#464 - Dreaming Bigger, Working Less, with Lulu Wren

Today’s podcast episode is a special one for me because I’m chatting with someone from our Dream Life Coaching community, the beautiful Lulu Wren.

And honestly, after hearing her share her dreams inside one of our coaching sessions, I knew immediately that more people needed to hear her story.

What I love so much about this conversation is that Lulu reminds us that creating your dream life doesn’t always mean building something huge or dramatic.

Sometimes your dream life is simply creating more space, more freedom, more joy and more time for the things that truly matter.

One of my favourite parts of this conversation is hearing how Lulu created her now-famous “Fabulous Fridays” and how those intentional days became the catalyst for an even bigger dream: working just three days a week while still running a successful business she loves.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • Why your dream life does not need to look impressive to anyone else
  • How small changes can completely transform the way you feel about your life
  • How accountability, routines and community can help you stay connected to your dreams

This conversation is calm, honest, inspiring and deeply relatable. If you’ve been craving more freedom, more balance, or simply permission to create life differently, I know you’re going to love this episode.

Take this opportunity to learn how to stop replaying the past and start creating momentum again.

...and try my new free Mid-Year Off-Track Check, designed to help you uncover what’s really getting in the way and what your most important next step might be.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonated most with you - so please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

Have a wonderful week …and remember, it all starts with a dream 💛

Dream Life & kikki.K Founder

P.S. If this episode resonates with you, I’d absolutely love for you to join me inside my upcoming live workshop, The 6-Month Reset, where we’ll go even deeper together.

 

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TRANSCRIPT:

[00:00:00] Hi there, and welcome back to another episode of Your Dream Life podcast. Today, I'm extra excited. I know I'm always excited about our guests here. But today, I'm a little extra excited because today's guest, Lulu Wren, is in, in the Dream Life coaching program.

[00:00:21] And a little while ago, she shared some of her dreams with some of us inside the coaching program. And honestly, I sat there thinking, "More people need to hear this." So I asked her if she would be willing to share her, a little bit about her story on the podcast. and luckily, she said yes, and we had the most inspiring conversation.

[00:00:44] So let's dive right in.

[00:00:55] Kristina: Well, hello Lulu, and a very warm welcome to my podcast. I can't [00:01:00] tell you how excited I am to have you here.

[00:01:02] Lulu: Great. It's so lovely to be here, Kristina.

[00:01:05] Kristina: Thank you so much. I want to start with the question that I ask everyone who joins my podcast, and that is, did you have a dream as a child, something you wanna do, have, or become?

[00:01:17] Lulu: I really wanted to be a businesswoman. I wanted to have my own business, and I had no idea what that would be. And I did quite a few things, you know, along the way. but yeah, that's what I really wanted to do. Fantastic.

[00:01:33] Kristina: Fantastic. I absolutely love that because you really are a businesswoman now. But it wasn't a, a straight path, which it rarely is. And, uh, and, and I, and you know, we, I think we all, when we, when we dream, we think we're gonna have a path that is kinda really smooth, but I never really seen a line like that.

[00:01:52] It's always some ups and downs, and that is brilliant because we wanna have lots of experiences, and we wanna learn from [00:02:00] all the things. And, and I think later in life we're getting clearer and clearer what we do want and what we don't want. Yeah. So I'm curious, you worked in the corporate sector, and um, I always talk about this in the coaching program, that I truly believe to be in control of our own life and create our dream life, it's much easier if we have our own business.

[00:02:25] But it doesn't mean that you have to start that way, and I think it's so great to have worked in corporate because you learn about, you know, working with people, and you learn about teamwork, and you learn about, you know, what, what you perhaps don't want in your own business. And also, you really, really appreciate when you work for yourself in terms of that freedom.

[00:02:45] It does not mean that it's easier to, to work for yourself. I'm definitely not saying that. But I'm saying it's easier to be more flexible. It's easier to work out a business that you really wanna have, even though it, it doesn't happen overnight. So I am curious, [00:03:00] what, what made you take that leap from going from corporate, and I think you have said in the past that that was a bit stressful and you wanna change.

[00:03:08] So I'd love to hear what triggered that and how you kinda then got into your own business.

[00:03:13] Lulu: Mm, yeah. I mean, I'm very grateful for all the things I've done previously. I ran, um, I was a, aerobics instructor. I ran a, opened a vegetarian cafe. and then I went into corporate, and I'm very grateful, um...

[00:03:30] It was in the travel industry, and I'm very grateful for all the wonderful trips and, experiences, um, that I had. But I really had this feeling of I just wanna work for myself. I wanna work from home. I wanna be away from all the politics and everything. but I didn't know what, what I would do, and actually motherhood is what, changed that direction for me. after I had my first, son, I- my brother just [00:04:00] contacted me out of the blue and said, um, his bookkeeper has ghosted him, and would I do his bookkeeping, uh, for him? And he would give me a little bit of training from a, the software company. I went, "Oh, yeah. Okay." Yeah. " And then I didn't know that that would be the start of, of my new career.

