Episode 62: What Digital Doulas Really Want for Christmas

Speaker 1: (00:01)
Hey everyone. And welcome back. I thought we do a really fun episode this week. About what digital dual does, virtual doulas online doulas or any doula that's doing some business online right now really, really want for Christmas. So I want to preface this with, you know, 2020 is a year that we are not really putting all of the things on our Christmas list that we normally would for a lot of reasons. Right. Um, number one, people have a lot of people in the world have been significantly impacted, um, and their finances this year. So if your business has taken a huge financial hit or you have a partner that is out of a job or something like that, I think that it's important to remember that you, you know, we don't have to do big gifts. We don't have to do big things this year.

Speaker 1: (00:49)
And so I don't want this episode to be about that. Um, this is not the year that we are asking for, you know, jewelry and this and that. I mean, we're not wearing many clothes. I mean, for me, I've been working from home for quite a while. So I've been rotating, um, yoga pants, comfy tops, things like that for a while. So I have a couple of dresses, but like not like I used to when I worked out in the real world. And so for a lot of people this year, that's been something new. And so working from home, you know, you, you probably, aren't looking to add all of that extra stuff to your wardrobe or to your closet. Cause like, where are you going to go? You know? And I wanted to share something that I think was pretty funny about last year.

Speaker 1: (01:33)
So for 2019, um, my two gifts that my husband got me, uh, one was a piece of luggage and I know that sounds pretty lame, but you know, I'm 37. So last year was 36 and at 36 years old, I had just, I had never had like a nice piece of luggage. I always had this, it was nice and functional and lasted great. You know, I got a set from like Marshall's and it was really awesome purple set. But like I never had a nice piece of luggage and my husband used to travel quite a bit. So last year he's like, I want to get you a piece of luggage. You know, I was starting to travel a little bit after having children. I, um, I was going to retreats like twice a year. I was starting to go to retreats and I wanted to, my plan coming into 2020 was to have business retreat workshops in other locations, besides Florida, besides Tampa, where I'm at. And so walking back it's, it's like, it's comical that I got my very first big, like fancy piece of luggage for Christmas in 2019 with these just really beautiful plans on how to use it in 2020. And it's been sitting there in the closet still lovely and collecting dust.

Speaker 2: (02:45)
Um,

Speaker 1: (02:49)
And so I want to talk about some things that you may consider if you are in a position to still give and receive gifts this year. Right. So understanding that some people are not, but if you are, if you're able to do that, and you have people that are like, what do you want for Christmas? Or your partner is asking, or, um, you may want a gift to yourself and you're looking around like, well, I don't know. And perhaps you're looking at route around thinking, you know, I don't need another pair of stilettos or handbag because like, where am I going? You know, and everything I own is like Dalston hand sanitizer at this point anyways. So that's what this episode is all about is if you're able to do the gifting thing, what are some things that are really what we want as small business owners, as virtual doulas, as digital doulas for Christmas this year.

Speaker 2: (03:41)
Okay.

Speaker 1: (03:43)
Okay. So I've broken this into categories, of course, because I'm a good worker. That's how I work. I like organization, I like structure. Um, but I have some categories here and this is also kind of what you'll see on like, you know, tuck gifts to get, you'll see categories like top gifts under 25 for mothers or for people who are gardeners. Um, so here we have under 25, under $50 and then over $50. So in the under $25 category, I've got a handful of ideas, things that I would want, things that I do have that I love. And let me get started. Number one, a phone stand. So I'm also called a tripod or some kind of camera stand. So when I do Instagram reels, or if you're having your own little impromptu photo shoot, um, or if you're recording videos for a class or for your Instagram or for whatever, um, I think it's really helpful to have something that you can put your phone on for, you know, stable.

