How To Know Your Next Doula Business Steps
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Transcript
Welcome to Dula Tips and Tits, the podcast where we cut through the noise and get real about what it takes to build a sustainable doula business. I'm Kaylee Harrod. I've been a doula informally for 14 years and full time for seven.
Around here, we don't sugarcoat stuff. We talk autonomy, owning your worth, creating a business that works for you. No fluff, no burnout, just the honest truth on how to be your own best boss. Let's get into today's episode.
Welcome back to Dula Tips and Tits. I was thinking today about how I had a client once who was hiring me. They hadn't hired me yet, but they did end up hiring me. We were having our first conversation and the partner asked me, what are all the things that you've seen at births that are emergencies?
I know what he was actually asking was, what is my range of experience? What sorts of things have I had to manage and help people manage? I remember stopping for a second and saying, okay, I'm going to be honest with you that I don't think the answer to that question is helpful to you.
I mean, right away, my brain was like, well, this and this and this. I've seen this many hemorrhages. I've seen this many ... I'm like, but actually, that's not helpful for you, pregnant family, who's going to have a baby in the next four months.
This is not the time for me to outline all the traumatic things I've ever seen in birth for you, but also, that's not what you really need to know. So, when I think about you as a doula, I sometimes have doulas ask me, what are all the systems that you use?
What are all the things that you do? Teach me your ways, essentially. And I'm like, if I try to lay out everything that I currently do after eight years of business, like eight full-time years of business, it will be so overwhelming to you that it would not actually be helpful, right?
And I don't mean that in like a, I'm not saying that in a way that's like, you're so behind where I am, like hopefully you know by now that that is not me at all. What I'm saying is if a doula is asking me that and they're like, you know, I have a good client load, I'm getting kind of busy, things are a little overwhelming, like some things need to shift, then from that place, if I was like, you know what I did for my last doula workshop is I wrote and scheduled 60 emails between registrations and promotions and wrap ups and replays,
you know, like imagine if right now you just like sign on to Google and send an email to a client and you've never seen like a layout of an email automation and all of the background of that. If I'm like, oh, okay, let me show you how to do 60 emails in an automation.
No, you don't need that. Like it wasn't 60. It was probably like 45, but still with a lot like, because every email that's like, Hey, we start now. Hey, 15 minutes. Hey, don't forget. It's today. Hey, don't, which is part of why if you are on that lovely list of workshop people, you know, that some of those came out at the wrong time because you know, I'm not perfect.
And also at the same time, I was telling my friend, I said, you know, my email went out on the wrong day and I was like, Oh, this is so frustrating. I'm like, trying my best to do the tech part. Right.
And she was like, yeah, I'm pretty sure Panera emailed me the other day and was like, whoops, we sent the wrong link. And I was like, okay, that's helpful. Like, okay. Panera's tech budget is real big.
They also messed up their, their email sequence. I don't feel so bad anymore. So what I, what I mean when I'm saying all of this, the point of this episode today is that it's actually unhelpful for you to just try to download someone else's business brain, right?
Like if I were to say, okay, Dula, who's been doing this for two years or three years, like you're killing it. You're doing great. You're trying to make this your full-time job. Here's everything I've done in my business that has worked.
No, like that is going to be so overwhelming. What you actually need is small steps, right? And one of the things that I think, I mean, again, like my work as a Dula, my work. work as a coach is sort of from a selfish place that I am giving you the guidance I want to have and wanted to have when I was in your place, right?
Because I was someone who had a super wild change of birth plan at the very, literally the last day, you know, and it was so different than what I was planning, so different than what I was expecting, so different than what I was ready for.
And then no one really helped me grieve, like I had lots of just the like, at least you have a healthy baby, at least you whatever, you know, just just like, whoa, not helpful, as we know. But that means when I show up for clients that have similar birth scenarios, I'm also like, how can I support you in a way that I wasn't supported, right?
And not making it about me, but like at the same time. wanting to be the support I wish I had, right? In so many professions, we talk about this, like, I want to be the teacher that I wanted when I was a kid, you know, I want to be, I don't know why accountant came to my head.
I want to be the tax expert that I had as a child. I was at a birth today, so we're just going to blame that, blame that baby and my exhaustion. Um, but when I think about like what you really need in your doula business is the starting place, right?
I had a coaching call with, um, some doulas and I, I love my coaching calls are like my jam. Like I love them so much, similar to birth planning where I'm like almost always, like I would say 99.99% of the time you get off feeling better than you got on as the client, right?
So like pregnant family comes, we talk about birth and they're like, Oh, I feel so good having you on my team. I also feel better about the birth process itself. Like that's generally the vibe, right?
And so same with coaching, like where there's a lot of like, I got this, like I have my next step. I got some affirmation. I got someone to listen to me, you know, someone's like celebrating all of my amazing things.
But I think also like being able to break something down into a small step is hard, you know? And so even just saying like, this is the one thing that you need to get done, right? Like we're not talking about like all the ways that you can do this thing or like all the things in your business that could be different.