[00:04:21] And so I always know how long I've been in business because it's how old my son is, who, um, he's 21. I've always been good at manifesting things, and my friends have always said if, you know, if I wanna make something happen, then I make it happen. But th- for this, I really didn't know.

[00:04:37] I really had, it arrived. and I took that opportunity, and then became a BAS agent, and, I saw my, other people doing different things, and I thought, "That's what I would like to do," is have multiple clients, which appeals to me with lots of variety. And, um, and at the start it was a business, bookkeeping was you had to go to the [00:05:00] premises. and I was traveling all over, Brisbane going to premises. And then, Xero was a interrupter in the, bookkeeping space, and it allowed me to work from home. Yeah. Which I have done, you know, for the last sort of, hmm, 10, 10 or so, 15 years, just worked- Yeah ... from home. Yes, I'm very g- very, um, grateful for that.

[00:05:26] And even within bookkeeping, lot of people, uh, build big bookkeeping businesses. Yep. And they've got lots of staff and lots of things. But in the view of really trying to be true to myself, what I really wanted to do was just have a business that I controlled and that I c- I could do.

[00:05:45] So I had a bit of mental sort of like, "Oh, should I be building a big business?" Yeah. No, that's not my, what I really wanting to do.

[00:05:55] Kristina: So Lulu was in a group who just finished a 12-year, m- my [00:06:00] 12-year program, and we had a bit of a celebration.

[00:06:04] And what I loved, and I'm now paraphrasing, so I'm not saying perhaps the words that you, you said, but basically you were saying, "Well, I don't really have big dreams. Uh, you know, I just wanna work less." And I'm like, "That is big dreams." Because big dreams is not, you know, what we think it is. You know, I, I had a big dream starting a, a global business, but my big, my big dream now is to, my, my ultimate dream is to become a digital nomad.

[00:06:29] I wanna work... I love my work. I love coaching. I love speaking. I love traveling, and that's kinda my, my ultimate dream, but I don't wanna do that yet because I still have children at home and I want to... So I, I'm happy to travel a little bit a- little bit, but not, uh, overseas as much for speaking purposes.

[00:06:46] But that's, that to me is like a big dream. And for you, you, you said it's not really big, but everyone who was on that call were just so inspired and wanna h- hear more from you and the way that you think. So [00:07:00] I, I was like, "I, I love to have you on the podcast," because this is real dreams for f- people who are, who listen to their heart and listen to what they really want.

[00:07:11] And it doesn't mean that we happen, it happens overnight. So I'd love for you to share a little bit about that, how you kind of started this dream of working less and what that actually means for you going forward. And it doesn't mean that you have to have everything worked out now, obviously.

[00:07:26] Lulu: Well, the, I, I think it started when, um, I probably joined the program and, and listened to what you were sorta saying is, "What would you do if you couldn't fail, if money wasn't a problem and time?"

[00:07:40] And they are the big things for me, money, time. Yeah. Absolutely. Um, what would I do? What would I do? And I'm like really sat with it, and it really was coming into my mind, what would I do? What would I do? And it was that I would work, work less. Sort of the ideas of sort of being s- like semi-retired or how do I have, uh, [00:08:00] it was just all things like, like that. it started a, a couple of years ago when I I wanted to work four days. Yep. And so I was really nervous about what would my clients think, what would I do, but I had Fridays off, and it's just been the best thing I've ever done in my business. Fabulous Fridays, and I do all sorts of lovely things for myself. no real housework or, how... It's really just, a- and you know, occasional thing if a client will ring me. But really it's just all the things that, uh, really fill my bucket and things that I'm really interested in. then I thought, "Well, if that's really my j- what, what do I really w- uh, want?"

[00:08:46] I thought, "I really wanna work three days a week." And I actually saw a bookkeeper on their tagline, on their email, that said, "I work Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday." [00:09:00] And I thought, "That's it. That's what I wanna do." I, I- I work Monday and Tuesday really, you know, I'm more efficient and effective and do lots of client work, have Wednesday off and really enjoy that day off.

[00:09:14] And then come back, close off the week, finish everything, and then have Friday. And when I had that idea, it was, uh, so good.

[00:09:23] Kristina: Yeah. So

[00:09:23] Lulu: I'm giving myself, it's my top goal for the year- Mm-hmm ... um, that by the beginning of 2027, I'll be working three days. so then my halfway goal by 30 June is to work three and a half days. that's what I'm planning.

[00:09:41] Kristina: I love it. I love it. It's so inspiring. So Share what you, um, do on a Friday currently. What really fills your cup, and, uh, and how are you finding it? I'd love to hear a little bit on that.

