Meet Lauren Schaff

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lauren Schaff. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lauren below.

Hi Lauren, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

Have you ever felt like you’re running on empty, juggling a million tasks, and still thinking you should be doing more? If you’re a small business owner, you likely know this feeling all too well. It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind and end up burned out and overwhelmed. I’ve been there, and I want to share my journey from burnout to balance.

My struggle with burnout started back in my corporate days. I was a classic people pleaser, always taking on more projects and responsibilities, saying “yes” to everything. I thought that was what success looked like. I was constantly stressed, exhausted, and running on fumes. If that was success, I didn’t want any of it!

When I launched my own business as a realtor, I dreamed of freedom and control. But guess what? I fell into the same trap at first. I believed that if I just worked harder and longer, I’d get ahead.

Imagine this scene: a newborn in one arm, my phone buzzing with client calls in the other. Late nights, early mornings, nonstop emails—I was working with anyone who would work with me. To others it might have looked like I was living the dream, but I was actually living a nightmare of my own creation.

Then came the day I broke down in my car after picking up my kiddo. Tears streaming down my face, I hit my breaking point. I couldn’t keep living like this. I needed to stop trying to do it all.

This car breakdown was my wake-up call. I realized I had to simplify everything. This aha moment redefined my success.

I had to go back to my “why.” Why did I start this business? What did I really want to achieve? My why became my compass, guiding my decisions instead of just doing things because I could.

Here’s what I learned:
– More isn’t always better. I began to focus on using my time wisely, leveraging my strengths to make the most impact on my business.
– Develop personalized strategies. I created tools and strategies that fit my lifestyle, honing in on what I was good at and setting boundaries.
– Learn to say “no.” I started saying “no” to things and clients that didn’t align with my goals and prioritized tasks that energized me.
– Stay true to your vision. Staying true to my vision, playing to my strengths, and serving the people I love became my mantra.

This shift not only saved me from burnout but also transformed my business into something sustainable and fulfilling.

Through my own experiences and research, I’ve learned that burnout happens when we engage in tasks that don’t leverage our innate strengths or do things that don’t align with our core desires and values. It drains our energy, leading to feelings of frustration, overwhelm, and ultimately, burnout. Realigning our business activities with our unique strengths and what truly matters to us fosters a more sustainable and fulfilling business and life.

The best thing I ever did for my business was to truly get to know myself even better. Now, I know more about how I work best and what activities bring me joy and energy.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and burned out, remember there’s always more you can do, but that doesn’t mean you should. Focus on what you’re good at and what you love. Build a business that aligns with your vision of success.

With the right mindset and strategies, you can create a business and life that’s fulfilling and rewarding. It’s not about doing it all—it’s about doing what matters most to you.

Your business should work for you, not the other way around. Give yourself grace, reassess your priorities, and start building a business that brings you joy and energy. You’ve got this!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m Lauren, and I’m a business coach for women entrepreneurs in the home, health, and wellness spaces. My love for business and marketing started when I was a kid, collecting “Got Milk?” ads under my bed. That passion led me to earn a degree in Business specializing in Marketing. After graduation, I took what seemed like the natural next step and jumped into the corporate world helping large companies with their marketing for over a decade.

When my first child was born, I knew it was time for a big switch-up because the corporate grind wasn’t for me any more. I decided to start my first business on my own as a realtor. Taking that leap was both thrilling and terrifying. Picture me trying to type emails while balancing a baby on my lap—pure chaos, but it finally let me align my work with my values and passions.

After launching my real estate business, I quickly figured out that small businesses needed help growing in a way that worked for them. Chasing dreams while being a mom and a business owner is no joke. I learned firsthand how wild it can be to juggle client meetings, late-night emails, and diaper changes all in one day.

Now, I’m a coach helping those business owners, usually moms themselves, who are chasing their own big dreams and trying to make their businesses fit their lives. I work with amazing women entrepreneurs—think therapists, real estate agents, interior designers, photographers, home organizers, and tutors. Together, we build businesses that truly reflect their unique visions and strengths. My approach is all about seeing you for who you are. Then we align business strategies with personal values, personality, strengths and goals, making sure everything clicks for my clients.