Speaker 1: (04:36)
Now you can get one of those, um, phone stands or tripods on Amazon for like under $25. I think mine was $18 and you know, they're not fancy. Um, I just had to replace mine. My kids busted mine a few months ago, so I just got a new one and I find it really, really helpful. And if you are on a budget with photography and photo shoots, branding, shoots and such for your social media, having a phone stand is a game changer because you can really DIY your own selfies and it works. That's all we need. Okay. Number two, kind of along the same vein, do DIY in your photos presets. So if you're unfamiliar with presets, I use Maddie Pasha songs. Um, and I also recently got access to Christina Jones, who is my branding photographer in Tampa. So presets are, I'm not a photographer, so I'm not going to explain this perfectly, but the way I understand it is it like brightens your photo. It gives it light. It's not a filter. Um, but it's something that photographers use and put together that you download. And there's, step-by-step instructions on how to do this for those of us that are not photographers. But basically what happens is I open an app on my phone called Lightroom. I don't know how to use Lightroom for anything else, because I am not a photographer, but I'll take a selfie and I'll upload it into Lightroom. And the presets that I bought from Maddie Bushong and Christina Jones

Speaker 2: (06:04)
Are now loaded in

Speaker 1: (06:05)
There and I can apply one of their presets to a photo and it brightens it up. So many of my selfies or pictures that you see that I post on IgG stories. They're not filtered, I don't usually filter, but this is, I don't think it's a filter it's it's brightening, right? So it's a very inexpensive thing. They're usually a collection for under $25. And that is a very reasonable way to take really, you know, up level, your iPhone or Samsung photos.

Speaker 2: (06:34)
Okay. Number three.

Speaker 1: (06:36)
So I am kind of a coffee head, yes. Or tea. Um, and you've probably seen me show my, um, my vagina mug. Well, it's a Volvo, but on the back of it, it says my vagina's perfect. And then I have another mug that has all the different shapes and sizes of boobies. So I have my booby mug on my Etsy. I love those. I use them all the time. And I recently launched a new line on my Etsy shop and I have a new mug. Um, I'm looking at it now. It's a little bit bigger than my other ones. And it says birth vibes. So huge fan coffee mugs. Like you kind of can

Speaker 2: (07:09)
Go wrong. Number four

Speaker 1: (07:12)
As a new journal. So I have, I'm looking to my right, because that's where my shelf is right now.

Speaker 2: (07:18)
I have eight

Speaker 1: (07:20)
Journals sitting next to my desk, all of which have stuff in them, but are not yet used. So journals that are completely used up in full, I moved to a different location or depending on the contents, I will like shred and dispose of in a different way. Um, but journals I'm, I'm just a huge fan and there are some of my Etsy shop as well. So there's a new one that says birth fives and it matches, um, it matches my, my new mug. So, but you can get journals, you know, at target for like $5. I have some really cute ones that say magical vibes. Um, the ones on my Etsy shop are also under

Speaker 2: (07:53)
25 and number, what are we on? Number five,

Speaker 1: (07:57)
Um, birth nerd sticker, or some type of birthday sticker on Etsy. I have the birth nerd one on my shot, but there's loads of really cute birthy stickers. Um, and I like having mine on my laptop. So you can put it on your laptop on the back of your iPod, or I guess they're not iPods anymore. They're iPads on the back of your iPad. I don't use an iPad. My kids have them, but I don't use them. Um, or, you know, on your desk or on your favorite journal, like they're just a cute little fun thing that are, you know, very low price. Usually just a couple bucks. And number five on this list is the digital doulas 2021 content toolkit. So I talked about it over black Friday cyber week is when it launched, but it is still available. Um, the content toolkit is a huge, huge value for something that's under 25.

Speaker 1: (08:47)
It's actually $21 when you use the code. Whoa. Um, so heads of the sales page, um, there's a link in the show notes that you can it out, but it includes so much information. If you are somebody that wants to talk to your community online, all throughout 2021, and you're struggling with like, what do I talk about? What do I say? There are 365 topic ideas, and there's a workbook that you can download and work through. And there's a 20, 21 birthday calendar. So all of the birthday dates I could find, I plugged them in. So you can preplan your content and kind of what you're going to talk about. Right? So things like black breastfeeding week and maternal healthcare week and, you know, international midwifery day, things like that. Okay. So that's my under twenty-five dollar category moving into the next category is under $50. So under $50, there's just a couple of things that popped into my head when I was putting this together.

