kind of share how you came into this space where you're able to support those accountability efforts, and just kind of your story up until now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, I feel like everyone has a twisty turny story and so do I. So I mean, how much time do you have, right?
Speaker 1:So I'll make it as quick as possible.
Speaker 2:But basically I entered the entrepreneurship space back in 2017 and it was when I was laid off from a job, so that was a very interesting time. I was laid off and my immediate thought was I need to apply for jobs. And I did do that, but at some point and it was actually during an interview I was being interviewed. My background is in marketing and so I was being interviewed for a director of marketing position and they were offering it to me. And I'm sitting there and I was basically telling them what you really need is to hire me to write the strategy and then hire someone to implement. That is where you are and that's what you really need.
Speaker 2:And I found myself in that interview room convincing them not to hire me on a full-time, as a full-time salary employee. And I walked out of there and I called my husband and I said I think I wanna start my own business. And it was one of those things that, because I was in the corporate world for a while, I had seen consultants and I thought, oh, that would be cool one day, but I always thought it was like one day down the road. And then when I realized, okay, I think this is something I want to have a shot at. And I had a severance from being laid off and I had my husband supporting me. So I always like to add that in, because it wasn't like I just went rogue and was like I'm gonna do what I want and I have no plan, like I had some safety net there to give myself some time. And so that's when I started my business and I really started as a marketing consultant and said yes to everything that came my way. Basically was like yes, I will write those emails.
Speaker 2:Yes, I will write that strategy Like I would do anything at that point and slowly but surely, I started to figure out what I enjoyed more. Now fast forward, seven years later, like I'm skipping a lot. There's a lot in that seven years and now I know how much I love helping people make continuous progress on their goal, and that's how I ended up focusing on accountability instead of everything else, and I think it's important for anyone to hear this, because I needed to hear it so much. There's a lot that you can do. Like I said, I'm in marketing and I could do that.
Speaker 2:I could still be doing that, but everything in my being was like I really love helping people achieve a goal and so I could do the marketing stuff if I wanted to, but I chose to move forward in this other path. And so for everyone, I think when we're talking about time and being busy and productive, I think about there's a lot that we can do and oftentimes we get caught in. But I can do it, so I should be doing it. But the answer is, if you can really narrow down, it makes things so much better, even though it's terrifying. So every pivot I've had in my business has been terrifying.
Speaker 1:Of course, yes, same. And I can relate to that on the and I am probably most can where you take everything right and then you chili figure out okay, I've taken everything, what did I like and what didn't I like. And so I don't think that saying yes to everything in the beginning is necessarily a bad thing, because a lot of people feel like they should start by niching down and the one thing but there might be something that you really enjoy that you haven't even tried yet, right?
Speaker 2:I agree 100%.
Speaker 1:There's some opportunities that you didn't expect.
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, I totally agree with that. It's and I am again going back to the marketing side like I'm the biggest fan of niching down, Like I think everyone should niche down. It makes marketing so much easier. You get quicker Yeses, like there's a million reasons why to say yes to niching down. However, it's hard to do that before you know what it is, and I've worked with so many people that are like but I don't know, but I want to do this, and it's like just start saying yes to things and you'll quickly figure out what you don't want to do. It takes a little bit to figure out what you do, but you'll start to weed out. I never want to say yes to that again, so I'm not going to do that. And you weed it out.
Speaker 1:Well, and I think too, if you niche down in the wrong thing, it's a lot harder to pivot. So it's easier to say I do all of these things and then slowly narrow it down to the one thing, than to just go full force into the wrong thing and then realize that it's like you hear those stories like oh, I went to school to be a lawyer and I dropped out because I wanted to be a photographer, like you know, it's like you don't want to have to be one of those people who goes down that path and you do.
Speaker 1:It's okay, you can pivot, there's always time. But well, that being said and kind of going through your story, there's a lot that we can do to be productive in our businesses and we can definitely get into that. But what I've been trying to do is replace the word busy with productive, because I think there's this negative connotation when somebody says oh, how are you? Oh, I've been so busy. So what's your perspective on the words busy versus productive?