[00:09:54] Lulu: Yeah.

[00:09:55] Well, I really do lots of different [00:10:00] things. so last Friday I did a workout, uh, here, and then I went for lunch and a walk with a friend. Then I went to the gym. Uh, no, I went to the library. Yep. And then I went to yoga.

[00:10:15] Kristina: It's like a dream day. Yeah, yeah.

[00:10:18] Lulu: Yeah, yeah. And then I think about it and go, "Oh."

[00:10:21] And I was telling my boys about it then, and, and they go, "Yeah-" That's an ideal day for you. I'm like, "Yeah, that's it." But sometimes, um, I might get my hair cut, but then I'll meet a friend for a coffee, and then I'll go to here and here. And, um, I'm... In a few weeks' time, I'm having my, um, beautiful mum passed away, four years ago, and I'm having coffee with her best friend-

[00:10:48] Kristina: Mm

[00:10:48] in a cou-

[00:10:49] Lulu: in a couple of weeks' time. I go to craft things. Oh, this Friday, I'm getting up early and I'm going with a friend, and we're driving [00:11:00] up to Gympie, which is a couple of hours north of Brisbane. And we're getting on a trai- it's called the, Gympie Rattler, and we're going on a, a trip to nowhere, out and back, and having high tea- on the train.

[00:11:14] Kristina: That is so beautiful. I love that. And, you know, it's, it's so inspiring, and I really hope everyone listening that, that, you know, this was a bit of a plan to get to that. And for anyone who are, uh, listening and feel like that's impossible right now, which it likely will be, because that's where we all start.

[00:11:33] And, uh, 'cause I started with Fridays as well, I started just by having the morning, uh, and I was doing... I went to s- to this kid's school's assembly, and then I went out for breakfast after, uh, first on my own, and then I invited someone inspiring, 'cause I love meeting inspiring people.

[00:11:51] And it would often people that were, had been on my podcast or were coming on my podcast that I didn't really know, and it was so inspiring to do that. And for anyone listening, I, [00:12:00] I just wanna say that you don't have to start during the week. You can actually start on a Sunday if you are in control of your own, uh, o- of your own time.

[00:12:08] And for s- for anyone who has young kids, this might not be possible for a while, but you can perhaps find an hour. And I think, to hear this is so inspiring and aspirational, but not be the case for all of us straightaway. And I think you know, you had young kids for a long time, and that might not be, not have been possible e- at the start, but you, as now, you, have more time.

[00:12:30] And it's the same with morning rituals. It's all where as we kind of plant it, and then, um, take a s- few small actions. So, so do you actually then plan out your Fridays in advance, or do you wake up... I mean, obviously the train's in, in a couple of weeks is. But- Mm ... do you have days where you'd be like, "Actually, I'm just gonna wake up and feel what, see what I feel like"?

[00:12:51] Lulu: Sort of, but I am a bit of a planner.

[00:12:54] Kristina: Yeah.

[00:12:54] Lulu: Okay, great. So sometimes things happen spontaneously and I'll have a gap, [00:13:00] and then my f- uh, friend the other day said, "Oh, well do you want to meet for, do you want to meet, um, for lunch?" And I was thinking, "Oh, I wondered what I was going to do in those few hours." And then I said, "Oh, well, I'm gonna be down in this area.

[00:13:14] Why don't we go down, um, to Sandgate?" And she goes, "Great." And we had this, uh, lovely late lunch overlooking the water. but I then, because I thought maybe I would come home in between, in the, earlier in the plan, but I would always pack my yoga gear. So if I stay out- I'll go straight to yoga at 5:00 PM- Yeah

[00:13:39] on a Friday. Okay. Yeah. So sometimes there's gaps and I just think what amazingness will fill it.

[00:13:46] Kristina: Yeah. Fantastic. And I think you mentioned in, in a, one of our sessions- Mm-hmm ... that you sometimes go to the library as well, 'cause you're an avid reader. Yes.

[00:13:55] Lulu: Yes. So I will... If I've ever got, um, a bit of [00:14:00] time, like an hour or a couple of hours on a Friday that's not planned, I'll go to the library. maybe pick up some books, drop them off, just be in the, in, in that atmosphere.

[00:14:10] Kristina: Yeah. I c- I couldn't agree more. I actually have on a, a, uh, on my Instagram, I have different folders, and I have folders for different cities. So I have, um, you know, my home city because there's so many places I haven't been to in Sydney.

[00:14:27] I have a folder for almost every city that I frequently go to, and also places I want to go to, so s- that's also country. And, uh, I love that because it gives me that kind of... So I can't make it all happen straightaway, but it's really great to have, to, um, have saved things. So for example, when I, uh, speak in a, in a, you know, in Melbourne or Brisbane, I will go to those folders, like what cafes, for example, or- Yes

[00:14:52] libraries in there, and bookshops are in there. So it's really nice way of, of kind of planning it out without really having a plan. [00:15:00] So just thought I'd share that in case that's interesting for anyone listening. So, um, I wanna talk about how did you deal with the guilt? So you had some guilt for your customers, and perhaps for family.

