You might not know this, but I come from a performing background. 

I've danced my whole life - from the age of 8 to 16, I was in the dance studio a couple of nights a week. 

Then I worked for a company that did Bugs Bunny shows all around Australia, and I spent my school holidays working as a children's performer. 

Later, I even performed as one of the Olympic mascots, Millie the Echidna, for the Sydney 2000 Olympic games.

So I love looking at things from a dance and a performing lens, and I've got some lessons to share about being the Mickey Mouse in your business.

I recently took my kids to Disney on Ice and realized that they didn't really who know Mickey Mouse was - his cartoons are just not on as much as when I was a kid. 

But when he came out onto the ice - oh my God. 

They were really excited, and I couldn't work out what was going on!

Here’s the thing, every time Mickey Mouse is on stage, whether it's at Disneyland or at Disney on Ice, everyone stops and makes a massive, big freaking deal about Mickey Mouse. Always. 

The lights change, and there's usually a trumpet or special song. 

There are lots of visual and emotional cues - very theatrical. 

And all of the performers defer to Mickey. They all turn to look at Mickey and take the lead from his movement and jokes. 

So it's a really big freaking deal when he comes out. And same with at Disneyland.

Mickey is always front and center of the parade - he's the star of the show. He's on every piece of merchandise and in every laser show. 

I don't think kids are that into Mickey Mouse, but they still revere him - he has magical star power.

So how does this relate to you and your business?

 1. Overdelivering

When you're starting out and as your business grows, it's easy for bad habits like over-delivering to creep in.

For so long, I was so used to over-delivering, and some of it was to prove I'm still humble. I'd help move tables at events or sweep the floor. I just wanted to pitch in. 

You know, I'm part of the team. I don't think I'm special. I don't think I'm more special than anyone else. 

When my Bootcamp community got to 4,000 members, I was so exhausted because I felt I had to answer every single question myself. 

 2. Not asking for what you need

I found it hard to ask for the support I needed - I was doing my own hair and make-up, had poor boundaries with my time, and I said yes to way too many things. 

It was exhausting being everything at once. I'd be like, let me do it, let me be the stage hand, and then I have to go and be the star.

3. Being taken for granted 

Then I found that people were really taking my energy for granted. I wasn't special. I was just like mom.

People were tagging me on the weekends - "Hey Denise, what do you think about this? I'd love to get your thoughts on this…"

I had tags on Christmas day one year - "Denise, what do you think about this thing? What should I price my products at?" 

There was no reverence for Denise. I was not the Mickey Mouse of this business. I was the always available hard-working stagehand or the background dancer that everyone takes for granted. 

So something had to change. Sound familiar? 

Where can you edify yourself in your business?

How can you position yourself as someone special and worthy of paying attention to?

Do you need someone to introduce you at events as a "hype person" or someone helping to answer questions in your group? 

I even started hiring people to greet people, "Oh, are you excited to see Denise today?" 

Have you noticed  when you go to Disney that they're all selling Disney merchandise, but they're going, "You're seeing Mickey today!" You can create these little moments in your business.

Remember, you're not going to do these things out of some belief that you're so special, but it can be transformational for your income and energy to assume the role of Mickey in your business.

You can be a role model. Role model boundaries. Role model not having to be and do everything for everyone in your business. 

Being the star of the show really does benefit everybody because when you have more energy, you can show up in a much more powerful way. 

What is coming up for you? Where can you be more Mickey?

Do you need to shift or change the way you do your business? Better boundaries around your time? Not feeling like you have to solve every problem of everyone's life? 

Or just a mindset shift so you know that your energy is the one that can't be replaced. There's only one of you.

It's safe for you to value your time and energy.

xx Denise