PODCAST: Season 6, Episode 30
Grab your coffee and join Mills today as she answers your most-asked questions from her Instagram DMs! From authentic marketing to offer strategies and business pivots, Mills is diving deep into the real questions you’ve been sending her. If you’ve been wondering about being yourself in business while attracting the right clients, this episode is exactly what you need.
Exciting Announcement 🎉
Mills is hosting an in-person workshop in Surrey this September – perfect for flushing out those offer ideas you’ve been sitting on! Details in the show notes.
Key Topics Covered
In this value-packed Q&A episode, Mills explores:
- How to be authentically you without scaring clients away
- Building confidence in your marketing message
- Finding the right business model for your personality and lifestyle
- Overcoming fear when launching new offers
- Becoming less of a bottleneck as your business grows
- Setting healthy client communication boundaries
- Navigating major business pivots without losing everything
Featured Question Breakdowns
On Authentic Marketing
The Question: “I love your authentic approach, but I’m worried about being too much and scaring potential clients away. How do I know where the line is?”
Mills’ Take:
- “Too much” is subjective – what’s too much for you might be perfect for someone else
- Focus on being as much YOU as possible rather than worrying about being “professional”
- Don’t chuck grenades, but don’t be vanilla either
- Have opinions about things in your industry
Real Example: Mills shares how during COVID, she voiced unpopular opinions, lost some people, but gained her best friends and ideal clients who were aligned with her values.
On Marketing Message Confidence
The Question: “I second guess my marketing message. One day I think it’s good, the next I want to delete everything.”
Mills’ Solution: Knowledge is absolutely key. You need to be crystal clear on:
- Who your ideal client is (every detail you can know)
- How you help them specifically
- What they’re actually telling you
Mills’ Client Insights: “I know they can’t see the wood for the trees. I know they panic when they don’t have Stripe notifications. I know they want to burn their business down after a slow month.”
On Business Models That Fit
The Question: “I’ve been following a standard online business model, but it’s draining the life out of me.”
Mills’ Approach:
- Identify what specifically is draining you
- Work around your natural preferences and lifestyle
- If you don’t like chatting, don’t do sales calls – try chat and voice notes instead
- If you have young kids, time everything around them (shoutout to Peppa Pig as the ultimate babysitter!)
Key Insight: “There is a business model for everybody. What strategy works for one doesn’t work for another.”
On Offer Launch Fear
The Question: “I have ideas for offers but never launch them because I talk myself out of it.”
Mills’ Diagnosis: This is less of a strategic problem, more of a mindset problem – you’re dimming your light.
The Solution:
- Talk through ideas with someone who isn’t family (try networking, mentors, or coaches)
- Get strategy and clarity on the steps from idea to delivery
- Crucial: Sell first, create later – don’t build entire programs before you’ve sold them
On Being the Business Bottleneck
The Question: “My business is growing but I’m the bottleneck. My team keeps asking questions and I can’t step away.”
Mills’ Strategy:
- Weekly team meetings to flush out questions upfront
- Examine WHY questions keep coming up – is it confidence or unclear explanations?
- Implement better CEO planning and SOPs
- Set specific times for questions or use Slack channels
On Success Exhaustion
The Question: “I hit my income goals but I’m absolutely fucking exhausted. Should I be celebrating?”
Mills’ Reality Check: This sounds like a systems problem. Often by the time you hit big goals, it’s too late – you’re already burnt out.
The Fix: Invest in systems BEFORE the wave hits, not after. Look at what’s still reliant on you personally.
On Client Boundaries
The Question: “I struggle with boundaries around client communication. They expect instant responses.”
Mills’ Question Back: “Are you sure they want instant responses, or are you just giving them and they’ve gotten used to it?”
Mills’ System:
- Clear onboarding documents stating her hours and response times
- Two dedicated Voxer times: morning and afternoon
- Signed agreements so expectations are clear upfront
- Remember: they’re human too and running their own businesses
On Business Pivots
The Question: “I want to burn my business down and change direction but I’m terrified of losing everything.”
Mills’ Pivot Strategy:
- First ask: Is this because it’s not working or because you’re bored?
- Pivot slowly with things in place
- Give your audience 90 days to move with you in the new direction
- Have complete strategy in place BEFORE you burn anything down
- Remember: You have more experience now than when you started
Powerful Insights from This Episode
“The best way to grow your business is to really try and be as much of you as you can.”
“Knowledge is absolutely key. If you feel like you don’t know your ideal client inside out, come chat to me.”
“There is a business model for everybody. Find out what’s your zone of genius.”
“Sell first, create later. That is my motto.”
“It’s always much better to have systems in place before the wave hits.”
Resources Mentioned
- Mills’ upcoming Surrey workshop (September)
- Instagram: @mills_gray for DM questions
- Voxer for client communication
- SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for team management
Take Action
For Marketing Confidence:
- Get crystal clear on your ideal client – every detail you can know
- Listen to what they’re actually telling you
- Create content from their real language and concerns
For Offer Development:
- Talk through ideas with industry peers or mentors
- Map out the complete customer journey before launching
- Sell first, then create the detailed content
For Business Systems:
- Audit what’s currently dependent on you personally
- Implement SOPs and clear communication channels
- Set boundaries early in client relationships
For Pivoting:
- Give yourself 90 days to transition your audience
- Have complete strategy mapped out before making changes
- Remember your experience gives you advantages over starting fresh
Let’s Connect!
Send Mills your burning questions on Instagram @mills_gray – you might get featured in the next Q&A episode or get a direct response in the DMs!
Remember
Being authentic isn’t about being controversial – it’s about being genuinely you. The right clients will be attracted to your real personality, opinions, and approach. Don’t dim your light trying to appeal to everyone; instead, shine brightly for the people who need exactly what you offer.
This episode is perfect for anyone who’s ever second-guessed their marketing, worried about being “too much,” or wondered how to scale without burning out. Mills’ practical, no-nonsense advice cuts through the noise and gives you actionable strategies you can implement immediately.