[00:15:13] Uh, maybe you felt like, you know, "Who, who am I to take this time for myself?" I think a lot of us feel that way, so, and I- Yeah ... I've no doubt the listeners will be feeling that's kind of too, too selfish. And I wanna share one thing that I, I reflected on on Mother's Day. So when I had young kids, and I worked a lot, and then on Mother's Day I felt like the Mother's Day should be a day where the mum can do whatever they want, and it's often the other way, where you go, you know, to mother-in-laws, and you go, and you have big lunches, and you have to organize things.

[00:15:44] And I, and I did all that because, you know, that was the celebration, but I always said to my family, "I actually just f- I don't want any gifts. All I want is a day for me," especially when you had young kids. And last Mother's Day just passed, I was [00:16:00] completely alone, and I was like, "Actually, now I don't want that."

[00:16:04] It's funny what we wish for. But of course I was fine. But my... And, you know, my family was saying- Or I, I got this opportunity to do this. My daughter's away for a term. Uh, my partner got a opportunity to do something, and I'm like, "Go for it," because, you know, we can do all that later on. And

[00:16:20] I had such a great opportunity to have a day for me to really think on what matters to me now. And, um, it was so beautiful, and so many of us do not take the time, first of all, to think about what we really want. Yes. And often we don't want big things, like- No ... to go to walk in nature, that's free. To have a coffee, you know, doesn't cost too much.

[00:16:41] I mean, ex- coffees are expensive, but it's absolutely, for most of us, doable to have a coffee, you know, once a year out. So I want you to share about the guilt, the feeling perhaps, that it was too small dream. I wanna hear all that, how you dealt with that.

[00:16:57] Lulu: I had to deal with my own kind of, of [00:17:00] feelings for that.

[00:17:01] And then there's all, like, little steps that helped me get there. other, uh, business people, other things said, "Just go for it, go for it." So I had lots o- of, of that. Then I thought s- so somebody said, "Say what you do do, not what you don't do." So I put on my, email signature, "I work Monday to Thursday."

[00:17:24] Yep. Instead of saying I don't work Fridays- Yeah ... I work Monday to Thursday- Yeah ... to my clients. Great. Um, and I actually was going on this am- amazing trip, um, with my best friend to New York. and it was supposed to be in, in COVID and then it was, it was happening. And so I sent this email to my clients, "Right, I'm going away for two and a half weeks, and when I come back, I'm just going, I'm going to be working just Monday to Thursday." and my clients have been absolutely amazing. not a blip. Not a blip and with my family, [00:18:00] because my boys are, like teenagers, they're fine. "Great, Mum, have a good time." but my husband was a little bit, he was w- sort of working from home and, and, um, different things.

[00:18:12] And he called them, this is a bit rude now, on, on... He called them fuck-off Fridays. I love it. I love it. I love it. And because that's exactly what I was doing, going. But I said to him after a w- I said, "I think it's quite disrespectful." I said, " this is really my dream and what I, th- this is really what I want to do.

[00:18:36] And I call it my fabulous Friday, and I would like you to call it my fab- uh, fabulous Friday." And he goes, "Oh, okay." he interpreted it a bit as I was- Yeah, leaving him. But now I say, if he's working from home that day, I'll say, "Okay, see ya. I'll see you at 6:45 after y-..." This is, like, maybe 8:00 in the morning, 9:00, 10:00.[00:19:00]

[00:19:00] "I'll see you at 6:45 after yoga."

[00:19:02] Kristina: so you dealt with it by actually just taking action and doing it, and then I have n- like, I'm assuming now that your Fridays is, like, you don't have any guilt. You just- No ... and, and I would assume that you are a better mother, a better partner, a better businesswoman- Yes

[00:19:17] because when you work, you really work.

[00:19:19] Lulu: Yeah. I really think so. And think that I appreciate my business. and then when I'm into the weekend, I've had my time on the Friday, and then, um, being able to do family things and, you know, lots of other things. Yeah. I also do lots of other things on weekends as well because I've got, yeah, lots of good ideas about- Yeah, yeah

[00:19:43] things that, things that are good for me. And really I think it's come from Julia Cameron. Like, her two big things are morning pages- Yeah I was al- I was doing years ago, but you really have re-inspired me, um, with doing [00:20:00] morning pages. But her other, main thing is an artist date. Yeah. And effectively what Friday is, is an artist date. to me, be- I'm creative in, in craft and different things like that, so it's not arty at all, but it's, it's what do I wanna do. What-

[00:20:21] Kristina: Yeah ...