Speaker 2: (09:47)
Number one, a gift card to a business

Speaker 1: (09:53)
Owned by somebody who is black indigenous person of color. So look for businesses that you can purchase gift cards for your family and friends. Since this episode is going to be coming out where it's cutting it close to shipping times for small businesses, grab them a gift card. Um, a couple of my favorites I've started to, um, save them to a highlights reel on my Instagram. So if you're looking for some ideas, um, I saved a couple of posts that were compiled by other people on Instagram with like a hundred black businesses you can support right now and, you know, a hundred block, small businesses or women owned businesses. And some of my favorites are Tisch jewelry. She's a jeweler out of Canada. And I recently discovered her and love, love, love my jewelry from her. Um, also Eliza Jean is a doula and our doula community on Facebook, my doula group, and she's also a client she's taken some of my courses before and she makes amazing these beautiful candles that have herbs and crystals and them.

Speaker 1: (10:52)
And she sent me some stuff for the bath, like these beautiful bath salts. So, and it was also lovely packaged. Um, I think her shop is called with love Eliza Jean. So things like that. Those are a couple of my favorites. And again, I shared all of that to my Instagram stories and it saved on a highlight. So you can go check that out. Number two, under $50 is an actual planner. So this is different from my content toolkit. This would be like your printed out, you know, hard bound or spiral bound planner. I like having a planner in my hand. I prefer daily. Um, you could go with weekly, but I'm a fan of having a planner that helps me set my intentions for the day, write down all of my things that I'm going to be doing that day. And then at night, um, ideally has a spot where I can kind of, um, do my manifestation journaling or my gratitude journaling or whatnot. So a planner is a great, great thing going into 2021.

Speaker 2: (11:50)
And

Speaker 1: (11:50)
Then number three, this is one that I just thought was really fun. So one of the members of the dualism business mastermind is a postpartum doula. And one of the things that she has started to offer really recently is virtual vaginal steaming sessions. And so if you are a doula, you've probably heard of this you've may have, you may have not, I've heard of it, but I've never done it. And you may or may not know that, you know, postpartum healing is not the only time that you do a vaginal steaming session. And so she has started to do these virtually, which is really, really cool, and she has a special price going right now through the holidays. Um, and it's under $50. So I will be sure to include a link in the show notes to where you can check her out, because I just thought this was a really unique, cool offer.

Speaker 2: (12:40)
Okay.

Speaker 1: (12:42)
Okay. And so then moving into the over $50 category, these are a little bit higher priced items. Um, but depending on your budget or if somebody wants to make, you know, buy you a bigger gift and has the ability to do so, these are things that I think will be great investments for your business. So for me, the end of this year, you know, holiday 2020 is all about how can we invest in our businesses to grow in 2021? Because I think if, if we have learned something from 2020 about business owners, it's that, you know, doubling down on our business and really going in, it just continues to serve us for years and years to come. So that with, you know, with that being said, a couple of ideas, one, this is totally not required, but after three years in business, about two months ago, I invested in a new webcam camera.

Speaker 1: (13:35)
Now, if you have a laptop, it has a webcam. You don't need this. You definitely don't have to have it. If you are, you know, you don't need fancy equipment to do recordings and make videos. I did not have anything like this until like two months ago, but I really, really like it. And it's a logic tech. Um, I don't remember the model, but if you search like watch a tech webcam cameras, it's one of the only ones I think that came up, but it's so cool. The picture is crystal clear. So going into 2021, this was an investment that I made for me for my business, because I plan on doing quite a bit more video. So depending on where you're at in your business, it might be a good idea. Number two is a microphone. And specifically, if you're going to be recording podcasts, if podcasting is on your radar for 2021, it might not be a bad idea.

Speaker 1: (14:23)
If you've got the budget or someone wants to invest in you to up a microphone. Um, I use a Yeti, a blue Yeti, um, and I really, really like it. So, and you hear this podcast every week, so listen to the sound quality and see if you think it's pretty decent. Um, so, uh, mic number three, if you don't already have one, I think this goes without saying a laptop. Um, I love having my desktop and my laptop, but, you know, with so many people kind of around and, you know, working on the go and working wherever we're able to get away from children to work. Um, a laptop is just a really valuable tool to have as it is

Speaker 2: (15:01)
Digital doula. Number four is a

Speaker 1: (15:06)
Membership in the premier coaching center. So the premier coaching center, you may have heard me talk about it back in October when it was first released, it is something that you can use for an entire year. Okay. Now, technically membership isn't open right now. It opens up again in March of 2021. Um, but that's something that people can purchase for you. Now, if you reach out to me or head to the link in the show notes, you can check in on how to grab your seat in there now. And that way, you know, your ticket runs for 12 months from when you get in. Now, what does an include, I'll show you in the show notes at the link, but also, um, just so you know, it includes all of my courses for doulas. It features the CEO method for birth professionals, which is create, expand, and offer.

