In this episode of Business Not As Usual, I sit down with returning guest Allison Walsh—personal brand expert, consultant, bestselling author, and international speaker—to talk about her journey from starting a nonprofit at 18 to scaling startups, coaching leaders, and building a brand empire rooted in impact.

Allison doesn't just share the highlight reel. She opens up about the failed launches, the risks that paid off (and the ones that didn't), and the mindset shifts that helped her stay grounded, resilient, and successful through every season of business.

We cover:

• How Allison turned her personal story into a mission-driven brand

• Why vulnerability builds deeper connection with your audience

• The "Bounce Back Factor" and how to recover quickly after setbacks

• The difference between reckless risks and calculated, business-building risks

• Why agility and alignment are non-negotiable for long-term growth

If you've ever felt like a failure set you back, this conversation will remind you it's often the setup for your next success.

🎁 Allison is also gifting you her Shine Bright Brand Building Blueprint, a mini training to help you clarify your brand and amplify your impact. Grab it here → https://www.allisonwalshconsulting.com/shine-bright-brand-building-blueprint

📚 Connect with Allison:

• She Believes She Could Podcast

• She Believes She Could Book

• Build Your Brand On Demand Course

Meg's Links:

• Business Story BluePrint

• Connect on Instagram

"Everything's going so well, Megan. Why the hell are you throwing this wrench in?"

When I tell you this wasn't even a top-of-mind goal…

It wasn't something I said out loud or even thought that much of consciously. But it was obviously in there subconsciously!

Initially, I only shared it with my mastermind peers. Then I went and shared my big hairy, scary goal on social—for the whole world to see!

But here's the thing…

I've felt myself playing it really safe in business recently.

There's nothing wrong with that! My nervous system NEEDED safe and calm after giving birth to twins and adjusting to that new lifestyle.

Now?

Now I know my non-negotiables, I have a clear timeline, and I know exactly how I do (and do NOT) want to hit this goal.

I'm sharing it all in this podcast episode, so press play and join me on what's sure to be a wild ride!

→ Come say hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganyelaney

→ Sign up for the Weekly Edge Newsletter: https://meganyelaney.com/newsletter-opt-in

→ 10X Is Easier Than 2X Book: https://amzn.to/4bU8EMc

One platform should NOT be your whole business. (Stay with me!) It feels GREAT to get more views on a post than normal! Getting those views on your website matters just as much—if not more.

Sure some of the views on social are search-based, but a lot of it is that people happen to be scrolling and you stop their scroll. They're not intentionally looking for that thing.

When you do get that kind of engagement from your content? Game-changing!

So… how can you create a lead gen system to bring in the right clients without posting on social media all. day. long?

That's exactly why Holly Haynes is with us on the pod! She does this for herself and her clients following her anti-social strategies. (Which aren't quite what you're expecting.)

In this actionable conversation, Holly explains what micro partnerships are (and how to easily spot your first one), shares the BEST question you can ask yourself as a business owner, and we even get into what time management looks like as a twin mom and business owner!

You're gonna want to bookmark and come back to this one. 😉

→ Tune in to Crush the Rush™ Podcast with Holly!

→ Get instant access to the "Ditch the Drama" Workshop

"How tf do you manage all of us?"

That question came out of a mastermind call and it inspired this entire podcast episode!

In a nutshell: I have 3 main things. They allow me to serve clients well AND be a whole person—and mom, and wife, and daughter, and friend, and all the things.

To give you some context, I have 39 clients right now—15 in TDE, 13 in the TDE continuation, 9 in the mastermind, and 2 one-on-one clients.

Now I've had way more than 39 clients at once in the past! But a lot of them were in programs that I had at the time that were not as hands-on.

The way things are right now, my offers are high-ticket and high-touch. And I'm bringing you behind-the-scenes to show you exactly how I do it—and you can, too!

Do not neglect your business just because you are so deep in serving clients. It will bite you in the butt!

I promise you can do both! I do both and I know you can do both, too.

Share any follow-up questions you have with me—send me a DM on Instagram. I love hearing from you!

→ Come say hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganyelaney

→ Sign up for the Weekly Edge Newsletter: https://meganyelaney.com/newsletter-opt-in

→ 10X Is Easier Than 2X Book: https://amzn.to/4bU8EMc

It's far too easy for that connection between couples to slip away when you're in that building stage as a business owner.

And I know I say this about everyone on the podcast, but these two…

Are the reason we got pregnant.

Not in a weird way! They revived our marriage in so many ways, which is what ultimately brought us our baby boys.