[00:20:21] Lulu: yeah.

[00:20:22] Kristina: Yeah. And that's what Artist Date is all about. So for anyone listening, it's basically a book that we had actually read in, in the group a few years ago, and everyone who were in the coaching program at that time started doing their, their artist dates. like, I see it as a, as a, it's a day where, where... And I, I started it when I was, like, maybe 25, and then of course there was, there was, you know, ups and downs in, in terms of following that through when the kids were little and I would travel a lot. And, but it was so good because the way I started my artist, um, dates was basically just waking up and having no [00:21:00] plans. And for someone who loves planning- Mm ... and someone who's a bit of a control freak, I found that really challenging, but it was so liberating. It was so s- it gave me so many ideas, and that's when, that's where all my creative ideas in terms of products in my past business and my new business, it's where I think about the coaching program now when I have a day like that.

[00:21:21] It's just, it's so, so amazing. So I, I loved it. For anyone listening, um, it's a book, um, worth reading, but if not wanna read the book, two things, you know, the morning pages and the artist, um, date is definitely one that I got. That's what I really implemented from that book, so that's fantastic. Yeah. I wanted to ask you a little bit about how you're finding the program, because we have a lot of listeners who might be thinking of joining it, and obviously I'm very biased about the program because it's, um, I'm creating everything in there that I love.

[00:21:53] So, I love hearing it from your perspective. But before we do, like, what made you actually [00:22:00] join?

[00:22:00] Lulu: I have been saying to... I'm in a, um, fiction book club, an online, book club. Yep. And I think that's great, 'cause I don't have to think a- about what I'm going to read. and then they have a few nonfiction mixed into that.

[00:22:20] Yeah. But I've said to friends, "Oh, I, I mainly read nonfiction books, and wouldn't it be good to be in a nonfiction book club?" And then I saw what, that you were doing that, and I thought, "Oh. Oh, okay." Um, so I started in the Grow program, and then I thought, I really wanted, um, accountability. you know, loved reading and self-development and things. but- I would just get off tr- get off track Yeah And so I thought, I really need something where I'm accountable, where, um, I'm [00:23:00] continuously putting myself into sort of self-development situations- Yeah ... um, and showing up and learning. and that's what it's really, done for me. And at different times, like daylight savings, and it was earlier and I noticed I wasn't, coming in person, and I thought, oh, it- that really is the key, is to- Yeah ... is to be there in person. I would often listen to the recording if I couldn't be there.

[00:23:29] But there's just something really magical about, being on a Zoom call with women all over Australia and all over the world who are all doing different things. but we're hearing, inspiring, uh, sort of personal development things. And, and going back over the b- over the basics all the time. Yeah.

[00:23:52] Yeah. W- what's your morning routine? What's your, what's your top three? All those sort of basic things that, for [00:24:00] me, it's easy when I get busy to forget about those.

[00:24:04] Kristina: I've got lots of things now. Hab- you know, habit tracking and d- uh... But I think i- if I've fall off track, if I just turn up on a Monday night, well, I'm, I'm sort of back in the game really.

[00:24:17] Lulu: Yeah, yeah. Be- being reminded of what, what I, what I want.

[00:24:21] Kristina: was interesting when I, when I started the coaching program, started with just, like, my online course, which is basically Your Dream Life Starts Here, with all... There's like six mod- modules, 42 videos and, and then we did some lives and, and that worked really well.

[00:24:37] But then there were so many people saying, " You know, I don't wanna do the same thing every six weeks, I wanna show up every week." So then I was like- Yeah ... "Oh, could I do something like that?" And then I looked what everyone else was doing, and it's like no one really went online every week.

[00:24:51] And, I remember when I was in EO, which is Entrepreneurs' Organization, And I got so much out of that in so many different ways, but the one [00:25:00] thing that I got the most out of was the monthly meeting. It was only monthly, Because I, I, I got into that zone again because, you know, we, we all fall off track, and we all, we all get s- sidetracked, and we have challenges coming, you know, you know, we have personal challenges, business challenges, world challenges.

[00:25:19] So we all fall off track, that's just, that's just life. But if we all show up, regardless if you've done the work, and we did the business book club last night, and there was quite a few s- people said, "I'm sorry, I haven't read the book." And I'm like, "It doesn't matter because, ' we're gonna talk about the book, but it's, we're gonna talk business."

[00:25:34] And all of a sudden everyone was back on, excited about implementing a few things in their business. And I, I absolutely love that everyone comes on Mondays if, if they're able to. And then, uh, like for people who love working on themself, and I think there's nothing better than working on ourselves because that's the only thing that no one can ever take from you.

