Tips for Entrepreneurs: Leaning into Your Emotions To Build Your Business

So excited to have Scout Sobel on the blog today. If you’re an entrepreneur, a hustler looking to step up your side game, an aspiring author or interested in started a podcast, this post is for you.

I first met Scout in Vegas, when I ran into her & her husband, who is an old school friend of mine.

Scout is smart, sharp & has one of the most important qualities an entrepreneur should have: she figures shit out & gets it done.

She is an author of a new book called The Emotional Entrepreneur, Founder of the female-focussed Scout’s Agency & is the co-host of Okay Sis Podcast & host of SCOUT Podcast. She really does it all.

As an entrepreneur myself, it’s really important to me that we support other entrepreneurs in their journey. And you guys are going to love this post.

Scout gives us her morning & nighttime routine, discusses the tools she uses for her mental health, shares how important journaling is for her, & her top tips for starting a podcast AND writing a book.

She’s spilling all her secrets, so without further ado, let’s welcome Scout Sobel to the blog.

Tips for Entrepreneurs: Leaning into Your Emotions To Build Your Business

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♡ Introduce yourself to The Skinny Confidential audience.

Scout Sobel: Hi everyone! I am Scout Sobel & I am so excited to be on the blog that in many ways started my journey through female entrepreneurship. 

Put simply, I am the Founder & CEO of Scout’s Agency, a female focused PR agency which specializes in getting women as guests on podcasts. I co-host Okay Sis Podcast, host SCOUT Podcast, & am the bestselling author of The Emotional Entrepreneur. 

Within the many facets of my career lies my two missions: empowering female entrepreneurs & cultivating an inspiring conversation around mental health.  

When I was fourteen, I had my first depressive episode & was formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of twenty. The combination of struggling from a mental illness with symptoms like depression, anxiety, hypomania, psychosis, & paranoia & receiving a formal diagnosis set my life into a painful whirlwind.

I dropped out of college, was placed into an outpatient program, & was unable to hold a minimum wage job as a gelato scooper. In the depths of mental anguish, I found entrepreneurship which sparked a passionate area in my soul I did not know existed. Entrepreneurship allowed my mental illness to dance successfully which is why I am where I am today: talking about the intersection of mental health & entrepreneurship for a community of women I am honored to support & serve.

♡ What is a day in the life for you, as an entrepreneur?

SS: I want to say every day is different, because in many ways it is. But as a remote work-from-home entrepreneur, my days are really spent at my desk digitally connecting with others. 

I always start my day on a thirty minute Zoom with my team from Scout’s Agency. That meeting allows us to connect with our clients, workflow, & what’s on the dock for the day. After that, my day is a medley of sales calls, networking calls with other female entrepreneurs or businesses. Being a guest on a podcast, or recording an episode for SCOUT Podcast or Okay Sis Podcast. 

My biggest pain point in my day-to-day as an entrepreneur is the amount of meetings I currently get scheduled into! I have found that I need time to breathe, think, & be in order for the ship to continue to sail smoothly & grow its course. So on Mondays & Fridays, I only have my team call in the morning at 9:30 am. The rest of the day is blocked out for strategic thinking, business development, or writing pitches for my clients. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, I get all of my calls & podcast recordings in ( can be up to 5 podcast recordings a week! ) with Wednesday being my heaviest call day. 

♡ What are some tactics & tools you used to write your book?

SS: When it came to writing my book, The Emotional Entrepreneur, I really worked with my inspiration levels, focus, & concentration was at its highest – & that was first thing in the morning.

I am a big proponent ( as you will see later when I detail my morning routine ) in not working or checking your phone for the first two hours of the day. However, when it came to writing my book, I knew I could bust out my best writing first thing at 6:30 am. So, for one month, every single morning, I wrote for 30 minutes – 1 hour & that was my morning routine.

Setting aside that consistent, daily time was really useful. Because it allowed me to produce on an accelerated timeline & – similar to a workout! – if you get it done first thing, you won’t make excuses to skip your daily writing as your schedule bogs you down later. 

When the daily 30 minutes – 1 hour writing drill got tedious & mundane, I decided to book a room at The Parker in Palm Springs ( where I got married – it’s my happy place! ). From Friday – Sunday, I left my phone & computer in the car & just brought in my iPad which is not connected to my text messages, email, or Instagram. I wrote about 30% of the book that weekend. Unplugged, in the gardens, having beautiful moments to myself. Creating that space really allowed me to drive the book home. & add the magic that I believe it so poignantly carries. 

