Self-Love is a Business Strategy
On a recent call for The Long Game mastermind, I told my clients about a little hack I use to protect my boundaries as a sensitive person managing a chronic illness diagnosis.
The Long Game mastermind members on a recent call about self-love affirmations
I’ll let you know what it is, but you need a little context first.
The Long Game mastermind is where we dive deep into the things that make you a leader who can withstand tough times.
If you’re a perfectionist or sensitive soul, this is especially important work. The current systems weren’t made to support you, and they’ll break you if you try to play by their rules instead of doubling down on rules that work for you.
You’re not burned out, you’re playing but rules that aren’t meant for you.
There’s a specific type of exhaustion that doesn’t come from doing too much. It comes from trying to do too much in a system that wasn’t created for you.
The current business model demands that you do things faster, more efficiently, and with fewer humans.
That system is actually rooted in patriarchy. And hold on here… I’m not bashing men by using that word.
How does patriarchy show up in business?
When I say “patriarchy,” I don’t mean ALL MEN SUCK! I’m talking patriarchy as a system that is rooted in more “yang” energy. If you’ve seen a yin-yang symbol, there’s a light and a dark side, but they also balance each other.
Patriarchy is more “yang” energy, rooted in the masculine. Now, we all embody both masculine and feminine energy.
I don’t mean these words in the sense that there are only male and female qualities. Obviously, non-binary folks are welcome in this convo, and arguably, they are more balanced than a cisgender person is.
A refresher on the yin-yang symbol, if you haven’t drawn one since 1999.
Examples of Yang energy would be:
Sun, fire, heat
Work, work, work mentality
HIIT workouts
Where yang energy is more active and assertive, yin is more passive and receptive.
Examples of Yin energy would be:
Moon, water, cold
Resting and relaxing
Reformer Pilates
I hope you can see by looking at these examples that we need both to be a complete person.
The same concept applies to you as a leader in your business.
If you are just following the current ways of “how business should be,” you’re leaning way too much into yang energy.
In my mastermind for sensitive, visionary leaders, The Long Game, I’ve noticed people were trying to force too much yang into their business.
Hell, I’ve done this myself.
I tried to play by the existing rules of business, rooted in patriarchy, and it almost killed me.
That’s led me to realize that we have to do things differently as small business owners, especially if you are more “sensitive,” neurodivergent, chronically ill, or just a freaking perfectionist.
We have a lot of conversations about this in The Long Game mastermind, but here’s a juicy little tidbit I shared in a recent meeting.
Remember when we’d say “BRB” on AIM?
If you’re an elder millennial like me, you probably spent a ton of time on AOL Instant Messenger, or “AIM” for short.
You’d jump on, chat with your friends, and then you’d get off the internet, telling them “brb.” (That’s shorthand for be right back.)
You could even put up an away message, so if someone messaged you, they get a message letting them know you were gone.
Image of the AOL Instant messenger interface where you’d write your away message. Message reads, “BRB. Dyed my hair black. Mom got so mad.”
(I always used song lyrics. One of my favorites was a line from a No Doubt song called “Spiderwebs.” I’d leave my away message as “I’m walking into spiderwebs. Leave a message, and I’ll call you back.)
But today’s patriarchal business models don’t want us to BRB
There’s this push demanding you be online or available 24/7, both in business and in real life.
You’re told you have to scale, raise funding, scale, sell or you’re not a “real entrepreneur.”
Fuck that noise.
That is the exact system that is way too “yang” energy and needs to be balanced.
Without that balance, you’re playing by super corporate rules that are built for businesses hell-bent on unlimited scaling potential.
But my clients? They’re not trying to scale until they secure world domination. They just want to serve their community and get paid well to do it.
How can you bring more balance to your business?
In The Long Game mastermind, each quarter we set at least 3 intentions.
I’m not going to reveal the deets of what they are just yet, as we are tinkering with the verbiage as a mastermind group right now.
But I’ll tell you this:
Some intentions are rooted in “yang” energy- specific revenue goals, financial plans, etc.
But others are more “yin” in nature. My mastermind members are setting intentions to get to the beach daily or build a snowman. You know… things that require them to say “brb” to their business.
So - yes. Keep setting goals that work toward your business’s needs.
But don’t forget to say BRB and take care of yourself and your community. It’s good for you, and a simple way to say, “Fuck the patriarchy.” ;)
If you’re sick of playing by rules that don’t serve you, you’re probably a sensitive leader.
And that’s ok! Sensitive doesn’t mean weak. We can build out a business and a brand that reflects your authentic self so you don’t feel trapped in a cage.
But first, you really need to know who the fuck you are.
That’s why The Long Game is invite-only.
Before you can be invited to The Long Game, you must either:
Complete the Unforgettable Expert mini-mastermind, a 3 month mini-mastermind where find out what makes you or your business iconic. (SPRING 2025 APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN. SNAG YOUR SPOT!)
Do a VIP Strategy Day (from $3333, with payment plans available) for your brand with my agency, The Snout Group. Don’t let the name scare you - we are slowly welcoming in non-veterinary clients! Apply to work with us now.
In both of those spaces, we dive deep into getting to know who you are as a whole human, not just a business owner.
Cuz we gotta get you to a point that you know instead of “I have to push through,” you know “I can pause without losing momentum.” (And still be fucking iconic!)
Basically, you have to be prepared to say “brb” before you can play The Long Game.
Got questions about working with Danielle K. Lambert and her team?
Don’t be shy! I don’t wanna sell you shit you don’t need. I wanna make sure this is a match for both of us before we double down on working together.
Shoot me an email or DM me on Instagram.