[00:25:57] You know- Yeah ... we can, we can lose our business, and we can lose [00:26:00] our jobs, and relationships, or whatever, but the one thing that we always have is that investment that we done, um, on ourselves. So I love that you, uh, loving that. what do you think about the community? Because one of the things that every time I shut, um, Zoom off on a Monday I'm like, "Oh, I can't believe that we have all these incredible people from all over the world."

[00:26:23] Majority is Australians, but we have people from all over the world, and I just love that we are all working on our dream life, all different, you know, and we have young people, older people, and everything in between. What do you think about the community? 'Cause that's what gets me every time. I'm like, "I cannot believe that I'm surrounded by these incredible people from all over the world."

[00:26:45] Lulu: it's been really great. and I think there's lots of research and lots of things about it's, you know, it's good to be with people who are older and people who are younger. Yeah. You know, you see different things. but I also [00:27:00] like you're at the same sort of stage of life- kind of, of me- Yep

[00:27:04] as far as, you know, the age of your children and, I like that. Yeah. that I can relate to the things that you're, that you're doing. but I love hearing a- a- about all what other people are doing.

[00:27:18] Kristina: Yeah.

[00:27:19] Lulu: And someone else would just say, "Oh, what about this po-" Someone put a link last night to a podcast, and I've copied that, and I'll listen to that at, at lunchtime today.

[00:27:31] So all just little, little ideas. when, Tanya said she had been doing morning pages for, you know, so many years. But when she said that she's made herself go for 20 minutes, and that after the 20 minutes that's when she started to get the, uh, the goodness. Yeah, yeah. And I thought, "Oh, that's what... I needed to hear that."

[00:27:54] Yeah. Because I'd be like, "Oh, I could just do, I'll just do, you know, quick five minutes or whatever." Yeah. [00:28:00] But to really commit. The... It wasn't so much Julie Cameron's three pages, but when Tanya said, like, 20 minutes or so, that, that really made a, a big difference to me. Yeah. Yeah. So there's always just little things that, all w- women sa- comment and, and what's worked for them.

[00:28:20] Everyone's just talking about what's worked for them, and, I find that, that really amazing. Yeah. And it's interesting, the, the, w- the ex- the session you ran that just had a s- you know, the smaller number of people. Yeah. After the, uh, us people celebrating, 12 months. I actually really liked that because I don't ha- would hardly ever put my hand up in the group or, uh, because even though it's a super welcoming thing it's- I don't know, just sit back a little bit. Yeah. And so that was r- a really good opportunity to just hear the [00:29:00] backstory of of different people.

[00:29:02] Kristina: Fantastic. We're gonna do more of that, 'cause as you know, uh, my, word of the year is focus, and I'm taking that to another level. It's been so, uh... And I feel like, you know, ugh, so many things I wanna do, so that's fantastic to hear. And I love, I also love...

[00:29:16] So one of my favorite parts of the program is accountability, so that's the last session. Because I go, so what happens, for anyone listening who's hasn't been part of the program, so basically I divide people up in pairs, and it's random. So I, I get Zoom to decide who goes, because otherwise I'll be spending, you know, hours working out who should be with who, and then I'm like, "Nah, whoever is meant to meet today."

[00:29:39] Just trust you. And it's, and it's so funny because people often say to me after th- and email me and saying, "Did you purposely put me with this person?" And I'm like, "No, I didn't." And she said, "It felt like it because I needed to hear what she had to share." And that could be in challenges, that could be in, making things happen, and anything in between.

[00:29:59] And, uh, [00:30:00] and I, it just makes me so happy to, to see that bec- And then sometimes you go back to a person that you've been with before, and that's, then you can, you know, build on what you started, you know, maybe a few months ago. So I absolutely love that, and I know accountability works so well for me. I, I do that myself as well.

[00:30:16] And, uh, when I go from room to room to listen, it's really hard for me to kinda get away from that room- Yes ... because I'm like, "Oh, I wanna hear more." But I try to always, um, just skim through the rooms just to see what's happening so I can then create better content and help people better. So, um, is accountability one of your favorites as well?

[00:30:35] Mm. D- yeah, definitely.

[00:30:37] Lulu: And overall, to me it's all about accountability.

[00:30:41] Kristina: Yeah.

[00:30:42] Lulu: Like, that, that's what I was really looking for. And, uh, so it's sort of baked into everything. But I, I do like, um, that. The, and then I think, "Oh, what were my top three for them, for that month?" Yeah. Yeah. But, but then I commit to, okay, I'm going to do that.

[00:30:59] And, [00:31:00] one of them I said I wanted to, meditate each day. And then the, my partner, she, uh, said, "Oh, well, what, well h- w- what timeframe? When are you going to do it?" Yeah. And really challenged me to go, "Okay. Well, I'll, I'll do it here." So now I have a, in the morning, No coffee until I've meditated.

