#296: How To Set Boundaries And Create Massive Personal And Professional Success This Year

“Machines are built to work 24/7, but not human beings. It's crucial that we put boundaries in place for ourselves, to have offline time, exercise and sleep, time with loved ones and friends and family that's not tethered to a screen. 

That's how we can start to get into the dance between being effective and productive with our time, and also being healthy, sane human beings.”

This brilliant quote is from my dear friend, Marie Forleo. 

She’s absolutely right! We not only need to be aware of how we set boundaries around our screen time, but we also need to set intentional boundaries around our business and personal life. 

In this episode, we dive deep into what boundaries are, how to set them, commit to them, and how to respect the boundaries of others in your life. 

Can I be honest with you? I haven’t always been great at setting and sticking to my boundaries. In fact, I had to learn about the importance of setting boundaries the hard way. 

However, over the years I’ve come to understand what areas of my life require boundaries, and, most importantly, how to stick to them.  

And before we dive into boundaries, one thing must be certain… your why for setting them. Take a moment to answer these questions.

• Why are you committing to these boundaries? 
• Why are you sticking to them day in and day out?
• Why are they important to you? 

Being crystal clear on your why is essential if you’re going to make your boundaries a priority and actually work for you.

So here’s a glimpse of what you’re going to learn in this episode…

1. What areas you may want to consider setting boundaries in and what non-negotiables are. (And where I set boundaries in my life.)
2. Why you need to have strong boundaries as an entrepreneur and some specific examples of the ones I set. (Feel free to copy any of mine.)
3. An exercise for getting clear on what your boundaries look like. 
4. How to commit to your boundaries without feeling guilty or worrying about hurting the feelings of others.
5. How to lead by example and respect the boundaries of those around you. 

Here’s a breakdown of the episode…

• [04:45] What’s your why? Is it strong enough and have you been guilty of putting work before things that are actually important to you? I have! Make having a clear unshakeable why a priority.
• [11:11] It’s time to get crystal clear on your time boundaries. Lay out what your ideal week looks like, your non-negotiables, and daily habits. Put these on your calendar before anything else and be honest about the cost of not sticking to these.
• [19:37] You knew it was coming… you have to set strong boundaries around screentime and social media. My girl, Marie Forleo says it best, “Create before you consume.” Did you know that social media can deplete your juice? Yikes!
• [24:12] Do you have set boundaries around your business? If not, you should! Here’s why.
• [30:00] Often times when you’ve disrespected your own boundaries, you feel anxious or resentful. To avoid this, try performing a priority check where you identify and realign with your top three priorities.
• [33:50] Ready for some tough love? If you don't set boundaries, the world tells you who you are and what you should be doing. Talk about scary!
• [38:07] Solid boundaries serve as guardrails to our productivity. Look at what other people you admire are doing. Get very clear on your boundaries and write it down. Be specific.
• [43:19] Successful people say "no" to almost everything. It’s true! Don't be afraid to say no to things that don't align with your boundaries.
• [44:10] Respect other people's boundaries. The more we honor other people's boundaries the more they honor ours.

I want you to walk away from this episode with clear, intentional boundaries. 

Let me leave you with some wisdom from Miss Oprah...

“You have to be able to set boundaries, otherwise the rest of the world is telling you who you are and what you should be doing. You can still be a nice person and set boundaries.”

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Links mentioned in this episode:

• Online Marketing Made Easy Podcast Facebook Community
• RISE
• Rachel Hollis
• Marie Forleo
• Focus Planner
• Everything Is Figureoutable
• Rick Mulready
• Alisha Grogan
• Michael Hyatt
• Warren Buffett