GENERATIVE WOMAN VOL. 1 | APRIL 2019
WHAT IF YOU HAD NO PROBLEMS?
THE LUXE PROJECT ETHICAL FASHION
CHOICE FOR WEALTH
How to shift your consciousness.
What does a Generative business have to be in order to succeed?
How can you choose sustainable wealth?
CONTENTS pg.4
pg.6
THE LUXE PROJECT
CHOICE FOR WEALTH
the story behind Melbourne ethical fashion label.Â
are you choosing to create and generate sustainable wealth?
pg.10
pg.22
WHAT IF YOU HAD NO MONEY PROBLEMS?
FIVE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO STRESS LESS AND LIVE MORE.
could your current problem primarily be from a lack of power to master your money and finance?
we need to shift our mindset around business and self-care.
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Dear Reader, I wondered if I could fill a whole magazine with content surrounding consciousness in business and the concept of not having any problems. I wondered if people could let go of their "problems" and move into a generative mindset of opportunity, one of choice. This way of thinking and of being isn't mainstream. Marketers and industry look for our problems, marketing solutions to our pain points. Industry preys on our problems to leverage their success and I considered that some people might not be willing to step out of this mindset.
Eventually I just decided that this publication wasn't written for ordinary people. I'm publishing this magazine for those individuals actively seeking consciousness in their own lives, businesses and the world. I believe that in our current economic climate the world needs conscious leaders, leaders willing to be and do something totally different to create the change that is needed. When I speak of leaders I mean you and me, the conscious leaders of our own lives. We are not victims to our circumstances, all of us have the power to live a generative live.
So, what else is possible? Chutisa Bowman xx
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I also recognise the power of a woman. Women in our communities and in our families. Together I know we have the capacity to create the change that is required in this reality.
THE LUXE PROJECT – DOING GOOD WHILE DOING WELL The talented women of Northern Thailand’s hill tribes who have handcrafted textiles culturally for generations in the past, have struggled to gain fair access to the modern economy. These women who painstakingly hand embroider their vibrant textiles are from communities where fair trade matters the most. Taking this one step further than just Fair Trade, Melbourne based ethical fashion label The Luxe Project, as part of their business process, considers the interests of everyone who is affected by their business decisions.
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The Luxe Project is mindful of the social, economic, health/safety conditions and environmental well-being of all producers involved. Their mantra “Doing good while doing well” has meant their Hill Tribe partners are paid fairly so they will flourish, become self-sustaining, and encourage growth and success for themselves, their families, and their local communities. Fair trade has now expanded well beyond the confines of paying a living wage, but has inspired other strong movements like eco fashion and sustainable fashion.
Both are equally important in a world where artistry is being lost and consumers are looking for a way to move away from a throw-away culture. A large number of The Luxe Projects hand bags use repurposed vintage fabrics. The up cycling of textiles extends the life cycle of hill tribe fabrics, while also preserving the culture they hold. In the very near future, these vintage fabrics will be incredibly rare, making them desirable to shoppers seeking unique purchases celebrating these fabrics heavily steeped in culture. The Luxe Project lovingly holds onto scrap pieces of fabric and where ever possible uses them up in future designs. By telling the stories of these artisans of the Hill Tribes, conscious consumers are able to know more about the people who make their products and contribute to these women’s lives by making a stand on what is right when they make their fashion purchases.
To view The Luxe Project range please click here to the website.
Or to view SALE items please visit The Luxe Project Etsy Shop here.
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CHOICE FOR WEALTH
A person who can generate sustainable wealth will always be wealthy, whereas someone who is merely having a lot of money will only be so for a short period of time until the money is gone.
The way you generate sustainable future and massive wealth is through what you choose every day. Are you choosing to create and generate sustainable wealth?
The creation of sustainable wealth is about learning how to use everything to your advantage. Sustainable wealth is not a maze that you have to get through. It is something you can create and generate and design the way you would like it to be.