[00:31:21] Kristina: Oh, fantastic. Fantastic. We're gonna talk about your, um, morning ritual in a second, but I just wanted to... So for anyone who is listening, and I have been thinking about the program, but obviously it's an investment, uh, not in just, in not just in money, but in time. So what do you say to someone who is similar to you and wants to take that next leap but not quite sure?

[00:31:44] Lulu: Oh, well I definitely, it, it's really been, has been worthwhile, uh, for me. And I committed for a year up front. Yep. And that worked for me, just be- not having to think every month, "Oh, is this worthwhile?" Just commit to, commit to [00:32:00] the, the month. That was- Yeah ... uh, the year, sorry. That was, that was really good. and it's inspiring for me to hear you say that the coaching program is one of your priorities.

[00:32:11] ' cause then I think, "Oh, well what good things is Kristina gonna create?" Yeah. If her focus is on this program, then well, you know, there's gonna be really good, new content and new things, Oh, sure ... coming out. Yeah. so if people, women have their own business, then I would say, this is not tax advice.

[00:32:33] But I would say it's a business expense. Yeah. It's business co- it's business coaching. Yeah. It's a business- Sure ... it's a business expense. Yeah. So my business pays for it, Kristina. Absolutely.

[00:32:45] Kristina: Yeah. And you know, and for a lot of people actually who are in the corporate who's in the program as well, they get their employees, uh, or employer to, to pay for it.

[00:32:53] To pay for it. Or, or, uh, p- put it as part, 'cause most corporates now have kind of a wellness [00:33:00] allowance or- Yes ... there's many different ways of- Ah, yes ... yeah. So, I think, and you know, I always say this because I'm like, I only want people in the program who really wants to be there, because otherwise it's not a great place to be.

[00:33:12] The- Yeah ... and I think, you know, in, in any kind of team you want people to be there because they wanna be there. So that's what I always say, and that's why I like to hear from other people, what do they get out of it, because obviously I'm biased because I'm creating things that I like to have. So, so it's great.

[00:33:27] Yeah. Yeah. but this has been so inspiring, and I love how you shared too that you didn't speak up. That happens with everyone who's new, and that's why I'm now, like, I'm now changing the, uh, because I'm learning and hearing what people are, what the challenges are. And you know, people often say it take them a few months before they speak up, and now I'm doing an intro call, so I'm building on that.

[00:33:48] So all those kinda things which is fantastic. But, um, I also think that that's a, a reality for most people when you start a new program or if you start a new job or a new business, that you sometimes wanna [00:34:00] observe, uh, observe a little bit and then you can jump in. And I think the one on one has really helped people to kind of then start opening up and then they can do that in a, in a bigger f- forum as well.

[00:34:11] And everyone, I feel like there is- You know, there's just such a beautiful people and everyone wants everyone there to do well, which, uh- That's right ... of course. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. Yeah.

[00:34:21] Lulu: And I, I think I did do a trial, like I did a one-month- Mm-hmm ... trial. Yep. I did a month's trial of the book club- Yep

[00:34:30] at a reduced price. Yep. and then said, "Oh, well, you could, for that price you could go," you know, or whatever, "you could go into the coaching program for a month." Yep. That w- that really worked for me. Yep.

[00:34:42]

[00:34:42] Kristina: I'm glad that worked for you, so- Yes ... thank you so much. So I, I just wanna ask a couple of, uh, three more questions. Yeah. One, share your morning ritual with us.

[00:34:51] Lulu: there's always room for improvement. but, at the moment I'm doing, morning pages. Yeah. I'm doing, as I said, [00:35:00] meditate, and then have a, have a lovely, coffee. Yeah. I write out my top three for the day. and, and I post those on a, a forum. So I do that and then I write out my day, and including sort of personal kind of things.

[00:35:17] Yeah. And then I book all my Focusmate, sessions. Yeah. which is a, a body doubling sort of platform. So I book all those for the day, and the first session of that, uh, whichever I do, is a planning, a planning day, a planning- Yeah ... session. Yeah. What's my top three? Where- how am I gonna fit everything in? Yeah. So used- years ago I would, exercise in the mornings and stuff, but now I more exercise maybe at lunchtime or after work. Yeah. I wanna incorporate maybe a walk soon as I get up in the morning, and then come back and do these. But it's good in the program, you know, that we come back around to morning routines, and so it's like, "Oh."

[00:35:59] Kristina: Yeah, we always have [00:36:00] that because I feel like morning rituals changes as we, as our life changes, and as our priorities changes, and our top three changes, 'cause every year we work on three different things. So that might be if you're focusing on health, that might mean more things in the morning.

[00:36:13] Or if, if someone focusing on their business, that might be more, you know, work-related. So morning rituals changes all the time and, um, changes for me as well. And, uh, I try new things all the time, which makes it, you know, a bit fun as well to kind of change things up a bit and see what works and what doesn't.

