We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelly Gabel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kelly, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?
There is a quote by James Clear that I absolutely love, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
In business and personal development, so much emphasis is centered around goal-setting, which is important but ultimately pointless if you don’t have a plan to help you reach your goals. This was a trap I used to fall into often. I would spend countless hours dreaming and setting goals for myself, but I always struggled to follow through. It wasn’t until I discovered the power of habits and systems that things started to change for me.
It started with my morning routine. I noticed that if I didn’t start out with intention, my whole day would likely go downhill fast. I would so easily be distracted by the next ‘shiny object’ or fall into a pit of procrastination, and suddenly, days, weeks, and months would fly by without much progress. It reached a point where I started to think that my goals just weren’t achievable.
Once I implemented intentional habits to start my day, I found that my overall productivity increased, and my belief in myself started to grow as well.
Then, I found James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, and everything started to click for me. That was when I realized that the reason I wasn’t reaching my goals was not because they weren’t achievable but because I didn’t have a plan.
I started building habits and routines around all the things I had been struggling to stay consistent with, specifically with content creation for my business. Years ago, my welcome email to new subscribers used to say, “I write blogs and send emails when I feel inspired.”, but now my consistency speaks for itself. I add two new posts to my blog every week and send a weekly newsletter to my subscribers, and I have, without fail, since the day I implemented my new system.
Now, I feel like any goal is achievable once I have the right system in place.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
When I started my first business back in the early 2000’s, I was super insecure about the fact that my business was just me. I often used words like “we” and “the team” in my emails and marketing copy to make it look like there were more people at my company.
I knew there was no way I could keep up that appearance on my own, so I started researching and learning some of the tools, like automated email marketing, that could help me be more available to my customers, even when I wasn’t actually available!
That was the beginning of my passion for simplifying and automating processes.
Over the years, I’ve created a business that runs so smoothly, that I’ve actually been asked if “my team” can look into something!
The difference is that now, I proudly reply that I am a Solopreneur and “my team” is the tools and systems that I have in place.
This is my dream for all Solopreneurs.
Through my business and the Tech-Savvy Academy Membership, I am teaching others how to simplify their processes and use affordable automation tools to create their own “team” without losing their balance, or their sanity!
I offer a 7-day free trial of the Membership because, like I tell my clients about any app or software they are considering, you should always “try before you buy”!
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?
If I had to pinpoint three things that have had the greatest impact on my journey, I think they would be Adaptability, a Learner Mindset, and Optimism. I think they actually go hand in hand.
The reality of Entrepreneurship is that there will always be change, room for improvement, and challenges that come your way. The best advice I could give is to learn to love the journey. We all want to reach our destination, but once we do, the next one will appear.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is exactly who I just described above. I am best able to serve someone who is open to change, always learning, optimistic that they can learn, even when it doesn’t come easily, and most importantly, someone who has learned to love the journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kellylgabel.com
- Instagram: @kellylgabel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellylgabel80
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KellyLGabel
Image Credits
Nick Allen Photography