I work one-on-one with my clients, giving them personalized attention and support. We dive deep into their business goals, break down their challenges, and create customized strategies that fit their unique situations. It’s like having a personal trainer, but for your business. The transformations I see are incredible—clients go from feeling stuck and overwhelmed to being energized and confident.

Now, I’m excited to share with you something new I’m offering for women entrepreneurs: Decision Making Days! Have you ever found yourself stuck in analysis-paralysis, wishing you had someone in your corner who truly understands your business to help you make a decision? That’s where Decision Making Days come in.

During a Decision Making Day we spend time talking all about you and your business then getting into your options. We explore what’s best for your specific situation. After that, we meet again for a post-reflection session a week later to evaluate the outcomes and fine-tune your approach. Decision Making Days are all about taking decisive action, so your business keeps progressing in the right direction. No more spinning your wheels!

Ultimately, my mission is to help women entrepreneurs build businesses they love—businesses that not only succeed but are also fulfilling. I want women-owned businesses to thrive, so they can achieve the income they desire and make the impact our world desperately needs.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back on my journey, there are three key things that really made a difference: using my strengths, staying optimistic, and keeping things simple. These principles not only helped me build a fulfilling business but also brought joy to my professional and personal life. Here’s what I’ve learned and the advice I’d share with those starting out or looking to improve in some areas:

Using Strengths
When I first started my business, I felt overwhelmed by all the things I could do to grow my business. It wasn’t until I took a step back and assessed my natural strengths that everything began to click. When I leaned into what I was naturally good at, I started seeing better results and feeling more confident. It was a game-changer.

My advice to put this into action:
– Take assessments like StrengthsFinder or reflect on past successes to figure out what you’re naturally good at.
– Once you know your strengths, prioritize working on tasks that align with your strengths. For instance, if you excel in networking, prioritize getting in situations where you can meet people.
– Outsource the things that are not a strength for you when you can. If it’s not possible for you at this time to outsource things, then still do what you can to minimize how often and how long you work on those things. Accepting that you’re not good at a specific task can help reduce frustration and remember done is better than perfect.

Being Optimistic
Believing in my ability to overcome obstacles and getting creative in the face of challenges has been crucial. This mindset helps me craft out-of-the-box solutions for myself and my clients, driven by the conviction that there’s always a way. As a business owner, your perspective is everything—might as well have a good one!

What being optimistic could look like for you:
– Cultivate a deep-seated belief that you can overcome any obstacle.
– When faced with challenges, think outside the box and explore unconventional solutions. Trust that your unique perspective can lead to breakthroughs.
– Surround yourself with positive influences.
– Recognize and celebrate small successes.
– Learn from mistakes and use setbacks as opportunities for growth.

Keeping Things Simple
In the early stages of my business, I often felt pulled in too many directions. Embracing simplicity helped me focus on what truly mattered, bringing clarity and reducing overwhelm.

How I put this into action:
– Decide what truly matters by reconnecting with your vision. In a world where you can do anything as a business owner, it’s easy to get swept up in doing all the things. Keep it simple by regularly revisiting your big vision and why you’re doing what you’re doing. This helps you stay focused on what’s truly important.
– Then focus on what truly matters and structure your schedule to support these priorities.
– Regularly review your offers or services and only keep what truly lights you up. It’s hard to sell something you don’t love doing yourself. This makes your business simpler and more joyful.

By focusing on embracing your strengths, staying optimistic, and keeping things simple, you’ll make things easier for yourself and find more enjoyment in running your business.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’d love to connect with other women who are as passionate as I am about empowering women in business. As a business coach dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact that the right support and resources can have on a business. I believe in the power of collaboration and the magic that happens when like-minded professionals come together to support each other.

I’m specifically looking to connect with other women business owners and organizations such as:
– Financial Experts
– Attorneys
– Organizations that specifically focus on supporting women business owners
– Systems and Tech Experts
– Public Relations and Media Experts

If you’re reading this and feel that we share a common goal of empowering women in business, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach out via email at [email protected]. Let’s start a conversation about how we can collaborate to support and uplift women entrepreneurs.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

FemForce
Jessi Cabanin

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