Making a choice for wealth is the way you choose to create your life. It is not one choice, it is continuous choice. Making a choice for wealth is so much more than just choosing to have a lot of money. It’s about creating sustainable wealth. If you desire to have sustainable wealth, you have to be willing to be what creates sustainable wealth. Making a choice for wealth is the way you choose to create your life. It is not one choice, it is continuous choice.
You have to start looking at what you would like to create as your life. If you know what you would like to create, it is relatively easy to ascertain what you could be and do to generate wealth to allow you to have the life you desire. Ask yourself “If I had sustainable wealth so that I don’t have to trade my time for money, how would I choose to live my life?” What do you choose to create in your life?
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"BE THE CREATOR SOURCE OF YOUR SUSTAINABLE WEALTH" If you start from that place, you can start to generate what would be joyful to have as your reality. But you have to be aware of what you would like to create as your life. That is where the process of wealth creation truly begins. Creation is about learning how to use everything to your advantage. Since economies and markets are cyclical, to be on the creative edge with wealth creation, you must function from the space of possibilities with no conclusion and judgment. From this space you are able to use everything to your advantage and grow your wealth in good times and bad.
Choice For Wealth Inspiration series is aimed at inspiring you to continuously make choices that will create sustainable wealth for you. This is done through 6 modules with 68 weekly inspirations, audios and resources sent to you by email. Head to: www.choice4wealth.com for more details or to download your FREE audio. click to follow
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Would you like to be the creator source of your sustainable wealth?
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Contact us - admin@the2bowmans.com ...... www.the2bowmans.com ...... Phone +61 438 325 782
WHAT IF YOU HAD NO MONEY PROBLEMS? ... Do you live in a constant state of difficulty around money, whether it’s spending too much or not having enough, or having too many expenses and obligations? Could your current problem primarily be from a lack of power to master your money and finance? This thing you called your money problem. This issue you are experiencing in your life about money and finance – this setback, struggle, frustration, difficulty preventing you from doing what you want to do, can seem impossible to overcome. You may be thinking that you are going through this because you “don’t have a choice”. You may be thinking that your problem with money is outside your control and beyond rescue. But what if I told you that there are different choices and different possibilities in turning this around? What if those possibilities lay in you? GENERATIVE WOMAN | PAGE 10
Of course, there are many things in life we can’t control, however we have full control when it comes to money. We have the power to change our financial life if we choose to stop functioning within the limitations of this reality. When we function within the limitations of this reality, we often think the reason we have a money problem is because we have very limited choices in various aspects of our life.
Vast numbers of people really do not realize that if they choose, they can have full control and become a master of their money. This is so far out of the average person’s operative state of being, it never even crosses their mind. Most people don’t believe that it is truly possible to be this. They believe that struggling in the ‘rat race’ is acceptable, and this is as good as it will get for them. They think with more money they would have more choices, they think more money is a solution to all their problems. But it’s not. People who constantly think that money will solve all their problems see money as the creator source of their life, and almost always tend to be plagued by money problems their whole life. Money has one function – it gives us greater choice. It should enhance our lives, not control it. Money is a great tool to help us do certain things, but it shouldn’t be a creator source of our lives and it shouldn’t be our ruler. Money is only a tool. It will take us wherever we wish, but it cannot replace us as the creator source. To a very large extent, many of us tend to see the lack of money as a problem without asking any questions around this or having a close look at our points of view. We tend to buy into fallacies like I don’t have any money, and then we try to create our lives based on those fallacies. If we attempt to create based on fallacy, can we create different possibilities out of it? No way. When we buy into false points of view, we create limitations that do not allow us to expand into what is possible with money.