♡ What do you recommend to someone who wants to start writing a book?

SS: I recommend writing a full book proposal out! Mine was 60 pages long & it allowed me to really flesh out the focus of the book, the chapters, & what each chapter would touch upon. That book proposal process – which I hired Rea from Writeway to guide me through – was the reason I was so clear on what I wanted The Emotional Entrepreneur to be about. It was also the reason that I was able to write my book in less than two months. I had brainstormed & fleshed out the concept so thoroughly that it poured out of me when it came time to really sit down & write it. 

Something else I recommend is that in today’s day & age, you don’t need a traditional publisher.

I was going the traditional publisher route but felt that it was taking so long. I am not someone who has ever waited on someone else’s approval to validate my work – I dropped out of college, started my own business, etc.

When I was sitting & waiting around on literary agents, I didn’t feel aligned with the way I usually work when I am excited about a project. Once it dawned on me that I was waiting around for someone to see my value, that it would take the industry years to even publish my book, & that I would make less through a publisher per book sale than I would self-publishing, I stopped the whole process & decided to launch my book in six months ( it wasn’t written yet ). Which I did this past August. And it hit #11 on Amazon’s best selling charts for Women in Business day one of launch!

I say this also because no one even knew I self-published my book while I was launching it. Everyone saw the big launch party event. A huge influencer marketing campaign, & a major podcast tour. This is one of the first times I am even publicly saying I self-published. It’s important though to know that being an author – just like how podcasting democratized the radio/media industry – is in your hands regardless of if you have a traditional publisher backing you or not. 

♡ What do you recommend to someone who wants to start their own podcast?

SS: I always say think less, execute more so in other words, what Lauryn always says – launch fast, adjust later. When I launched Okay Sis Podcast, I made my sister launch it with me in two weeks. She was uncomfortable with that kind of hasty launch. But I forced her to just get it out there. Because getting it out there is the most important part of doing anything. 

So I would recommend just starting. You don’t need 10 episodes in the bank or all of your interviews scheduled. Get comfortable with solo episodes to fill in the gaps if an interview falls through or needs to reschedule. There are so many guides on how to start a podcast now on the internet. But put a time limit on how much of that content you consume. Starting & learning on the job will benefit you so much more in the long run than extensive research will. 

Also, don’t get into podcasting for monetization.

I am really into reframing the ROI of a podcast. Sure, when you get to certain downloads you can start making ad money. But in many cases (especially in the beginning ), I believe it is more powerful for you to harness the purchasing power of your community to support your product, your personal brand, your offerings – not the 15% off you are going to get them for a brand that wants to sponsor the show.

Hosting a podcast & getting to interview dream guests & growing your network while developing an audience can launch your career to insane levels. Keep your eye on that prize. Not the 60 second ad where you pick up a couple bucks in the beginning.

My success at Scout’s Agency & with launching The Emotional Entrepreneur is owed to Okay Sis Podcast.

I have developed an insane network & community. Because my sister & I get on the microphone every week. I nurtured that network & community, some even became clients. & when I launched my book they showed up & then some for me. Each chapter of my book has an original opening quote from a past Okay Sis guest. 

Three years into Okay Sis Podcast & we just signed with a network where consistent ad revenue is coming in – three years. & to this day, if the ads & the network went away, I would keep publishing episodes of Okay Sis Podcast because the true ROI & impact of what me & my sister have built is not in ad revenue. It is in the community, the network, & the launch pad it has given me for my career. 

So yes, there are all the strategic things I preach when starting a podcast. Just start, don’t ever miss a week. Dream big when it comes to guests, etc. But the most important thing is to understand the POWER of podcasting. Play the long game with it. Your career will flourish beyond what you dreamed was possible. 

♡ What are your tips for young hustlers who are entrepreneurial?

SS: My main tip is to make sure your 5-9 supports your 9-5. And I mean really supports it. I hustle from 9-5: I am focused, ready, hungry, & excited. I can only be like that if my 5:00 pm – 9:00 am is filled with deep nourishing rest, 8-9 hours of sleep, mindful movement, meditation, activities that fill me up, self-care rituals, boundaries placed on social activities, less time on my phone, & quality time with my husband & puppy. 