Speaker 2:Oh, it's so interesting and I love that I get to talk about this more now, because if we were around the clocks and you talked to me when I was in the corporate world, I wore that busy badge like a badge of honor. I mean, if you said who's the most busy person in this office, it was Amanda McKinnon.
Speaker 1:I mean it was.
Speaker 2:I was there early, I stayed late, I did all the things. And I'm not saying that to be like trying to make a joke of it right now. I'm saying it because I recognize it now. I didn't recognize it then. It was a disaster and I was going down a path of really overworking myself and some negative health things that were happening and all of that. But I wasn't even aware of it because I loved that badge of honor of being busy. I felt like the more that I was accomplishing, the more like it was all about doing more.
Speaker 2:The more I was doing, then in my mind I really think I was productive, like I was, like I'm doing the right thing by doing more. When I think about it now, I think about if you are feeling busy, which we've all said like, oh, I'm so busy, like you said. If you're feeling busy and you get to the end of the day and you feel like you've been going, going, going, going, going all day but you didn't get anything accomplished, that is busy and productive is something totally different. Being productive is often doing so much less, which is very uncomfortable for those of us who like being busy, so it's very difficult. And that's the thing I think we we often like.
Speaker 2:There's probably many people listening to this that are like, yes, I want to be productive, and they just heard me say we like being busy, and they're like, yeah, that's me. And so we have these two conflicting things happening. I want to be productive. I understand that word is being more intentional with my time. I understand it all. I want to do that thing, but you have the pull to be busy, which is meaning constant action, and I would venture to believe that many people in your audience feel this way, because that wedding day rush is undeniable. Not that I've been a wedding planner or anything in the wedding business, but I've gotten married and that day is like that adrenaline is going and you've got a checklist of things to do and all of that Like that's an awesome feeling and so you're naturally drawn to it of being busy. But being productive is something totally different and it's being intentional and saying what actions are actually going to move the needle forward on what I'm trying to get done, and it's usually less things.
Speaker 1:I've mentioned this before.
Speaker 1:There's a study that another guest speaker had come on and shared, where we have four hours of focused time that our brain has the capacity for each day.
Speaker 1:And when I'm busy and I'm just like emails and phone calls and oh, mom calls, and now I'm on the phone for an hour and a half. And when it's just random things throughout the day and nothing's really right, I'm a reason I can get through eight hours no problem, and I'm depleted at that point where, if I do my four hours of focus after four hours I'm like can't take on anything else, I'm gonna go for a walk and then now it's time to fill my cup. And so it's a completely different lifestyle that instead of just being busy and go, go, go all day and then at the end of the day you're just like done, and then you wake up and do it all over again. It's four hours of moving the needle forward, like you said, taking that mental health break and then being recharged for the rest of your day to do whatever it is to fill your own cup, and it has changed everything for me.
Speaker 2:I love that. It's such a big difference and I know it and I believe it and I've read that study and there's another study that says it's even 2.5 hours, which was baffling when I found that. And there's all these studies about it and we can hear that and hear that, and hear that and I believe it 100%, like I know it's true when I look at, oh, I was actually able to sit down and focus and get this done, just like you, and oh, then I can move forward and I have more creative ideas when I stop, and I know all of that. But it's so interesting how much our other side of the brain, whatever it is tells us to be busy, and I can only share my story.
Speaker 2:I don't know what anyone else's story is with this, but when I jumped into the corporate world, I was basically conditioned to, like you get there at a certain time and you definitely can't leave until a certain time. It doesn't matter what's happening, you need to be present. And I'm not trying to bash corporate, because that's not everyone's experience, it was just mine, and so I was conditioned. When I started my own business, I had no clients at first, I had no work, I had nothing going on. And you know what I did the first week that I had my business. I sat in front of a computer from eight to five. I had nothing to do, but I still did it, and when I think about that it's baffling.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you just fell right back into that routine because that's been doing for so long, right.
Speaker 2:And so for anyone who just feels like you have to keep moving, there's probably something that made it feel that way. And I'm not a therapist, I never pretend to be one, but there's usually something. And so when I was able to identify, oh, I'm feeling like this, my corporate background is like I feel like I'm gonna get fired if I'm not actually at my desk, then it was like, okay, man, to go for a walk, that's allowed. Go have lunch with a friend, that's allowed, because I set this business up so that I could do those things. But I wasn't even allowing it to happen, right. But once I realized what was stopping me and that's so much of it is like pausing long enough to realize what's going on makes a huge difference, and then you can actually start to figure out how to be more productive instead of just busy. But if you're like me, there's gonna be a natural hole to just doing, doing, doing.