WHAT IF YOU COULD CREATE DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES WITH EASE? GENERATIVE WOMAN | PAGE 11
Our points of view and beliefs have the power to make us wealthy or make us poor. When we believe that we never have enough money, we’re going to act that out in real life. We will always make our choices based on not having enough money. If you are like most people, you probably believe that the only way to make money is to go to school, get good grades, get a safe, secure and well-paid job, work hard and save money. You probably never choose to invest because you believe that investing is risky. The very idea of having a lot of money is somewhat unfeasible, it's something others have but for you it's just an unrealistic dream. If you function from this point of view, you will be in a constant state of destruction of your financial reality. This is how you end up impairing your ability to become wealthy and never getting what you desire. Crazy, isn't it? When we look at money from a point of view that isn't true, we are not able to create and generate money with ease. Sadly, many of us function with a mindset of scarcity and lack. It’s the place we function from when we tell ourselves: I don’t have enough. I never have enough. No matter what happens, I will never have enough. It’s the outlook that scarcity and lack is more real than abundance. These points of view are the cause of many of our so-called money problems. This viewpoint is what keeps us from engaging and enjoying the ongoing natural state of abundance and true wealth.
"THE PROBLEM ISN'T MONEY IT NEVER IS!"
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The key point to recognize is that your points of view about money and your attitude about yourself in regard to money is what holds you back. In fact, most money problems you create are selfinflicted. If you always think that you’ll never be able to earn a lot of money or never have enough to pay your bills or have financial freedom, you’ll continue in the same patterns that create the mindset of scarcity and lack. With this mindset you tend to look for the problem rather than the possibility, whether it’s about money or anything else. But what if everything was about the possibility and nothing was about the problem? The problem isn't money - It never is! Do you think that if you had more money you would have fewer problems? The truth is that the problem isn't money. It’s not about money. It never is. The problem is how you approach money, how you think about money and how you handle money. It’s about what you’re willing to be, to have, to create and to generate. It is important to recognize that you are the source of different possibilities, instead of money as the source. If you’re willing to have the things that generate money, then you’ll have money.
Are you willing to give up the no-choice point of view and start recognizing that the way to create everything you want is to look for the possibilities rather than focusing on the problems? Our points of view are the things that lock us in our reality and are the basis upon which our life is created. We must recognize that from our points of view, we make assumptions … and these assumptions become our reality. Our assumptions ignore the true possibility that's available. With wealth creation and money, everything has to be about possibility, never about problem, because when you look for the problem, you will always create the problem. This isn’t about being optimistic and it isn’t positive thinking philosophy that I’m talking about. It’s also not about using the law of attraction to manifest money by magic or by wishing for it. I’m talking more about changing your viewpoint about money, and about your ability to create different possibilities in your life. It’s about cultivating the ability to live and the ability to create with money and to use money to create. Your money situation and financial life will change only when you change.
3 VITAL ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER.. One of the most important things you can do to begin to change your financial world and all of your life is to develop and nurture your awareness of different possibilities. It’s the possibility of what money can create and generate. When you are truly being aware, you see that everything is always about possibility and never about problem. If you’re able to expand your awareness, you’ll be able to open yourself up to become a master of your money and to change the way you generate your money. So, if you would like to create different possibilities with ease, if you would like to make money about the possibility rather than the problem, here are 3 vital elements to consider.
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1. Your perception and your points of view. A change in your financial situation starts with a change in how you think about money. It starts with your points of view and the way you look at your problem. What would it take for you to change the way you look at money and finance, to cut through the money fallacies and misconceptions that others believe or fear? What would it take for you to stop seeing the circumstances in front of you as problems? Ask: What question do I have to be to create a different reality with total ease?
2. Your awareness of different possibilities. For money to be about possibility rather than problem requires you to expand your awareness and ask questions. It requires you to look from a different place. Ask What can I do right now that’s going to create all the money I would like to have? As you expand your awareness about money and begin to live from the space of ‘what else is possible?’ your financial situation is going to start to change. 3. Your willingness to become the master of money and finance. If you don’t choose to become the master of money, you'll never have full control of your financial situation. To be a master of money, you need to be financially aware and savvy. This starts with financial education and the willingness to create beyond this reality. Never make money more valuable than you. Instead of agonising about your lack of money, educate yourself about money. You cannot become a master of money as long as money is more valuable than you. Ask: What do I need to be or do to actualize this?
