Pivoting in Your Doula Business
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Transcript
Welcome to doula tips and tits. This podcast is a place where we answer one question about doula work, both to support you and to help you support your clients. I'm Kaylee Harrod. I've been supporting families in this perinatal space since my oldest was born 12, nearly 13 years ago.
I am a birth and postpartum doula childbirth educator, La Leche League leader, and a doula coach. I love guiding and supporting doulas as they work out their doula business. It is a tremendous joy to be trusted in this way.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. Welcome back to doula tips and tips. We are going to talk a little bit today about pivoting and taking things in stride and kind of letting yourself reevaluate where you are in terms of business.
So I don't share this all the time, but the last seven months have been some of the hardest months I think I've ever experienced. I have been dealing with some family stuff. Also my ankle broke. When I fell, I broke my left ankle and rolled my right ankle.
And so both ankles have been injured this whole time. I'm still not back to normal. Like I can walk without a boot. I mean, I can walk barefoot for now at this point, but my range of motion is not normal and I don't have zero pain.
I have some pain. I'm starting physical therapy, but it takes some time to get in, so I won't start until July. And so I'm recording this in June. You will listen to this closer to July, but it's just been hard, right?
It's been hard in a lot of ways. I've had to adapt in a lot of ways. I added a team. So I had Kirsten on my team all of last year. And then early this year, I've added eight more doulas onto the team.
And so that has been an adventure, a really lovely thing, but also just new stuff, like navigating new dynamics and new client experiences and new client flows. Before, I had this very streamlined process where a client inquiry came in.
They got an automated email from me saying, hey, thank you so much for reaching out. I'd love to chat. Here's my calendar, book a call with me. And that was it. I didn't have to do anything until I showed up for that consultation call.
And now I physically respond to every single inquiry because I haven't quite with another doula and to book directly with me and what that looks like and how do I make sure availability is correct and all of that.
So I don't know that that's something I can automate. That's something that might just have to continue to be on my plate, but also that is something that's a bit unpredictable because people inquire at all times of day and night.
So I generally want to respond relatively quickly, but I also don't want to be constantly monitoring my email if I can help it. So those are some things that have shifted. I want to share a few ways that I have kind of helped be my best boss, as you know, I talk about supporting yourself as best you can in this process of being a birth worker.
One of the things that I have done recently is I had a whole summer of series lined up for the podcast with providers. So last summer you might remember I went through a bunch of different provider interviews talking about like what do doulas need to know about all these different topics, right?
And that was really successful. People really liked it. This summer my plan was to talk through like different training organizations to talk to some training organizations to have folks on the podcast who have like trainings that are not certifications, but like spinning babies and things like that.
And so my plan was I was going to interview all these folks in May and maybe a little bit in June and then have this series for July and August. However babies came and we had family stuff going on and there were a lot of different reasons that those podcast interviews got pushed back.
And so because of that I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and saying like gosh I just feel like so overwhelmed with everything I want to get done before July when I am trying to take some time off and you know and she was like why don't you not try to do all that stuff.
And I was just like, um, I mean, that's a great idea. Um, and this is a great example of how you need other people, right? You need other people to be like, Hey, that's not required of you. Like you don't have to do that.
And so, um, my plan now is to re -release some of the top episodes that we've had on the podcast. Um, I have a number of them that I'm ready to re -release to you that I'm really excited about because some of them are like, one of them is the very first episode, right?
And so, um, part of these are some of the episodes that have gotten the most listened, some of the episodes that have gotten the most responses. And so instead of having that series in the summertime with the providers, that will be an early fall series.
And, um, we'll talk through training organizations. We'll talk through extra trainings that can be really helpful for doulas. Um, trainings that I really love and use all the time. And this summer, you're going to hear some of my favorite podcast episodes from the years and what, um, kind of what those are, how those are relevant now.
So that's what you have to look forward to now, before we dive into that a little later in July, we are going to have, um, an episode about evaluating your year so far, like we're, you know, halfway through the year, we're going to talk about evaluating your year performance wise, goal wise, et cetera.
And then how to look at the next quarter. So Q3, like what to look at in terms of that next quarter of business planning and business growth, et cetera, and what that, um, can and should look like for you.
And so, um, so it's not, we're not diving straight in after this episode to those repeat episodes, but we are doing that, um, closer to the middle of July. So that's what you have to look forward to.
If you are not yet on our newsletter, that is the best way to stay up to date with what we're doing. So we are going to be running some workshops and starting some new things in the fall. And so I want you to not miss that.
And the newsletter comes out every other Friday. So you're not getting spammed every day with stuff from me. Um, it is like very intentional to be meaningful and helpful to you. And also reminds you of the podcast episodes that have recently come out and all of that.
And so I really recommend that you sign up. If you have not already, the link is in the show notes to do that. If you can't find it or have any questions for me, just hit me up on Instagram at Haradula, I would love to hear from you and connect with you there.
Um, and here, like, what is your favorite part of the podcast so far? Because that's always really helpful. If this podcast has been helpful is very beneficial to us. If you would leave a review and that can take just a couple seconds, like leave a rating and maybe some kind words, I will happily share them on the podcast.
Um, but that is how other doulas find this podcast in the midst of the algorithm, et cetera. So if you can take a second to do that, I would be forever grateful. All right. I will see you in the next episode.
Thanks for joining us for this episode of the doula tips and tits podcast. If you learned something today or had an aha moment, we'd love for you to share that on Instagram and tag us at Haradula so we can celebrate alongside you.
If you've found this podcast helpful, we would so appreciate you taking a second to leave a rating and a review on your favorite podcast app that helps other doulas find us as we do this work together.
This podcast is intended as educational and entertainment. It is not medical advice or business advice. Please consult your own medical or legal team for your own needs around your health and your business.
We'll see you again soon.
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Sometimes business plans need to change. Maybe big plans, maybe small plans. But owning a business comes with the need to pivot. A doula business is no different. You need a doula business plan, but you also need the ability to adapt and grow and change as your life and business evolve.
Quote from the show:
“So I don't share this all the time, but the last seven months have been some of the hardest months I think I've ever experienced. I have been dealing with some family stuff. Also my ankle broke. When I fell, I broke my left ankle and rolled my right ankle. And so both ankles have been injured this whole time. I'm still not back to normal. Like I can walk without a boot. I mean, I can walk barefoot for now at this point, but my range of motion is not normal and I don't have zero pain.”
CONNECT with Kaely on TikTok or Instagram
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Kaely Daily is produced by Kaely Harrod of Harrod Doula Services
It is sponsored by The Birth Prep Blueprint Childbirth Class
Music by Madirfan: Hidden Place on Pixabay