Speaker 1:Well and I say that all the time too I'm like we're working on schedules and we're working on how to save time and to have that focus on the right things. It's not gonna happen overnight, right. It's that habit building of whether you decide to do 20 minute interval support or you decide you're gonna walk your dog at 10 and sit in a different room and have lunch at noon or whatever it is that ends up being for that person. Because what I have found is especially I mean in entrepreneurship and especially in the wedding industry the, the styles of home life are so diverse. We have people who are single but have a corporate job and they're building this business on their side, trying to leave their corporate job Right. People who are working nine to five as wedding venue managers. You have people who have families, people who don't, people who have a spouse who's not there all the time and people who have lots of family support, and there's so many different. Some people are mourning people, some people you know like it's just like.
Speaker 1:It's so different. But when you break it down and you're just like you have this much focused time where it is that fit in your day, and then how do we make sure that you're having that healthy balance of the flow? It makes a big difference.
Speaker 2:It does.
Speaker 2:And you bring up like the schedule being different for everyone, and I, you know what you're saying and I'm just pulling out is that it's okay that everyone's schedule is different. And I think we need to hear that so often because what you, what people often hear like I'm a mourning person, so a lot of people ask me about my mourning. So I just talked about my mourning, but I tell people it doesn't matter what yours looks like compared to mine, right? We don't need to compare our anything our schedule, our revenue, our Instagram presence, our whatever. We don't need to be comparing because it's not fair to anyone in that, because you don't know everything behind the scenes of their story and they don't know yours. And it's okay.
Speaker 2:Like, we all have boundaries of what we share and so it's not that it's everyone should be sharing everything about their life on Instagram. That's not what I'm saying, it's it's. We all have our boundaries, so we have to check ourselves with that, because it's a really bad trap to go down when it's like, oh, but so-and-so, does this thing in the morning and so-and-so, does this thing whatever. It's really accepting whatever season of life you're in and what you have, because that person that's working in nine to five and doing this thing on the side. But the whole goal is to change Like that's only a season, they're gonna leave that job and they're gonna have a totally different schedule, and so our schedule changes with our season of life and we have to be okay with whatever season we're in, and that's a really hard thing to do for a lot of people, including myself, that you know. There's times when you just can't do the things you wish you could.
Speaker 1:And that takes it even a step further. So not only do we have all of these different people with different lifestyles, those lifestyles ebb and flow on the run.
Speaker 1:So the schedule that's working today is great that it's working today, but to not be afraid to pivot and to have that open mind is you move forward, especially and again wedding industry like oh, it's a roller coaster ride, I bet, and so we're gonna have a different season and we work with people all over the country. So right now it's busy season here in the Florida Keys, but I'm hearing it slower in some of the northern areas where it's still snowing and yeah, it's all, and I teach on time blocking and theme days and things like that.
Speaker 1:And I say you wanna check in on that weekly, if not monthly, because your themes may need to change based on the project that's in front of you or what your priorities are specifically, and there's we could get far into that, but I completely agree with it, though. I love it too.
Speaker 2:I've shared this on my podcast too. People have asked me about what I do and I have theme days and through many different years I've had. Wednesdays are my podcast day, so I'm doing interviews.
Speaker 2:That day I'm doing anything that I need to be doing for the podcast, and that's typically what it works like. Now, when I was writing my book, that schedule went out the dang window and I didn't do podcasting things on Wednesday. I did it every day, a little bit every day, and so it was thrown off. But it was a season and I prioritized writing a book, and so everything else had to shift so that I could make room for that. And so I love what you're saying checking in with yourself and it was almost like I had to not just accept it but be like give myself permission to change it. And so giving yourself that permission of like is okay. I'll bring back that theme day when I can, or whatever the case is. Like giving yourself that permission is a huge thing too.
