How this entrepreneur's loss inspired a massive 7 figure earning movement - Lauren Golden Interview Ep.4
Aug 16, 2022
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What does it really take to become a millionaire? In today’s episode, we talk about what it takes to hit 7 figures in business and our guest is brilliant at breaking it down.
Lauren Golden is the founder of The Free Mama Movement and a thriving community of tens of thousands of women. Her mission is simple: to ensure that no mother ever has to choose between family and financial stability. Lauren is also a #1 International Bestselling Author and a 2 Comma Club Award Winner, whose business and life experience has made her a popular choice for guest speaking events, sharing the stage with the likes of Tony Robbins and Russell Brunson. She’s most passionate about helping people get comfortable with the uncomfortable in pursuit of living a totally awesome, guilt-free life.
Accidental Entrepreneur
Lauren has said before that she is an “accidental entrepreneur” but that’s not actually the truth. Growing up, Lauren and her family lived near a golf course. She used to collect golf balls that were accidentally hit into their yard and would sell those golfballs BACK to the golfers for a quarter. She soon “scaled” her golf ball “business” by also selling sodas along with their golf balls.
Lauren discusses this was the time her dad got her a checking account and also taught her some important business lessons.
An Itch She Couldn’t Scratch
Lauren goes on to let us in on what entrepreneurship and working as a freelancer looked like after her daughter and her son were born. Soon after working from home, she felt like there was a calling on her life to teach other people how to work from home. It was an itch she couldn’t scratch, and that’s how she knew what she needed to do.
Her First Side Hustle
Her first side hustle was a wedding planner. Lauren’s strength is event planning. She loves planning in person and virtual events. She discussed how her previous job as an Alum Director also translates into how she runs The Free Mama Movement. She has been able to use her natural strengths in her business, and emphasizes the importance of knowing your strengths and using them for your growth.
She states, “there’s always breadcrumbs in our stories,” she learned how to sharpen her tools to use them as needed for the future. Nothing in our story goes to waste.
Being Resourceful is One of the Greatest Strengths
Lauren talks with us about being resourceful as being one of the greatest strengths a person can hone. She believes it’s not about having all of the resources already but how one can be resourceful.
I asked Lauren if she thought the skill of being resourceful or the attitude was more important. Her response was beautiful. Lauren stated that she believes “attitude dictates everything else.” She quoted Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.” She talks about how good attitude helps us to be resourceful.
Not a Natural Risk Taker
Lauren lets us in on a secret, that she is not a natural risk taker. She tells us how entrepreneurship has indeed help formed her into being the risk taker she is now, but she didn’t start off that way. She trusts herself and how or when she will accomplish her goals. She states, “I am not a natural risk taker. I have become a risk taker because I have this track record of when I pursue things and trust myself and I follow through, I will accomplish my goal”.
Her husband is also an entrepreneur, so before she took the leap of faith to go into full time business owner and leave her job, she was the “stable” pay check of the two. For her, leaving her 9-5 job was a big risk, not just for her but for her family.
Bouncing Back After Loss
“My whole business was founded on a miscarriage and what came from it.” Lauren shares with us the moment she miscarried and how in the moment of loss, Lauren knew she needed to quit her job. In this moment, she was fed up with playing it safe and choosing to stay stuck.
She knew she had to take this leap and trust herself. Lauren reminds us “It’s a journey of learning to trust yourself. I trusted that even if I quit my job, I have something to offer. I am hirable, I can find a new job etc…”
She looks back at 2015 and knows her baby’s life was meaningful. She knows her baby’s life not only changed the trajectory of her life but the life of many other women and their families.
What Really Generates Connection
Lauren talks to us about how social media has moved many of us to only show the highlights of our lives. She points out that the reality is, the dark sides of our stories are really what generates connection. It’s really what attracts others to us and our business.
“We’re spending so much time suppressing our dark stories, our missteps, our tragedies. But it's that side of us that generates connection and in business the know, like, trust factor gets people to buy from you.”
“When we have the courage to free our true selves, we give others permission to do the same.” Lauren speaks from experience, as her whole business was founded on the miscarriage she had, and the willingness to share her story with others.
Put Your House in Order First
One of the reasons we all go into entrepreneurship is, is money. Let’s face it, we have a responsibility to take care of our households and our families. Lauren and I discuss how important it is to meet our basic needs first, and then making an impact come later. We can’t make an impact, unless our house is in order.
“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” - Mother Teresa
Getting Better at Your Craft Should Be Fun
“A good sign that you’re in the right lane for you is when you’re learning about something and getting better at it and mastering your expertise and skill is fun. It doesn’t feel like work”. Lauren knew she was on the right track when what she was doing felt good. She couldn’t get enough of podcasts and learning about growing her business.
It wasn’t always fun or easy. She also understood that getting good at anything, she had to go through the hard stuff. She knew that failing would help her in learning. She couldn’t be afraid of failure. She reminds us that one will fail and will want to give up, but DON’T GIVE UP!
Obstacles happen and people will try and keep you down. People might even tell you that you are “too much” but those things are the things that can shape your future.
You Find Out Who Your Real Friends Are
We have all heard the saying, “you find out who your real friends are when you go through tough times.” However, she has actually lost more friends in her success. Some people haven’t known how to handle her success. When she wrote her book in 2018, only three real life friends reached out to her. Even though this hurt, she also owned her devastation, “all disappointment comes from unmet expectations.”
She had to bless and release the expectations of who was going to be there for her and move on. She did this without hostility and accepted they were in her life for only a season, but that it was time to evolve her peer group. So, she did.
More From Lauren
This conversation with Lauren was so insightful and honest. I hope you will listen to the full episode (link episode) to hear so much more of Lauren’s heart on business and life. Don’t forget to check out Lauren’s 70 Skills Check List today!
If you enjoyed this interview, you will enjoy Alli's interview! You can check it out here!
Favourite quotes we discussed:
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.” - Henry Ford
“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” - Mother Teresa
“The greatness of a leader is measured by the achievements of the led. This is the ultimate test of his effectiveness.” — Omar N. Bradley
How to connect with Lauren:
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Learn more about Lauren: https://thefreemama.com/
- How to Start your own virtual assistant business workshop
Links to check out:
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McCall Jones: https://charismahacking.com/
