Welcome back to Mib Speaks, the podcast for mums
and women in business who are building something
real alongside real life. We know it's busy and
we know it's crazy. This is where we talk openly
and honestly about growth, money, confidence,
visibility and actually what it takes to grow
a business around real life. I'm Leona Burton
and today I want to talk to you about something
I get asked all of the time. If I had to start
again, what would I do differently? Not with
more money, not with more time, not with more
knowledge, not with fewer responsibilities. But
if I had to start again knowing what I know now,
and I want you to listen to this episode, not
as inspiration, but as a shortcut. Because if
you're earlier in your journey, or even if you
feel stuck, it might just save you years. If
I had to start again, the first thing I would
do is stop waiting to feel confident. I wasted
so much thinking time waiting to feel confident
before I earned it, before I showed up. I told
myself I'd speak when I felt ready. I post when
I felt polished. I lead when I felt I knew enough.
But confidence doesn't come first. It never has.
Confidence is built by keeping promises to yourself.
It's built through action. It's built by doing
the thing even when your voice shakes. If I had
to start again, I'd start sooner. imperfectly
and trust that clarity would meet me on my way
and here's this first pause and think moment
what are you doing right now because you're waiting
to feel confident you're waiting to feel like
now is the right time what would change if you
acted anyway If I had to start again, I'd focus
on relationships before reach. I spent much too
much time thinking that I needed followers and
that I needed more people in my community. I
needed more visibility and what I really needed
was more connection. I needed more real conversations.
People who trusted me, not just liked my posts.
Your businesses don't grow because people see
you. It grows because the right people see you,
the right people know you, the right people trust
you and the right people talk about you. If I
had to start again, I'd waste less time chasing
numbers and more time building community. So
ask yourself, who am I actually building relationships
with? Who knows what I do and who could I serve
better right now? If I had to start again, I
would charge properly much sooner. This one's
big. I undercharged because I desperately wanted
to be liked. I wanted everybody to love me. I
didn't want to feel salesy because I told myself
exposure was valuable. Now, listen, there are
times when that is appropriate, but there are
lots of times when that isn't. Being affordable
doesn't always make you impactful. When you undercharge
for your time, it doesn't just affect your income,
it affects your energy, your boundaries and belief
in your own value. If I had to start again, price
would be based on value versus fear. So here's
an action moment. Where are you under charge?
With your money, with your time, with your energy.
And what would change if you respected your business
more? If you respected the opportunity that people
have to work from you? If you stopped hiding
behind busy? Busy is a sneaky one. Busy feels
productive. Busy feels responsible. But busy
can also be very cleverly hiding you. I'd tell
myself I'd post when things calm down. I'd speak
up more. When I had time. I'd be more visible
when everything felt more under control. I have
six kids. It's never under control. But things
do not calm down. Life does not get quieter.
And visibility isn't something you earn after
success. It's what creates it. And if I had to
start again, I'd show up sooner. I'd show up
messier. I'd show up more consistently. So ask
yourself honestly, what am I hiding behind? Where
am I hiding? And what would visibility look like
if I simplified it? to start again I stopped
trying to do everything alone. I wore independence
like a badge of honour. I thought asking for
help meant that I wasn't capable. I thought struggling
quietly was strength and it's not. Support doesn't
mean weakness. Community doesn't mean dependence
and collaboration doesn't dilute your power.
It multiplies it. If I had to start again I would
ask soon. I'd lean in faster and I'd build alongside
others. So here's your reflection. Where are
you making things harder than they need to be?
And who could support you if you let them in?
If I had to start again, I would take responsibility
faster, not blame, not guilt, responsibility.
The moment I stopped waiting for circumstances
to change and started asking what's in my control,
everything shifted, everything. Responsibility
is empowering, it gives you options, it gives
you momentum. If I had to start again, I'd adopt
this belief from day one. Success is my responsibility,
not someday, not when it gets easier, not when
somebody else validates me, not when the internet
tells me I'm doing a great job. So let's bring
this home. If you're listening to this thinking,
I wish I'd known this sooner. Let me reframe
that for you. You know it now and now is good
enough. It's early, earlier than next year, earlier
than still feeling stuck, earlier than wishing
you'd started today. So here's what I want you
to do. One clear action before this episode ends.
Write the sentence down. If I was starting again
today, I would. And finish it honestly. And then
do one thing that aligns with the answer within
the next 24 hours. Because you don't need to
start over again. You just need to start differently.
I'll leave you with this. The most powerful thing
about experience isn't what it's taught you.
It's what you choose to do with it next. And
if this episode resonated, please share it with
another woman who's building something. Share
it with another MIB who is on their knees, desperate
for success to build something in their life.
And I will see you next time on MIB Speak.