Speaker 1:Well, even this week. So my theme day for podcasting is Thursdays, which was yesterday, but we wanted to make sure that we got this episode out in March, because it's so important to what we're focusing on this month that today is now my podcast day. We are recording, publishing all the things today, having Amanda on with us to make sure that this gets out, because that was the priority for this month and we were lucky enough to be able to connect and see that it was a great fit and push this forward. But same thing, like when run with your priorities, what's moving the needle forward, what is supporting the cause, and that's what always goes first.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I have you saying that. It's really interesting because if anyone from my audience knew that we were recording this on a Friday, and they know me they'd be like what Cause I don't take meetings on Fridays, like it's a known fact.
Speaker 1:I share this. It's so special.
Speaker 2:And so it's really interesting. But here's the thing it's like I have like I aim for 80%. If I can be 80% solid on a theme day, a project, whatever, like I feel like I am killing it. Oh yeah, if I can be at 80%. And so there's exceptions to the rule. When you said, hey, I'd really like to get this done and get it out in March, Like when I saw your schedule and you had time on Friday, I made the exception. We're going to get together on Friday and here we are and it's going to be great and it aligned with your goal and it also aligns with mine. And so me talking about accountability and productivity and this is something I really care about and something that I'm moving the needle forward with and so it aligned with the goal.
Speaker 2:It wasn't just because someone asked me to do something, and the reason I'm saying that is because it comes back to that productivity. I used to say yes to so many things. If someone wanted to have coffee, I said yes. If someone wanted to do whatever, it was like I said yes because I didn't want to say no to people. People, please, are recovery right here. That is one of those things. But what I learned was that I started to slip into like it was eating up all of my time. I'm not saying those were bad. I still do those things on a weekly basis typically, but it's more regimented.
Speaker 1:It's more challenges now. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And had you said, amanda, I want to talk to you about I don't know, I'm just going to make something up. Like the sweater you're wearing, I wouldn't have scheduled this for a Friday.
Speaker 2:Like, that's not what I would have done. We would have done it at a different time, but it aligned with your goals and my goals and moves the needle forward on what we're both trying to do. And so that's how I kind of like allow that 20% Because I think a lot of people get caught up with that, like they feel like they failed if they take a meeting on Friday when they said they wouldn't do it.
Speaker 1:Right, right, but if it's the right meeting.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's absolutely take the meeting. I mean if Oprah calls, I will meet with her anytime.
Speaker 1:Right Midday Sunday. Don't care, oprah, let's do it.
Speaker 2:She can have any time on my calendar I love that.
Speaker 1:Well, you know, in our industry we're constantly seeing, you know, trends and shifts. Right now we are and this is all industries where we're all learning how to speak to Gen Z, so it's a whole new marketing world for us, and so, and then you have things like COVID and I just got off of a podcast and are you talking about Hurricane Irma and how that affected us here, and so there's all of these different things that come in life that feel like it were derailed and we have to be brilliant and recover, and so I'm curious if you have any strategies or tips around how to bounce back into productivity.
Speaker 2:Hmm, that's so good and the word you use derailed.
Speaker 1:That is real, yes.
Speaker 2:And I'm still feeling, and so I just want to acknowledge that. The first thing is acknowledging that you were thrown off and that sounds kind of silly, but I think for those of us who are people that tend to be busy, we want to stay in action all the time. So I'm about to say something that is going to be really hard and it really sucks for those of us in that camp, which is me. So this is why I know it sucks so bad. You have to pause. I know you can think about it, but I feel like you just have to. If you keep going, I guarantee you you can think about times that you are just like running, like you feel like you're running on a treadmill and then something throws you off, but you just keep running.
Speaker 1:Mm, hmm.
Speaker 2:And you just feel like you can't catch up. You can't catch your breath and nothing that you're trying is going right. Everything seems to be really going wrong or like harder than normal, and you can slow it down and then get back on. Things go better, and so when you get derailed for whatever reason whether family crisis, insert, whatever happens Stepping off and just gathering yourself is going to be the best thing you can do and that sounds so silly and so simple all at the same time, but it's the best thing that you can do and then really thinking okay, what's the best way to get back on track? And really thinking one step at a time, which is very different from like when you're trying to plan your next 90 days. That's very important. Like planning is important, but I don't know about you. I've had zero plans go according to plan Like. I can't think of one that's ever done that.