We focus on how to optimize the 9-5 all the time. But we often don’t focus enough on the 5-9. I believe entrepreneurs are built during the 5-9. What you do in those hours will determine not only how you show up for work. But how efficient & fulfilled you are during your work hours. 

Yes, I know sometimes 9-5 isn’t always the timeframe we work within as entrepreneurs. ( Longer hours can exist & off times can be difficult! ) But you get the picture 🙂 & if you are still in side-hustle days, make sure you set aside time daily where the time between when you stop work one day & start work the next day is really filling up your cup & nourishing your soul. 

♡ What is an emotional entrepreneur & how can we use our emotions to our advantage?

SS: An emotional entrepreneur is someone who understands that when you build your own business or architect your dream life, it will come with a lot of emotional blocks & personal development challenges that you will be forced to graduate from in order to continue expanding, growing, & succeeding.

An emotional entrepreneur cares about their business, their dreams, & their lives. In that caring, comes emotional poignancy! In that emotional poignancy, comes a persevering need to show up in emotional strength. 

Put simply, it’s the entrepreneur who isn’t afraid to say: this shit is fucking emotional. And with that admittance & acceptance, they are willing to put in the emotional work to become a stronger individual & leader in business. 

I created the concept of emotional entrepreneurship because I noticed two things:

1. In the first three months of starting Scout’s Agency, my emotions were all over the place. My insecurities & weaknesses were coming out full force. I had to get my people-pleasing tendencies under control. & get comfortable real fast with getting uncomfortable. I also realized that in that uncomfortability would come an honest assessment of my emotional landscape. Which I had been doing while managing my bipolar disorder. But when it came to my business, it was a different type of emotional advancement.

Very quickly, I realized the reason I scaled my agency to a six figure revenue in the first year & a multiple six figure revenue in my second wasn’t because I was great at managing clients or had any experience in PR ( which I didn’t ), it was because I was supporting my emotional experience & walking through each fire with the bottom line of persevering & getting stronger.

2. Once I saw how emotional running Scout’s Agency was, I also realized that so many women weren’t getting into the game & starting their dream business not because they didn’t have the resources, the education, or even the financial means to get started. They weren’t starting because of their emotions. Because of fear, anxiety, imposter syndrome, etc. That is when I knew that the idea of an emotional entrepreneur has to become more mainstream. If we can harness & use our emotions in an empowering way, we can succeed at living our dream life. And so, I wrote the emotional guidebook to entrepreneurship. 

♡ How do you set yourself up for success in the morning?

SS: My mornings are a non-negotiable, sacred time for me. 

I wake up between 6:30 am – 7:00 am. The first thing I do is scrape my tongue & then pour myself a cup of coffee which my husband roasted & prepped for me the night before ( a coffee machine with a timer is a savior! ). 

I then sit down & journal ( black Moleskine – the journal I have been using since I was fourteen ) with my Pilot G-2 0.38 pen ( the only pen I will ever use ) for twenty to thirty minutes freeform – no journal prompt or structure. I just sit & brain dump everything & anything. My mind can be the most active first thing in the morning. So having a space to move some extra energy & welcome the day on a high note is so helpful. It also gives me alone time where I am just with me & my subconscious & conscious thoughts. 

After journaling, I get in my movement for the day. Which lately looks like a quick 15-20 minute Melissa Wood Health Pilates or yoga class. If I don’t do one of her classes, I go for a 30 minute power walk. 

After moving my body, I drop into a 10-15 minute meditation. ( Also use Melissa Wood meditations on her app! )

Then I move into making breakfast! I will put on a podcast to set the tone of the day. Usually something entrepreneurial & business-focused to get me inspired to jump into Scout’s Agency. Think: The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast (obviously), The Ed Mylett Show, Don’t Keep Your Day Job, The School of Greatness, or Life With Marianna are some of my go-to morning podcasts. 

Once I pick a podcast, I make breakfast: one egg over medium, one piece of gluten free toast, sauteed kale, & Cholula ( I am a creature of habit ). 

I eat breakfast, take my supplements, & then shower. Do my whole skincare & body care routine ( dry brushing, exfoliating, & soaking my body in coconut oil ). & pick an outfit for the day, which I definitely take my time with. What I wear really affects my mood! 