We're talking about this one step. You're going to have that finished by the time we talk next week, right? So then it's very clear what you're doing. And that one step is getting you closer to your other steps, right?
But that step is vital to start the process. And that's what we're going to talk about next week. And when the process is just like start the process, like if that's your instruction, right? Like you should have an email system.
So go do that. Imagine how vague that is, where if I instead say to you like what you need is to decide which email platform you're going to use and sign up for it. Start playing around in it so that you get familiar with how it works.
Then come back and our next coaching call, we're going to talk about what to do with it now that you have one, right? Because just figure out an email platform or just start doing emails is way too open and vague.
And our brains are kind of like, but how, but why, but where, like who, you know, we crave that specificity, right? And we need that in order to be like, okay, I've done it. Like I took the step. that I was supposed to take to get myself to this goal, right?
I mean, if someone comes to you and says like, please walk to the library, and then you're like, where's the library? And they're like, walk to the library. You're like, okay, but do I turn left or right?
And they're like, just walk to the library, it's not hard. You're like, but it is because I don't know where I'm going, right? Like, I just need to know, like just even start me in the right direction.
Like even if you can't give me every step, give me the first step, right? And I think in business, gosh, we sabotage ourselves so much, right? Like we so often are just like, okay, I'm gonna have an online product.
And I'm like, who are you gonna tell about it? What's your product gonna be? What are you gonna charge? Why do you wanna have this product? Like, are you gonna pay for someone to produce it? Are you gonna self-produce it?
Is it gonna be a physical product or a virtual product, like a digital product? You know, like there's, I right away, I'm like, I have questions for you about that plan, you know? Because it's not just like, go make a digital product.
That's not really a game plan. Like your game plan needs to have more details because you're not even gonna know where to start. And also if you start at a random place in the middle, it's gonna take you a really long time to figure out what you're doing.
Because if you had started at step one, you know, if someone says, okay, you're walking to the library, go left, and then you're just gonna go straight, right? Okay, well, maybe halfway to the library, you'll be like, am I still on the right path?
Like maybe you'll stop someone and be like, hey, is this it? You know, it's not that you don't need more direction, but at least you have a starting place, right? And then along the way, if you need someone to be like, you're still on the right path.
Like that's also necessary, you know? And when I think about the coach, coaching, like why coaching matters so much to me, it is because I think those those like hiccups in the road stop us, right? Like we think about doula work and and I think about someone who's like I can't do this anymore because I don't know what to do.
Like I don't know how to change what I'm doing and what I'm doing isn't working and I actually just don't have the capacity to do anything differently because I also don't know what different thing to do.
That is where we lose some amazing doulas in this work, right? And if you're like sitting with your business kind of like I don't know if I just give up on this or if I keep pushing, if I do keep pushing, where do I push?
Like what thing do I lean into? We all have those moments, right? And in those moments, we actually do need guidance from another person. We need a coach to say, hey, this is the thing you push. right?
I did an exercise recently with my current 90-day doula business growth accelerator folks. They're wrapping up in June. So they've been with me for, I don't even know how many days, but like probably close to 75 or 80 at this point.
No, less than that. I don't know. Math is not my thing. We wrap up in June is the short story to that. They, I had them do an exercise of like all the things that are working and all the things that aren't working.
For one, because we often just look at what's not working and we're like, we got to fix all the things that are bad, but we don't take the time to look at the good stuff and say like, gosh, that thing's really good.
Right? And also because I'm like from those bad things, not even bad, but like things that aren't working well, I called them energy sucks, right? Like things that are sucking your energy. What thing would make the biggest difference here?
Like what's a thing to focus on because what we're not going to do is have 17 goals and then not meet any of them. Even though to be honest with you, that is my instinct. That is my natural instinct.
I don't know why that is. I feel like it's a little bit of the Midwestern in me. That's like, I'll just get up at 5am and feed all the animals on the farm. I didn't grow up on a farm just to be clear, but I did grow up in Kansas.
And so that Midwestern, just like figure it out and get it done, which is really problematic, is very much like my kind of inherent, like I'm like, I have 17 things on my to-do list. I should do them all right now this afternoon before I pick the kids up from school.
And then I get four things done and I'm like, I failed, which I mean, how ridiculous is that? Right? So I just want you to know that I come with empathy to that statement of don't do them all. Don't put them all on the list because it won't happen because I do that.
However, my actual point of that rant. was, what I do want you to do is move the business needle forward, right? I don't want you to try to do everything at once. I don't want you to try to do everything slightly blindfolded where you don't have any idea what you're actually doing, but I do want you to have strategy and moves in your business.
That needs to happen, right? I've been doing these amazing CEO calls with doulas, 20-minute calls, I do them a couple times a year, and they are free calls, 20 minutes, just kind of pick my doula brain.
And Adula got on to one of the calls recently and was just like on it, like she was like, I did this, I did this, I did this, I came to your workshop, and then I did these three things. And I was like, look at you.