Speaker 1:That's a secret in the wedding industry is that there's no such thing as a perfect wedding, and there's nothing goes according to plan.
Speaker 2:So again, bringing it back to everyone listening is built for this. Like you have resiliency that others don't, because you know how to navigate the crazy, and I guarantee you that everyone listening to this is like, if you talk to the families, the brides, the whomever, they would be like oh my gosh, aaron, she just everything went so smoothly and you're like it was a train wreck.
Speaker 1:I don't know.
Speaker 2:Everything went wrong, but you handled it. And so take that same skill set and take a breath, because that's probably what you would do. And in that moment you take a breath and be like okay, the candle, just let something on fire, but everything's gonna be all right. And here's how we're going to do this. And you'd figure out the next two to three steps probably, and then you'd collect yourself and keep going, one step at a time, and that's what you have to do when you get derailed in life and in business.
Speaker 2:And another piece of the component that you probably don't have I mean, maybe you do on a wedding day, but in business and in life you do have it is talking to someone else is so helpful, because when we're in our own head, I don't know about you, but for me everything feels huge, like really really big, like oh my gosh. Like, for example, I thought about changing the name of my podcast, which I did like it's a great name now, but before it was a different name, and I was like oh my gosh, this is so huge. And I talked to who I call my biz besties.
Speaker 2:And talk to them and they were like just change the name, yeah, easy decision, Just just move forward. Just pick a date and move forward. And I made it this big thing and it turned out it was not a big thing at all and I'm using that as an example. It's kind of a silly one, but we get in our head about what we have to do and it feels so much bigger. And so if you have biz besties, if you have a therapist, if you have a coach, if you have someone in your corner like the people in your membership, they have you, they have the community of people that they can talk to and be like. I am having a hard day, Mm. Hmm. Talking to people is so helpful to get out of that feeling of, oh my gosh, it's just going off the rails.
Speaker 1:Right, I mean, we live in our own reality. So what's happening in our world? It feels so important to us, mm, hmm, and, like you're saying, so big and so impactful, when a lot of times, you know, it's kind of like if you trip and fall and you're like, oh my gosh, that was so embarrassing, everybody think that I'm you know, xyz, whatever, but really nobody's even thinking about it anymore. Yes, and it's been like a year and it's still haunting when you're dreams Like those are the things it's really not that big of a deal, Right.
Speaker 1:But you know, having that outside perspective, I've had so many conversations where people will come in there, like you know, there's this thing happening in my business and I'm like, well, what if you just did steps one, two and three? And they're like, wow, I didn't. And having that outside perspective, I can't tell you when you say business besties, if she's listening and she knows exactly who she is, where we are constantly throwing ideas back and forth off each other. And just yesterday I was talking to her and I was like, well, why don't you just do that? She's like, I don't know. And I'm like, well, I'm like I'm here telling you like it's not for me to let it go, it's time move forward, right, and I, yeah, having an accountability partner, it can be so helpful in helping make those decisions and seeing that like bird's eye view of the big picture.
Speaker 2:It is and that's how I ended up loving doing what I do, which is this accountability part, which is so much about talking and getting it out, and you don't always have to have a coach or whatever it's like. Find a friend, find someone who understands and can see that 30,000 foot view, because it's so much clearer for other people, because you're in the weeds, you're in it, you can't see. And so, having you, everyone that's listening to this podcast, they have you in their corner and it's like, oh, here's one thing you could do today and it seems so simple and so like aha, but it's, we need that outside perspective.
Speaker 1:I always say, like, would I teach? Everyone already knows I'll be listening and if you come into this space, I'm not really teach. I mean, yes, I try and bring new relevant information, but a lot of times it's the reminder of like you're capable of taking these steps and doing this thing, but you were so lost in the busy that you forgot what it was to be productive, yeah, and that's just having that person to bring that clarity. I can't. It is.
Speaker 2:And the reminder. I love that you said reminder. You know it all comes down to if we think about how to be productive. If you don't have something you're aiming for, you're just going to be busy Cause you don't really have a guiding light. I like to say 90 day goals. Those are my favorite to set and I encourage people to do that. But it doesn't matter. It's like what is your guiding light? What are you trying to do either in your business and your life, no matter what it is. It's like set the goal, set the goal, because then you have a guiding light of okay, there's the beacon. I just have to get closer to that beacon. So what am I going to do? And to the point of working with people like you, that person tells you their goal and you can remind them, cause when they're in the weeds they forget the goal.
