We make ambition easy.

Hey Reader,
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I've received messages like this 👇 for YEARS but only recently considered what a critical skill it is in life and business...

Energy is a funny thing. It isn't tangible, yet it's felt - and can make a massive impact in being memorable.

Think about the people you enjoy being around or maybe someone you recently met at an event and liked..chances are, they have "good energy."

But what does that actually mean?! And most importantly, how can you have it?

First, it's not something you can have. It's something you cultivate.

Second, you have to protect it with your life. Because it is your life.

For anyone who has suffered from chronic illness (or been pregnant with twins 👋), you know how precious our energy is.

I believe "good energy" isn't a positive mindset, but rather a mindset in motion. It's an active practice of being alive, absorbing all that you can, and in that, contributing all that you can.

Here's where the protection comes in: your contribution cannot be at the expense of yourself. You must find a way to set boundaries - with others and within - that feels liberating, not limiting.

Women are not socialized to do this. Quite the opposite; many of us define our self-worth through what we give.

I suggest a way to give where we feel good. A give-and-take with the world where more for me does not mean less for you. Again:

More for me does not mean less for you.

If this message resonates, I urge you to attend my (free!) Sunday Session on January 19th at 5p PT where I'll go more in-depth with steps and scripts.

Register

Now go get paid.

x Claire

PS Speaking of giving, please consider contributing to the wildfire efforts in Los Angeles 🙏

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In this week's newsletter:

🛠️ Tools for a Better Work-Life: Get unstuck and unstressed.

✍️ Ask Claire: I address a subscriber who feels guilty charging for her services and struggles with "self-promotion."

🎧 Podcast: A live recording of our event on How to Get Out of Your Way, five strategies to improve your relationship with yourself.
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🔦 Job Seeker Spotlight: Susan Kovar, the former Director of Marketing and Partnerships at Simon & Schuster.

🗣️ Steal this Script: Never ask if a salary is negotiable - here's what to say instead.

🛠️ Tools for a Better Work-Life 🛠️
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Hands down, the best way to tackle your to-do list without overwhelm/stress. Learn more

Weekly 10-minute action plans to build a critical skill for a better work-life. Learn more

Personalized support to get you moving faster to reach your goals more easily. Learn more

Eavesdrop on real coaching sessions as clients navigate tricky work situations. Subscribe

"While I have deep expertise and a track record of success, I've struggled to monetize my work (i want to help people who can't afford it!) and i hate promoting myself. am i doomed to fail?" -Doomed to Fail   Ask Claire

Dear Doomed to Fail,

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Your struggle is one I've heard - and felt - so much over the years. Many of us, especially those from service-oriented backgrounds, have internalized the belief that making money somehow means taking from others. This creates a painful tension: we want to serve our community, but we also need to support ourselves and our families.

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This is a false dichotomy.

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When clients pay you fairly for your work, they're not just giving you money – they're investing in themselves. Think about times you've happily paid for something that truly served you. Did it feel like a loss, or did it feel like an investment in your growth?

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Being the "cheap pick" might seem like a way to help others, but it often leads to being undervalued and burned out. When you undercharge, you're actually doing a disservice to both yourself and your industry. Instead:
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• Research market rates thoroughly (only talk to people who run businesses that are similar to you)
• Position yourself at mid-market or slightly above
• Consider offering payment plans instead of dramatically lowering your rates

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Now, let's tackle the issue of not wanting to "self-promote."

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Instead of seeing it as sales (ugh), or somehow separate from your paid work, consider it as the free version of what you do. (Which fulfills your desire to help people who can't afford you!) Things like webinars, downloadable guides, mini-lessons, etc..anything you can teach someone else to provide them value is what you put online.

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This is the start of your pipeline to eventual sales, and when it gets to that point, it will be a self-selecting group of people who WANT to pay you because you save them time and provide personalized expertise.

