Please allow me to introduce you to Christina Galbato, an online business educator who has helped more than 10,000 women build profitable influencer businesses.
In her former life as a travel blogger, Christina Galbato spent four months living in Bali, traveled to 16 countries, and hit the six-figure mark in business while working with major brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Banana Republic.
Fast forward to the present day: Currently based in NYC, Christina has taken her expertise and parlayed it into even greater success, generating upwards of $4 million in revenue last year by helping women across the world grow the businesses of their dreams. In addition to one-on-one mentorship opportunities, she offers courses such as The Influencer Bootcamp, The Blogger Bootcamp and Influence to Empire Mastermind.
In her former life as a travel blogger, Christina Galbato spent four months living in Bali, traveled to 16 countries, and hit the six-figure mark in business while working with major brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Banana Republic.
Fast forward to the present day: Currently based in NYC, Christina has taken her expertise and parlayed it into even greater success, generating upwards of $4 million in revenue last year by helping women across the world grow the businesses of their dreams. In addition to one-on-one mentorship opportunities, she offers courses such as The Influencer Bootcamp, The Blogger Bootcamp and Influence to Empire Mastermind.
Christina joined me on the podcast to discuss a variety of topics — nothing was off-limits! — but we honed in on the things we do as entrepreneurs that help us live our best lives.
Whether or not you’re an entrepreneur, there’s plenty you can take from this episode. Let’s dive in.
Tip 1: Expand Your Network of Support
Both Christina and I are big proponents of hiring help and outsourcing anything that’s outside our zones of genius.
For example, I recently hired a full-time assistant who helps me with just about everything, including keeping my house clean, taking care of my car and booking flights. Because of her, I can stay focused on my business and know that everything in my personal life is being taken care of — without having to worry about it. This frees up precious mental space that enables me to be more creative, productive and impactful, and it’s changed my life for the better.
Building a strong professional support system is important, too, especially if you want to avoid burnout. Christina and I have teams of incredible people who handle everything from photography and graphic design to copywriting and marketing, which gives us the freedom to focus on the things we do best.
Even if you can’t hire an entire team, consider expanding your network of support — even if it’s just one person on a part-time basis. Having less on your plate will likely allow you to begin maximizing your output in a whole new way.
Tip 2: Set Aside Dedicated Time for Creative Work
Christina sets aside Fridays as her creative days, focusing on things like creating Instagram Reels, taking photos, and writing and editing captions.
For me, I’ve designated Tuesdays as creative days, but I’ve also blocked off mornings for creative work and only put on my CEO hat in the afternoons. Structuring my days in this way has given me more “white space” in my schedule and made it possible to create more original content that my audience connects with and enjoys.
If you’re an entrepreneur, there are obviously MANY things you can outsource — but there are also things that only YOU can do, and many of those require a high level of energy and creativity. As a result, it’s essential to determine when you are most creative and fiercely protect that time.
Take a look at your schedule and consider blocking off an entire day for creative projects, or reserve a specific time of the day for creative work. Turn off notifications, set your phone on Do Not Disturb and CREATE!
Tip 3: Limit Mindless Social Media Scrolling
It’s no secret that social media offers tons of inspiration and stimulation, but it’s critical to limit your time mindlessly scrolling — particularly if you notice you’re consuming more than you’re creating.
When you ARE consuming content, do your best to ensure it’s not random; instead, seek out sources that truly serve and energize you.
For example, Christina chooses to mute most people’s Instagram Stories, especially people who are in a similar line of work, and she typically only watches Stories from lifestyle or luxury home design bloggers. This is an intentional choice she’s made because she wants her Instagram to feel like a mood board, and she’s carefully curated her feed to make this possible.
When you’re using social media, make sure you’re using it to your advantage and staying mindful and present. Whether you’re creating content, seeking inspiration, doing market research or connecting with your audience, do your best to keep the experience as purposeful and beneficial as you can
Tip 4: Prioritize Preserving and Maximizing Your Energy
Creating and sticking to solid boundaries is ESSENTIAL for staying energized and focused as an entrepreneur (sorry, people-pleasers!).
When working with clients, for example, I immediately let them know that I do not accept direct messages unless it’s something funny or silly; if they need help, I direct them to the appropriate channel where I can serve them when I’m “on” as a coach.
Christina also has strong boundaries in place to help her preserve her energy, including:
- Reserving early mornings for self-care, including journaling and a walk
- NOT opening her phone for work-related tasks before 9 am
- No phone notifications other than iMessages and calls (only friends and family)
Without boundaries, your energy is likely to “leak” out throughout the day, leaving you empty and depleted, which is the last thing you want.
Determine where your boundaries are lacking by asking yourself what or who is draining your energy — then make adjustments accordingly.
Tip 5: Invest in Yourself and Your Happiness
No matter your budget or income level, you CAN invest in yourself. Here are three examples:
- Invest in your peace of mind by removing work email from your phone (or at least silencing notifications)
- Invest in your sleep quality by purchasing an alarm clock rather than keeping your phone by your bed and using it as your alarm
- Invest in your health and wellness by hiring a personal trainer and working with them regularly
It’s much easier to show up for your business, your clients and yourself when you feel your best, so invest in things that allow you to set yourself up for success.
Every decision you make either gets you closer to your goals or moves you further away from them — ensure you’re prioritizing what you TRULY want and put first things first.
I hope these 5 tips will help you live your best life as an entrepreneur!
I’ve included a quick recap of all the tips right here, so you can screenshot this article and bring these tips along with you:
Tip 1: Expand Your Network of Support
Tip 2: Set Aside Dedicated Time for Creative Work
Tip 3: Limit Mindless Social Media Scrolling
Tip 4: Prioritize Preserving and Maximizing Your Energy
Tip 5: Invest in Yourself and Your Happiness
PS If you want to improve your communication with those who surround you, I suggest you check out this dedicated mini-guide I've created for you with very hands-on tips on how you can apply The 5 Love Languages in your business! Download it for free through https://fastforwardamy.com/lovelanguages
Watch this episode on YouTube or listen via iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and search for episode 129 of The FastForwardAmy Show.
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