Speaker 1:Right. There's all this to do? Yeah, yeah, I love that. Well, for the sake of time, we are going to jump into some personal Q and A, if you're ready. This has been great, I'm like great, this is awesome. So, but we're going to get into some fun Q and A and I'll make sure that we drop all of the links so that, if you love this conversation with Amanda, you can connect with her. But just to jump in here, what was the last thing that you bought for your business?
Speaker 2:So I really had to think about this one when you asked me this. The last thing I bought for myself was a monitor. So I have a laptop and I like to have an external monitor to have a bigger screen. And I had this monitor for the longest time and it was fine and it was working. But it wasn't pretty and I really wanted to match the rest of my office and so last year I finally did it and I bought a monitor that kind of fits in more aesthetically with my office and I love it. It was a great purchase.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, it's the thing that you're staring at all day, right, Right, it better be aesthetically pleasing. Yeah, I agree, very fine, and what does your? I'm going to let you choose one or the other, like your family or a morning routine, look like.
Speaker 2:Hmm, I'm a morning person, although I have a routine for both. But my morning routine is I wake up pretty much between 5.30 and 6.00 because the dogs wake me up and they are ready to eat and go outside. It is like they have a system and it is like they're ready, and so I get up and I take care of them and then I do some type of movement, usually yoga, but also sometimes hit I kind of balance those two things and then get dressed, drink my greens, and then it's coffee time and work time.
Speaker 2:So I'm usually working pretty early, but my best focus time is in the morning, so I get I get started pretty quick.
Speaker 1:Love it, Love it. And in one year, if we were sitting across from each other popping a bottle of champagne for you, what would we be celebrating?
Speaker 2:Well, that sounds fabulous, so let's make sure that happens. Yeah and I. I would like for us both to be celebrating, so I would say we would be celebrating something for both of us. But I'm going to speak this out. This is the first time I'm saying this out loud.
Speaker 1:I haven't even said it in my podcast.
Speaker 2:So we would be celebrating the success and all the challenges I navigated of launching a product, a technology product, and so that is something that it's actually. The beta is going to come out in Q2. So, like in a few weeks, like I am very nervous about this that we're working behind the scenes and the beta experience is going to happen. So if anyone's like, yeah, I want to be on the ground floor of this, it's going to be very affordable and you know, you got to bear with me as I'm figuring things out on the backend, but if you're ready, come on over. Like I'd love for you to join. But in a year I hope to have a lot of the kinks worked out and feeling very, very good about launching something new, which I've never done before. So having a tech, a piece of technology, like an actual product that's going to go out there feels very different than coaching.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's exciting. I've always been one to want to create an app or something supportive, so I'm excited to see what that's all about.
Speaker 2:Thank you. I hope to have lots of lessons learned for you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, perfect, thanks for going first. Yes, oh gosh. Well, where can everybody find you? And if there's anything you want coming up, I know I have a special link to share as well.
Speaker 2:Yes, so everything can be found at AmandaMcKinneycom, so I kept it really easy. I'm on all the social platforms at the AmandaMcKinney and the one thing that is really really fun it's a new thing that I created was a quiz about what's your productivity personality. So we've been talking about being productive this entire time and, if you're curious, I figured out when there were three different types of people and, based on the type of person you are, then I give some tips very specifically for that personality. So you can find that on my website, amandamckinneycom.
Speaker 1:I love it and I have some downtime in between things today, so maybe I'll take it and let you know my personality.
Speaker 2:This is all I have. I have a feeling. I know what most of your audience is off the bat but it'll be interesting to see.
Speaker 1:I love it. Well, thank you so much for your time this morning. Thank you for giving us your time on a Friday of all things, and then such short notice. This was fabulous, and I do hope that the listeners connect with you and connect with themselves and really take that reflection on okay, what is it that I can do today to make you know move that needle forward and, just slowly, you know, put in those habits that are gonna really help you move towards your goals, right? So, amanda, thank you so much. Thank you so much, karen.