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WISHING WELL FOR ALL Thought leaders around the world are currently choosing Benevolent Capitalism as a philosophy for creating and running their business. Benevolent Capitalism focuses on creating something greater in the world. This contrasts with conventional capitalism approaches that concentrate on maximizing profits rather than creating profit and being a contribution to one’s community and the world at large. When benevolence guides business principles, vision, and practices, the result can be exceedingly affirmative. Benevolent Capitalism is meant to create an entirely new system for businesses whose approach and strategy rests upon the following: 01. Generating a sustainable future and maximizing possibilities. 02. Creating organic growth whilst at the same time wishing all well.
04. Empowerment and conscious benevolent leadership.
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03. Doing the least amount of harm to create the greatest result for everyone involved.
"BENEVOLENT IS NOT ABOUT DOING KINDNESS TO OTHERS, IT’S ABOUT DOING NO DAMAGE AND CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OUR LIFE, FOR SOCIETY AND FOR THE PLANET.” GENERATIVE WOMAN | PAGE 17
"... but they told me Capitalism was a dirty word!Are you aware that everyday you wake up and go out to make more money and assets for you and your family, you are actually being a capitalist and are functioning as part of a capitalistic system? So Benevolent Capitalism is not just about big business!!"
How? We have a different choice: Benevolent capitalism is an opportunity to create different possibilities in the world. Benevolent leadership goes beyond being “ethical” or fulfilling social responsibilities. It is an entirely new way of being and functioning in life. Benevolent leaders shift away from the mindset “I have to get my share.” They give up using and abusing to get what they want and instead embrace generosity of spirit and a benevolent way of being that looks at the different futures that can be created. We can begin by choosing to be a contribution to the world, and by choosing to eliminate all the created walls of separation around us. What will it take for this to become a reality here? Benevolent capitalism is about seeing the kindest way, the least damage way to create something greater in the world that can create more possibilities so that we can have some kind of sustainable future. GENERATIVE WOMAN | PAGE 18
Why? Create a better world: Benevolent capitalism offers new perspectives and the inspiration to reach outside of ourselves to create different possibilities. Benevolent capitalism is not an exclusive club. It is open to all.
Benevolent capitalism is not the sole responsibility of businesses and major corporations. For as large as the impact and the biggest contribution may be, they are just the beginning. Each and every one of us has to gain more awareness of the different possibilities we can create in the world. When we all work towards the target to create a better world and a sustainable future on this planet, we can achieve far more than what large corporations can achieve.
"WE CAN BEGIN BY CHOOSING TO BE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD, AND BY CHOOSING TO ELIMINATE ALL THE CREATED WALLS OF SEPARATION AROUND US." Different Possibility: Benevolent capitalism is about seeing the kindest way, the least damage way to create something greater in the world that can create more possibilities - so that we can have some kind of sustainable future. To listen to the Benevolent Capitalism Podcast head to iTunes or visit the website for more information. www.benevolentcapitalism.com
CREATING A SUSTAINABLE WORLD FOR PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES
Benevolence@Work is the beginning of a new and different business reality. Your choice to embrace a benevolent way of being can change anything. Benevolence@Work is not about philanthropy or simply a matter of good corporate citizenship. The precept of Benevolence@Work goes beyond being “ethical” or social and moral responsibilities. It is about creating change and possibility, creating new futures through the choices we make. Being more aware. Choosing to be a conscious leader. Using this reality, rather than being used by it.