[00:36:32] So amazing. A

[00:36:34] Lulu: great book I read last year was called Tiny Experiments. uh, I like that kind of thing. I'm sort of e- you know, experiment and see- do I feel great about that morning routine? So- Yeah. Yeah, that's

[00:36:46] Kristina: a great book. We're actually reading that in Grow, uh, next year, and she's coming on my podcast as well.

[00:36:51] She's booked in- Oh ... so it's really exciting. She's, she's super

[00:36:54] Lulu: inspiring. I think she's, she's fabulous, yes.

[00:36:55] Kristina: Yeah, yeah. So it's coming out later this year, so I'm really excited about [00:37:00] that. the other question I have for you is, is there one book that had... is your favorite book or had a really big impact on your life?

[00:37:09] I'm sure there will be many, but if you could choose one. There's

[00:37:11] Lulu: many, many. But really the first book was, Shakti Gawain's book called Creative Visualization. Okay. and that was back, I'm s- I'd have to say 30 years ago. that was when my mind was like, "Oh, wow, if you really think about what you want and give it good energy," and she puts things, if I remember correct, like in pink bubbles and clouds and lets it go, then good things, good things will come. that has really been the basis of, of w- how I've lived my life, yeah.

[00:37:51] Kristina: Fantastic. So it was

[00:37:52] Lulu: Creative Visualization. Visualization. Is it s- It's an old book. I, I assume it's still in print. Yep. What's the author? Uh, [00:38:00] Shakti, S-H-A-K-T-I, Gawain, G... I think it's G-A-W-A-I-N. Yep. Perfect. Perfect.

[00:38:07] We'll

[00:38:08] Kristina: link to that, uh, in the show notes. Yeah. So thank you for sharing that. And the last question I have for you is, knowing what you know now- Yes ... what kind of advice would you give to your younger self?

[00:38:20] Lulu: Oh, I just wanna give her so much self-compassion Mm-hmm that's the other book that I loved was Kristin Neff's Self-Compassion.

[00:38:27] When I read that I'm like, " I could really be my own f- best friend." That's what I would like to tell my younger self, "Be your own best friend. Don't worry. Don't try and be anything other than who you are.

[00:38:41] And all people who bring great things into your life, but you don't have to be like them. Just, just, just be yourself."

[00:38:50] Kristina: Yeah. Oh my gosh, that's so good. Thank you so much. I am so inspired. I have no doubt that our listeners are so inspired [00:39:00] to create their dream life, whatever that is for them. And, uh, I just wanna say thank you for, for coming into our community.

[00:39:07] I absolutely love having you part of it, and I absolutely love everything you're sharing, and it's so inspiring. And also thank you for saying yes to come on the podcast in very short notice, because I just felt like I wanna share your experience, your wisdom with, uh, my, um, broader community because you are really living your dream life. and I always say I am incredibly grateful for everything that I have and do and have accomplished, but I'm never satisfied in terms of there is always bigger things. And when I say bigger things, it could be a whole day of just being in nature. So it doesn't have to be costly or planning around it, but it's, uh, it's really, really inspiring to have you on here to share your, your incredible life and all the things that you're creating.

[00:39:57] And I just wanna say thank you and well done [00:40:00] you for making it all happen because, yes, you can come in and learn and be inspired, but at the end of the day, it's up to you to make it happen, so I just wanna say a massive thank you.

[00:40:09] Lulu: Oh, thank you. And, and when you asked me I'm like, "Oh, that's terrifying." But I thought, " If I said no, that would just be, like, total fear get- getting in the way. opportunities come, so you- ... just have to say yes.

[00:40:25] Kristina: Yeah. And I have no doubt that you'll be on many p- more podcasts- Aw. ... because, uh, because I think the hardest one is always, you know, as I said to you in the beginning, is like, my first 50 was the most terrifying thing that I've ever done.

[00:40:37] And so I completely understand that, but I hope you felt comfortable today and I- I hope- Oh, yes ... you felt like it was just a conversation that we would have in, you know, between us anyway. So hopefully you- I know ... enjoyed it, and hopefully you inspire, now to inspire other people to go on podcasts and say yes to things that sometimes is terrifying.

[00:40:54] Lulu: Yes.

[00:40:55] Kristina: Well, thank you so much. It's been

[00:40:56] Lulu: so lovely. Thank you. Thank [00:41:00] you.

[00:41:01] Kristina: I am so inspired. I love how aligned Lulu is with her values and how clear she is on what she really wants, what her dream life looks like. I hope this conversation has inspired you to create your own dream life, whatever that looks like for you. And if you'd like to join us inside the Dream Life Coaching Program, just head to the link in the show notes.

[00:41:28] or head over to dreamlifestartshere.com. We would love to have you if it feels right for you

[00:41:35] As always, I will be back on Monday with another Monday Morning Motivation episode. I'll see you then.

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