Speaker 1: (15:57)
And so you get oodles and oodles of content. Self-paced content that you can watch and learn, and then integrate into your business all throughout 2021. Um, and the value is substantial and you get significant savings when you purchase it for the full year. So that is, I cannot say enough. I love the membership and the people who are in there have already started to talk to me and tell me what they're experiencing and what they think about it. And so I've added, um, their words testimonials to the sales page. So you can get a feel for what people are already doing and the shifts they're experiencing. And then the very last one for this section is hiring a business coach. And of course, I'm going to plug myself here. And I probably, I was actually inspired to create this episode because over the last two years, so last year at Christmas time, I had doulas that were asking for their partners. You know, a couple people specifically said, you know, my husband is buying me course creation for doulas for Christmas. This was last year when you, you know, when I was selling that separately, now it's included in the membership

Speaker 2: (16:59)
This year in 2020,

Speaker 1: (17:01)
I had a doula recently that we were chatting about her joining the doulas and business mastermind, and she has been wanting to join for quite a while. And so she was telling me that all her friends and family are asking what she wants for Christmas, and she's asking for money towards her mastermind,

Speaker 2: (17:15)
Um, membership. And I was, I was just really excited and yeah,

Speaker 1: (17:21)
Honored to hear that. And also I thought that would be important for me to share with you too, that that is also a huge investment for you and for your business. Um, and it's a six month private group, private group coaching program that runs from January to July of 2021. And FYI, it includes access to the premier coaching center membership as a bonus. So when you are a member of the mastermind, you get me as your coach. There's lots of features and benefits that I would urge you to check out on the sales page. I'll include the link in the show notes, but know that it includes the membership. So the value is substantial and you can work through the membership modules as we go throughout that your six month term, and you have me in your back pocket to guide you through that. So in my opinion, the deal is in business mastermind, hopefully is at the very top of your dream wishlist investment items for 2020.

Speaker 2: (18:22)
Yeah.

Speaker 1: (18:23)
So before we go, uh, the last thing I want to ask for you to do is I'd love for you to share and the doulas going digital group. Um, are you gonna, you know, ask for any of these, are you going to tell your partner, um, share this episode with your partner or perhaps share the links, um, with your partner or whoever is purchasing, wants to buy you something for the holidays? Are you going to, you know, what's your favorite, what's the thing that's calling you. What's the thing that you're leaning towards. If you're able to do that, the very, very last thing I'll say is if you're not spending any money this year on gifts, that's entirely okay. There are still lots of ways that you can support other small and, um, businesses owned by black indigenous people of color. There's other ways you can support businesses.

Speaker 1: (19:07)
And you probably know this because you're in now a small business owner, but, you know, rate and review podcasts. This is one that you're listening to that maybe, you know, if you feel called to of course, but any other podcasts that you listened to. I mean, people who pour their hearts into things like podcasts, it brings us so much satisfaction to read those reviews on the days that we're feeling down, we pick that up and look at what somebody wrote. And it, it gives us that little, that little confirmation that like, yes, we can keep doing this. We can keep going. If you had a great experience at a restaurant, if you had a pedicure, if you, um, you know, worked with somebody virtually, if you had a training with someone, write them a review, go to their Facebook business page and write great reviews for companies and businesses, um, had to Google and write Google reviews, go to their social media and share some of their social media posts to your Instagram stories and tag them.

Speaker 1: (19:59)
It's really exciting as a business owner to see other people sharing about your business and spreading the word. So if there's companies, organizations, um, even if you haven't spent money with them, if you go to their social media and you read their, their posts like Facebook or Instagram posts, or if you go to their website and read their blog, if you're consuming their content, let them know, let them know how much you like it, let them know how much of an impact it's having on your wife, on your business. You know, now that you're a small business owner, you know how great that feels, right? So it's like, that is a beautiful, beautiful gift that you can give to small business owners without spending any money. And of course, there's always your time. So be with your family, enjoy your family. And I hope you nothing, but all of the joy, all of the health and success for the holidays and all of 2021, I will see you soon.