- ARE YOU READY TO BEGIN THE JOURNEY OF BENEVOLENCE@WORK? - ARE YOU READY TO ACTUALLY CREATE DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES IN THE WORLD? - ARE YOU READY TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU CREATE YOUR LIFE, YOUR BUSINESS, AND YOUR REALITY ONCE AND FOR ALL? GENERATIVE WOMAN | PAGE 19
To find out more please head to www.benevolenceatwork.com
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FIVE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO STRESS LESS AND LIVE MORE. If you are a small business owner/entrepreneur, ask yourself these three questions: - Am I prioritising my business success over my wellbeing? - Do I define myself and my self-worth through the success of my business? - Am I feeling isolated or overwhelmed in my business &/or life? Did you nod your head with a ‘yes' to one or more of these things? If you did, please know that you are not alone! It's Time to Shine a Light on the Hidden Cost of Small Business. At the end of 2017 the Whitepaper was released, revealing the hidden cost of running a small business. The paper found that people working in the small business sector may be more likely to be affected by poor mental health than the general population. GENERATIVE WOMAN | PAGE 22
Statistics show that 1 in 5 Australians will suffer with depression this year. With over 2.1 Million small businesses in Australia, there are a lot of Small Business Owners impacted by Depression and other mental health issues whilst managing a business. Further studies have been conducted including a study by Suncorp which indicated that "small business owners sacrifice their personal wellbeing in order to achieve success in their business."
This study of 500 small businesses shows more than two-thirds of small business operators have experienced personal challenges including fatigue, financial stress and relationship strain because of their business. (Reference) As a Psychotherapist, Small Business Owner and Coach who works with Fempreneurs and Mumpreneurs I am very familiar with the unique stressors and vulnerabilities that small business owners grapple with. However, there are also many strengths and advantages of being a small business owner. As I have embraced my more entrepreneurial side, I have noticed how much meaning and enjoyment I get from growing my bizz! Business Ownership is a complex beast though because a strength can also quickly become a vulnerability if it becomes unbalanced and out of our awareness: STRENGTHS Flexibility around hours and schedule
VULNERABILITIES Blurring of boundaries between work and home can lead to overworking and lack of rest. Feeling like you can’t take time off work when you are sick.
Meaningful work
Potential for business to become our whole identity.
Opportunity to connect with like- minded women in business
Potential for isolation, often working alone
Exciting, often no day is the same when you are a small business owner
Uncertainty about the future (particularly difficult for anyone who struggles with anxiety) but for some may be seen as a positive.
WE NEED TO START HAVING MORE REAL AND VULNERABLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT BUSINESS OWNERSHIP CAN HAVE ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH. One of the unique challenges for small business owners is that we often need to be visible as the face of the business. There is often a lot of pressure to be "authentic" but we still live in a world where productivity is worshipped over wellness. The problem is when we feel like we are always representing our business we can tell ourselves that we need to wear a mask of success, basically walking around talking about how great our business is and like we always have it together. This can make it difficult to reach out and ask for support.Â
The main takeaway here is that we need to shift our mindset around business and selfcare. Looking after ourselves and taking regular breaks is not a luxury or an indulgence. It is a necessity.
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 A report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers has shown that for every dollar you spend creating a mentally healthy workplace, on average there is a positive return on investment (ROI) of 2.3. The question is how does this apply to small business owners? Or solopreneurs? As a small business owner do you invest in your wellness? Not just money but time? So how does this apply to us as small business owners? When we are the business? Do we invest in ourselves?
"I'm too busy" or "I can't afford it" might be things you tell yourself. But if you are a business owner you literally can't afford not to look after yourself because it will be having an impact on your business and your productivity. So, without further ado here are three steps you can take for self-care and less stress!
FIVE EMPOWERING STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO STRESS LESS AND LIVE MORE: 1. Don’t Wait Until You Are Stressed to Practice Self-Care. Have a Plan (for the good times and the bad)
I'm sure I am not the only one who has experienced the rollercoaster ride that is business ownership! There are times where everything is awesome and then there are times when I am just keeping my head up above water. But we know that prevention is key when managing our stress levels. So, it's important to have resources and a plan in place for the tough times.
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I highly recommend this free plan found here created by Ahead for Business. It is designed for small business owners and will take you through a whole process to reflect on you and your business. It even includes making a plan for when you need to take sick leave!