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Rather than viewing business as a zero-sum game, consider this perspective: your success can create more opportunity for others. When clients pay you well, you can:

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• Continue providing free resources to those who can't afford your services
• Invest in your own growth, allowing you to serve others better
• Create employment or collaboration opportunities
• Set a positive example for others in your industry

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Remember, building a sustainable creative business isn't just about making money – it's about creating a framework that allows you to serve others while taking care of yourself. The two aren't mutually exclusive; they're mutually reinforcing.

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When you find yourself struggling with these issues, ask yourself: Am I seeing this as more binary than it needs to be? Is there a third way that honors both my need to earn and my desire to serve?

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Your success isn't just about you – it's about creating a model that shows others it's possible to do well while doing good. That's not selfish; it's seriously inspiring.

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In a situation? Get guidance.

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This recording is part of a four-part live series on making ambition easier and redefining success. Whether you're dealing with perfectionism, procrastination, or impostor syndrome, you'll learn five practical strategies - plus exercises to practice them - for getting out of your own way and building a healthier relationship with yourself:

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1. Cultivate Compassion: Understand and work with rather than against challenging parts of yourself
2. Practice Presence: Learn techniques to stay grounded when overwhelmed
3. Carry it Lighter: Develop practical tools to handle difficult moments
4. Energize from Within: Balance self-improvement with self-appreciation
5. Strengthen Connection: Build meaningful relationships that support growth

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Listen to the episode

🔦 Job Seeker Spotlight 🔦

Susan Kovar

Connect

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​MY WHY: I love leading strategic marketing initiatives, especially original content and partner marketing experiences end-to-end. My work is driven by a relentless commitment to finding innovative ways for creators and audiences to discover each other and I want to do this for organizations that celebrate storytelling and creativity or movement and sport.
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​DREAM OPPS INCLUDE: Partner, Brand or Content Marketing roles in media (e.g. Spotify, Audible, Hello Sunshine) or connected movement/fitness (e.g. All Trails, Strava).

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A CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Leading partner marketing strategy at a global media company and finding innovative ways for creators and audiences to discover each other. I created and scaled partnerships with 300+ brands across a wide array of industries from scratch, driving discovery and audience growth for books and authors.

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SOMETHING HARD I'VE DONE: Staying committed to regularly doing things that first intimidate/scare me, from cold pitching potential partners to building and scaling new products/services with cross-functional teams to joining fitness groups that push me and setting ridiculously high annual reading goals.

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HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT ME: Sharing recommendations for companies/roles that could be a good fit for me and making introductions to people doing and potentially hiring for the work I love to do.

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Connect with Susan

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Want to be featured? Submit here.

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STOP ASKING IF THE SALARY IS NEGOTIABLE!!!​
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It makes it way too easy for them to tell you no. Much better to ask open-ended questions so you can get more information.
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Because more information from them means a more tailored (ahem, compelling) case you can make for why you want more.
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Check out this video for a real script with my client on how to do this strategically.

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Comment

Really Good Work Advice,
in 10 minutes.
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After a decade+ of leading trainings at places such as NASA, Harvard Business School, The New York Times, and Facebook, I'm confident I can teach you the skills critical for professional momentum.
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I've also learned (through epic burnout 🤦🏻‍♀️), that the best way to sustain that momentum is through weekly micro-steps.
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Introducing Really Good Work Advice: a weekly 10-minute digestible deep dive into a skill you need to create a better work-life.
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In addition to a weekly email, subscribers receive:
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✅ Invite to a monthly meetup to connect with other subscribers

✅ Spotlight in the free Ladies Get Paid newsletter (50k subscribers)

✅ Opportunity to be coached on the Ladies Get Paid podcast​

✅ Discount on my coaching services and other programs

✅ Free access to the To Done Tracker, the best way to get more done with less overwhelm (only for annual subscribers)

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I'm excited to support you even more in the journey to easier ambition. After all, you are the best investment you can make :)
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Subscribe for $8/month

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PS On the fence? Get a taste by checking out the inaugural issue.

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