And then she has two toddlers running around, like asking for snacks and treats and whatnot as we're talking. And partially I was like, okay, you don't need to do all of this. Like you just need to just connect to these two things, you know?
But also I was like, you are on the right path. Like you are doing such an amazing job. And I love being able to do that because she was like, okay, good. Okay. I am on the right path. Like even though she was doing the things, she even was second guessing herself.
Like, am I doing the right things? Am I doing enough of the things? Do I need to do more of the things? And so for me to be able to be like, you're doing a fantastic job. And also please do not go out and buy a bunch of marketing materials right now.
You don't need to do that. Like do this stuff instead. Look at this side. Focus in this way was really helpful for her in a 20-minute conversation, right? But also it was super awesome to see her be like, I came to the workshop on Tuesday and I applied the things like this.
Like that was really amazing to get to kind of witness her put these things into action, right? And get to really be excited about the moves that she had made in one week since the workshop, right? And so anyway, I say all that to say like, I want you to have strategy.
And I also think that you need guidance. And I know coaching is not accessible to everyone, right? Like I know you might be listening to this and like Kaylee Lewis and I just don't have the money to be in your coaching program right now, right?
Okay. I get that. But also if there's a way to make that money and invest that money and stretch that money and do the payment plan or do it in some way that makes it more sustainable for you, then it is worth doing because you will have the guidance that helps bring clarity.
Clarity ultimately brings space. Space brings the ability to innovate, the ability to imagine, the ability to grow and blossom, right? And you need that if your business is going to thrive. I think this whole episode is like one big, long pep talk, I feel like, which was not the intention, but here we are.
So I have right now, if you're listening to this in real time, you have about one more week, I think exactly one week, to sign up for the early bird sign up for the 90 day, it's called 90 day doula business growth accelerator.
It's a coaching program. So it's essentially like a mastermind of doulas, right? So we all hang out together. You get to talk to me one-on-one at the beginning and the end, and we have weekly calls with each other for accountability, for troubleshooting, for brainstorming, et cetera.
And if you sign up in the next week, you also get a bonus call in June that allows you to kind of kickstart things, right? Get things rolling. And that call would normally be 200 bucks. So it's a decent little chunk of.
bonus, right? And you can also sign up for like a more extended payment plan because you're joining now. The program starts in September. So we're working on, I'm working on filling up the seats now so that people do have guidance over the summer.
And then you actually have a good game plan going into the end of the year and moving into 2026 with like a solid business strategy, right? And actual like moves and moving and shaking. I don't know.
That phrase was not working in my head. An actual like game plan, right? For your business. So you're not just winging it for another year. So anyway, show notes have the link to sign up for that. I want you to go check out that page so you can even just see if you are a good fit for it because if you are, I really recommend that you try to make it happen.
Your business will thank you with the strategy and the growth that will happen as a result, right? I will see you in the next episode. Thanks for joining us for this episode of the Dula Tips and Tits podcast.
If you learned something today or had an aha moment, we'd love for you to share that on Instagram and tag us at Haradula so we can celebrate alongside you. If you found this podcast helpful, we would so appreciate you taking a second to leave a rating and a review on your favorite podcast app that helps other doulas find us as we do this work together.
This podcast is intended as educational and entertainment. It is not medical advice or business advice. Please consult your own medical or legal team for your own needs around your health and your business.
We'll see you again soon.
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Knowing the next step, where it is and how to take it can be so challenging in your business! It’s 1000% easier to get that information from an outside source vs you trying to figure that sh*t out on your own. Today’s episode dives into how to decipher your next step and have some guidance along the way!
Quote from the show:
“I was thinking today about how I had a client once who was hiring me. They hadn't hired me yet, but they did end up hiring me. We were having our first conversation and the partner asked me, what are all the things that you've seen at births that are emergencies? I know what he was actually asking was, what is my range of experience? What sorts of things have I had to manage and help people manage? I remember stopping for a second and saying, okay, I'm going to be honest with you that I don't think the answer to that question is helpful to you. I mean, right away, my brain was like, well, this and this and this. I've seen this many hemorrhages. I've seen this many ... I'm like, but actually, that's not helpful for you, pregnant family, who's going to have a baby in the next four months. This is not the time for me to outline all the traumatic things I've ever seen in birth for you, but also, that's not what you really need to know. So, when I think about you as a doula, I sometimes have doulas ask me, what are all the systems that you use? What are all the things that you do? Teach me your ways, essentially. And I'm like, if I try to lay out everything that I currently do after eight years of business, like eight full-time years of business, it will be so overwhelming to you that it would not actually be helpful, right?”
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Doula Tips and Tits is produced by Kaely Harrod of Harrod Doula Services
It is sponsored by The Doula Biz Blueprint Self-Paced Class for Doulas Launching Successful and Sustainable Businesses!
Music by Madirfan: Hidden Place on Pixabay