2. Don't Go It Alone. Reach Out and Get Connected Ultimately one of the best things you can do for your business and you is to find your community of like-minded business women who you can really talk to and share the highs and lows of business ownership. When we connect and share our struggles, we no longer feel shameful of our experience. There is no shame in struggling and we need to all work together around ending the stigma to speak up about our struggles. This includes making sure that you have frequent contact with other people (in your business community/family). If you feel bored or lost working at home change up your environment regularly. Try working in a co-working space or café one day a week. Make sure you have a plan for networking and connecting with like-minded business owners. Make sure you have time allocated for seeing friends and family outside of the business. Seek help. If your business is struggling and you don't have the experience or confidence to problem solve the issues find a good solid business coach with experience. Problem-solving is essential when things are going wrong, don't just bury your head in the sand. If you are struggling with your mental health or wellness find a qualified mental health professional to support you with this. Your GP can be a great starting point.
3. Increase Your Self-Awareness Around Your Choices
We always have a choice and this is an incredibly empowering concept but often we are so busy living on autopilot and we are stuck in old patterns so we don't even realise that we have choices. So, stepping back and really reflecting on the choices you make is an important step in managing your stress. For example, we can choose to say No and we can choose to ask for help and to delegate.
4. Pay Attention to Your Mindset and Talk to Yourself Compassionately Our minds are meaning-making machines. We have over 50,000 thoughts a day, most of them happen without awareness but our thoughts impact how we feel and what we choose to do. There are often stories we tell ourselves about self/others/the world that actually get in the way of achieving our dreams.
To help become more aware of your thoughts you might like to start writing down or observing your thoughts. Do they sound kind or are they mostly mean? Ask yourself "Is this thought true/is there any evidence." (because our brains tell us a whole heap of rubbish sometimes and it's up to us to go through and check what's true and what's not). Ask yourself "Is this kind? What I am saying to myself right now? Would I say that to a friend?" AND finally, my favourite question to ask myself: "Is this thought helpful?" At a deeper level-underneath our thoughts, sits our belief system. Sometimes when we are really stuck in unhelpful mindsets it may be because we have some beliefs that we developed in childhood and you may need to work on those too. For example, unless you believe that you are important, that you matter, you are not going to prioritise taking care of yourself. 5. Plan to Move Your Body and Exercise in a Way That is Right For You A simple strategy I use to help to get me exercising is what I call "follow the plan, not the mood." The idea is that if we wait until we are in the mood OR have time to do something we will often be waiting for a long time. So, I plan my exercise every week on a Sunday evening. Then I aim to follow the plan, not the mood. I make this a priority in the same way I prioritise a business meeting.
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If you struggle to say no it might be worth writing a list of thoughts and beliefs that you have around saying no. These might be barriers. When you look at those thoughts what do you notice? Are all your thoughts true? Are they helpful? You also might need to consider practising saying no in front of the mirror so you get used to saying it. Or you could try saying "I will think about it" so that you have some time and space to reflect and then say no if you need to. If you are a people pleaser you are going to feel uncomfortable saying no. Even though it's uncomfortable it's an important stress management strategy.
This is why it's so important to pay attention to the way you think/talk to yourself during times of stress.
What do all these steps have in common? They are going to empower you to have more energy and joy for your business and life. Which ultimately will make you more productive.
IN THE WORDS OF LALAH DELIA "SELF-CARE IS HOW YOU TAKE YOUR POWER BACK." This couldn’t be truer for small business owners. When we take care of ourselves we nurture our business and make space for more inspiration and more energy! BIO Sam is an Empowerment Coach, highly qualified Psychotherapist, business owner, and speaker who works with modern-day businesswomen juggling many roles to go from overwhelmed and stuck to energised and aligned. Sam's mission is to support as many women as possible to learn to have compassion for the woman deep within, building their capacity to put their own needs first so that they can thrive in both life and business.
https://aheadforbusiness.org.au/ https://everymind.org.au
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With over 15 years experience empowering women from all walks of life, Sam combines her knowledge of Positive Psychology, Mindfulness and Psychological Therapy with her own life experience juggling Mum/Biz Life to help her clients create the life and business of their dreams. For Coaching connect with Sam at www.samanthadhucoaching.com For Psychotherapy connect with Sam at www.samanthadhu.com.au Helpful Resources:
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Click here to download
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