Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs, Senior Business Leaders, Managers, Sales Professionals, Female Leaders, and R&D, Innovation, DEI, and Other Critical Teams

Grab the Communication Guide

Create Success by Staying on Task and Setting Boundaries

Darlene Hawley

Keep on course and stay motivated as we close out the year.

Darlene Hawley, Personal Branding & Business Coach for  online service based business owners

I'm still in a little shock that it's already November. This year has flown by so quickly and the holidays are right around the corner.

This is the time that a lot of entrepreneurs slow down their business and coast into the new year, thinking up all kinds of projects but no desire to start them til next year.

So I'm challenging you to keep on course and stay motivated as we close out the year. Your audience needs you to show up.

In an effort to stay on track during the holidays, here are a few of my favorite tips and strategies for setting yourself up for success, staying on task and setting boundaries.

1. Write out your goals- you probably already have your goals for Q4 written down and have mapped out all of the things that need to happen to achieve them, but if not do it now. What goal do you want to reach to close out the year strong? Now that you know your goal, write down all the steps that need to happen to reach it so that you have a strong actionable plan in place.

2. Map out your daily routines- Routines help you work towards your goal and allow you to be productive and efficient each day. Think about all the things that need to happen in a given day and create a routine that works for you and your family. What does a typical morning look like, from what time you wake up, when you work out and what time you sit down and journal or have your coffee. Create a routine that works for you and stick to it.

3. Create an outline of your ideal work week. We’ve set our goals for the rest of the year, created a routine that makes sense to us, now it’s time to outline what an ideal work week looks like that allows us to show up daily. I’m a big believer of giving everything that needs to be accomplished a name and a time slot. I sit down typically on Sunday evening and fill in my schedule. First I write in all of the time-sensitive appointments, school drop-off/pickups, networking events, client calls and then I fill in all of the tasks that need to be accomplished that week to keep me on track to reach my goal for the year. I like to batch my work so that I can stay as focused as possible. For example, I batch write my content on Monday’s...write emails, posts, and blogs during that time so I can work on other projects the other days without having to worry about writing more content.

4. Stay on Task- If you’re anything like me you love setting goals and mapping out your week but find it harder to actually stick to the plan that you have put in place. Here are a few helpful ways to stay on track: Remove distractions, turn off notifications, check email and social media at scheduled times only, and put your phone on silent. Schedule breaks, go for a walk, enjoy a cup of tea, water your plants, break up the routine allows you to refocus and accomplish more. Allow time for self-care, get a pedicure, meet a friend for lunch, change up your view and work from a coffee shop, schedule play time, this will allow you to not feel burnt out. Find an accountability partner or business bestie, if you find that you’re having trouble staying on track or making progress find a friend and ask them to hold you accountable.

I hope these tips help you stay focused and on track to close out 2018 strong.

If you find that you need a little extra focus to stay on track, email me: darlene@darlenehawely.com and lets schedule a 20 minute Mini Clarity Call together.

✨Ready to Own Your Story and Attract Your Dream Clients?✨

If you’re ready to stop second-guessing your message and start using storytelling as a powerful tool to connect, inspire, and sell—then I’d love to invite you to my It’s Time to Own Your Story: Mini-Course.

In this self-paced course, you’ll learn how to:
✔️ Identify the key moments in your story that captivate your audience.
✔️ Share your story in a way that builds trust and positions you as the go-to expert.
✔️ Use storytelling across your website, social media, and sales conversations to attract and convert more clients.


Plus, you’ll get a step-by-step workbook and personal feedback on your brand story—so you can start sharing with confidence.

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10 Effective Communication Tips
Darlene Hawley, Personal Branding & Business Coach for service based entrepreneurs

Hey There!

I'm Darlene



As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.


My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.


Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.


Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.


Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.

By Darlene Hawley October 27, 2025
Carolyn Bennett-Sullivan, a seasoned keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, and change strategist, shares her incredible journey from a challenging career in pharma sales to becoming a transformational catalyst. She discusses overcoming fear-based thinking, navigating major business disruptions, and building trust in organizations. Whether you're a heart-centered entrepreneur or an executive leader, this conversation is packed with valuable insights on how to lead confidently, handle major transitions, and create a business that thrives. Curious to learn more? Visit darlenehawley.com/workwithme. 00:41 Meet Carolyn Bennett Sullivan 01:48 Carolyn's Journey and Overcoming Fear 04:15 Navigating Workplace Disruptions 07:21 Tools for Leaders and Employees 15:03 The Importance of Communication and Engagement 21:19 The Importance of Team Buy-In 22:49 Building Relationships in Sales 27:21 Future Plans and Goals 29:26 Rapid Fire Questions 35:09 Conclusion and Contact Information Carolyn is an inspiring keynote speaker, transformational catalyst, and change strategist. As a TEDx speaker, author, and consultant, she leverages her corporate sales and small business expertise to help organizations create strategies for navigating business disruptions through mindset mastery. Her deep understanding of psychology, neuroscience, and business uncovers barriers to change and guides individuals to overcome obstacles, build resilience and unlock their highest capabilities. You can engage with Carolyn at: https://linkedin.com/in/carolynbennettsullivan https:instagram.com/cbsullivan https://facebook.com/carolynbennettsullivan ------ Hi I’m Darlene Hawley and I help ambitious entrepreneurs and executive women find their voice, craft powerful messaging, and regulate their nervous system so they can speak up with confidence in high-stakes conversations, client meetings, and on stages ... without second-guessing themselves. Grab my 10 Do's and Don't for Effective Daring Conversations: https://mailchi.mp/297e8105e904/communicationguide Grab my 6 Steps To Attract & Stand Out digital guide, a free roadmap to create a successful business with less hustle and more ease: https://bit.ly/attractandstandoutonline Grab a Chai and let's Connect: https://darlenehawley.com https://linkedin.com/in/darlenehawley
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