It is usually 8:30 at this point & then, & only then, do I open my phone & check my texts, Instagram, & email. A quick scan to see if there is anything time-sensitive before pouring myself my second cup of coffee. Sitting at my desk, & starting my day of work!

♡ What is your nighttime routine that helps you wind down & detach from work?

SS: My nighttime routine is less detailed & structured than my morning routine. But nonetheless a very important & constant in my life. 

I like ending my work day by cooking a meal. And I find that putting my phone away & listening to a Bossa nova playlist or a spiritual podcast ( Almost 30, Highest Self Podcast, EXPANDED, The Feminine Frequency Podcast – those are my evening go-tos!) while using my hands to cook a quick meal really helps me unwind & enter into relaxation mode.

I love drinking a transition drink while cooking. It used to be wine ( Sauvignon Blanc only! ) in quarantine, let’s be real. But now I have switched to a kombucha (Synergy’s Trilogy flavor is my favorite) or a Ghia aperitif in a wine glass to elevate the mood. 

That is my first evening wind down routine but as it gets dark & I approach bedtime, I like to put my phone away an hour before going to sleep ( doesn’t always happen like it does in the morning but I do try! ). I make a sleepy time tea with honey, gua sha my face to relieve tension, do my skincare routine ( I am on an exclusive Clearstem routine right now since I have been breaking out lately ), wash my feet & put moisturizer on them. Get into bed & read a book for 20-30 minutes before going to sleep. I like to be sleeping by 10:00 pm! 

♡ When it comes to mental health, what tools are in your toolbox?

SS: I have so many tools, which I will list below. But the most important tool in my toolbox is strengthening, reframing, monitoring, & feeding my inner narrative with positive, supportive, empowering, or balanced thoughts. Truly, the way we perceive ourselves & the world outside of us starts with if our mind is a good place to dwell in.

For many years while struggling with bipolar disorder, my mind was a scary, untrustworthy place to live. Over the years, I have retrained my mind to be a peaceful, supportive, & safe place to experience life through. 

One micro example of how I changed my thought patterns & core beliefs is when I identified in 2020 that one of my core beliefs & thoughts that kept coming up was that I was unsafe in my emotions. I realized that I had said that to myself & to others so many times that it became entrenched as a belief. That belief was disempowering me & creating additional pointless suffering. Since I trained myself to believe that, I figured I could train myself to believe that I was safe in my emotions. 

So, I wrote down on a pink post-it note: I AM SAFE IN MY EMOTIONS.

I put it on my mirror in my bathroom so I stared at it multiple times a day. In addition, I made it the background of my phone & computer. I wrote it out every day in my journal. When I felt a hint of anxiety, I would repeat it in my head over & over & over again. After repeating it, seeing it, & saying it over 20 times a day for four months, I began to believe it, 

Now, I believe with all of my being that I am safe in my emotions. That belief holds me & supports me when an uncomfortable emotion comes up. Now, I believe I can get through any discomfort. Because I know I am safe in my emotions. 

Other tools that I implement daily, weekly, or monthly are: meditation, journaling, prayer, grounding outside, movement ( Pilates or yoga ). Essential oils, gua sha, cupping, acupuncture, reiki, massage, sessions with my coach. Space in my calendar to just be, consuming content that fills me up rather than drains me. 8-9 hours of sleep, eating as clean as I can. & moving energy when I need to: crying, dancing, journaling. 

♡ What’s a book, podcast or resource you recommend? 

SS: I will leave some of my favorite nonfiction books! 

For your business:

Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller 

For your personal brand:

Be. By Jessica Zweig 

For becoming a leader:

We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rogers

For your spiritual development:

The Universe Has Your Back by Gabby Bernstein 

For understanding the delicacy of life:

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

♡ Where can everyone find you? Pimp yourself out! 

SS: You can find me on Instagram @scoutsobel! There you will find links to buy my book (on Amazon), The Emotional Entrepreneur, Scout’s Agency, Okay Sis Podcast, & SCOUT Podcast. I would be honored if you would come hang & grow with me!

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Hope you guys loved this post as much as I did. Be sure to check out Scout’s podcasts: Okay Sis Podcast where she get real with her sister & they talk about ALL the things, & SCOUT Podcast where Scout dives deep into mental health & business.

x, lauryn

+ for more on how to journal in the mornings, check out the morning pages.

++ check out the benefits of connecting with nature.

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