Years ago, when I first became a financial advisor, I had a realization that changed everything: if I wanted to thrive, I needed to focus on what I do best—and release the rest.
Of course, that didn’t mean ignoring what I didn’t enjoy. Instead, I created a simple yet powerful exercise, one that I still teach today in our Smart Women’s Academy course, Unlock Your Financial Power.
Here’s how it works:
• Take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle.
• On the left side, put a smiley face. Under it, write down all the tasks you love doing—the ones that feel effortless, give you energy, and create the greatest impact.
• On the right side, draw a frown. Here, list everything that drains your energy—low-priority, low-payoff tasks, or things you constantly procrastinate because they’re simply not in your wheelhouse.
The magic isn’t just in making the list. The real secret is this: everything on the “unhappy” side needs to either be eliminated, delegated, or outsourced to someone who actually enjoys and excels at it.
By shifting your focus so that 80% of your time is spent on the “happy” side, and only 20% on the rest, something remarkable happens. Your energy and joy increase. Your productivity and creativity skyrocket. And yes—your income grows immensely.
I know this because it’s exactly what I did to build my million-dollar business. And over the years, I’ve seen dozens of women use this method to launch their encore careers with joy and prosperity. The key is knowing the secrets—and then following a system that works.
That’s why I’m thrilled about this month’s theme on Smart Women Talk: Think Big, Work Less: The New Rules for Scaling Your Business. Our guests are two brilliant women who have mastered the art of simplifying and elevating their lives and businesses through mindset, time mastery, and even AI.
✨ September 9: Dr. Nona Djavid — How to Build an Abundant Life with Less Hustle
Mindset Mentor and author of eLivate Your Life, Dr. Nona shares how she went from burnout to building a million-dollar business—while working just one week per month. Together, we’ll explore how shifting your energy, beliefs, and mindset can open doors to vibrant health, wealth, and freedom.
✨ September 23: Kendra Corman — Turning AI Into Your Content Creation Bestie
Kendra Corman, marketing strategist, author, and AI expert, reveals how she transformed from 14-hour workdays to saving 30+ hours a week with AI as her secret weapon. You’ll learn how to train AI to write in your authentic voice, preserve your brand, and even use AI as a strategic partner to make better business decisions—while boosting creativity.
I can’t wait for you to meet these incredible women and discover how you, too, can work smarter, not harder—while building a business and life you truly love.
Katana Abbott, CFP®, is a Retirement Income Coach, Certified Social Security Claiming Specialist, and founder of the Midlife Millionaire® Solution. With over 35 years of experience, she has guided hundreds of Baby Boomers in creating secure, fulfilling retirements — helping them optimize Social Security, plan for long-term care, and launch encore careers in their Third Act.
A survivor of loss and abuse, Katana turned adversity into purpose by launching Smart Women’s Empowerment, a nonprofit project of United Charitable, dedicated to helping women take charge of their money and their lives. Through her 8-week financial literacy course Unlock Your Financial Power, her inspirational ezine Smart Women Smart Choices, and her long-running podcast Smart Women Talk, Katana continues to educate, inspire, and uplift women around the world.To learn more and connect with Katana, visit www.katanaabbott.com