It's WILD to see the domino effect of what this coaching did for our life.

James and Angela Mitchell specifically help married entrepreneurs. Such a unique situation requires coaches who actually "get it." They not only get it—they're living it, just like we are!

Angela brings over 20 years in the counseling world working with women and families, while James draws from his experience as a lifelong entrepreneur and years as a transformational coach for men and couples.

Together they have this magic where they blend heart and strategy to help couples get on the same page, deepen their connection, and build a marriage that not only thrives but fuels their business success. And who knows… maybe even go on to have twins!

→ Get the full show notes here!

James + Angela's Links:

→Podcast: Married & Magnetic on Apple or Spotify

Meg's Links:

→Say hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganyelaney

→Discover how to craft a powerful business origin story that sets you apart, builds trust, and inspires clients to work with you: https://meganyelaney.com/business-story-blueprint

If your January motivation is already fading, or you're realizing that doing more isn't fixing what feels off in your business: this episode is for you.

In this conversation, I'm walking you through the exact Gap Finder process I created for my private mastermind clients to help them identify what's actually holding their business back (hint: it's usually not what you think).

Because most entrepreneurs don't have a motivation problem. They have a misdiagnosed gap.

You might think you need more leads, better sales skills, or a new platform, but the real issue is often buried underneath in your messaging, positioning, or clarity around what you're known for.

This episode will help you spot that domino gap: the one fix that makes everything else easier.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why motivation always fades, and why that's normal

• The difference between the problem you think you have and the one actually blocking growth

• Why January feels slow for so many industries (and why February is the real reset)

• What "I promised myself I wouldn't invest this year" really means

• How trust (not money) is often the real objection behind investing

• How to decide what to invest in next: time, skill, coaching, or support

• The Gap Finder Framework I use with mastermind clients to diagnose business blind spots

• How to identify your domino gap: the one change that unlocks momentum everywhere else

The 5 Core Business Gaps We Walk Through:

1. Your Distinctive Edge (Messaging & Positioning): Can you clearly say what people come to you for, and why you?

2. Your Offer Suite: What's working, what feels off, and what might be missing entirely?

3. Marketing, Visibility & Demand: Are you getting eyes, but not conversions? Or relying too heavily on one platform?

4. Sales & Revenue Flow: How money is actually moving (or not moving) in your business right now.

5. Systems, Team & Capacity: Where things fall apart when you're busy, or when you can't be everywhere.

We also talk about how to choose your next 90-day focus so you're not trying to fix everything at once.

Important Links:

→Apply for The Distinctive Edge: https://meganyelaney.com/tde

→Come say hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganyelaney

Tune into Day 3 of the Wildly in Demand series we're hosting from January 27th-29th.

We'll break down:

✅How to share client stories without relying on vague wins or before-and-after fluff

✅How to highlight process-based results so people understand what actually changes when they work with you

✅How to turn proof into belief, not pressure

You'll learn how to use proof in a way that helps buyers see themselves in the transformation — not just admire results from afar.

Time Stamp Breakdown:

Important Links:

The next cohort of TDE starts on February 9th! Apply for The Distinctive Edge Here: https://meganyelaney.com/tde#application-form

Sign up here to get The Wildly in Demand replay emails + resources: https://meganyelaney.com/wildly-in-demand

[THE DISTINCTIVE EDGE CLIENT CASE STUDY] What if your marketing didn't just work… it actually made you feel more regulated? In this longer, laugh-out-loud-and-then-get-a-lump-in-your-throat conversation, Meg sits down with Tasha and Brandon (Rules & Rebellion)—burnout business strategists who support heart-centered business owners with Complex Life Circumstances (their term: CLC). If you've ever tried to follow someone's "post every day + hustle harder" blueprint and felt your nervous system slam the brakes… this episode will feel like someone finally telling the truth out loud. Tasha and Brandon share what it's like to build a business while navigating layered realities—ADHD, parenting, perimenopause, chronic stress, flare-ups, caregiving, life transitions—without pretending discipline alone is the answer. They talk about why so many business strategies feel like "duct tape on a Lamborghini," and what changed when they anchored their message in a clear framework and values-led positioning that actually fits real life. We also get into tangible results: how they used a relationship-based private invite strategy to bring in $6,000 more in sales between December and January than ever before, and why the bigger win wasn't just money—it was creating systems that made the business feel safer and more sustainable. And if you've ever thought, "I can't keep doing this… but I also can't not do this work," Tasha's closing message is basically a mic drop. In this episode, we cover:

• What "Complex Life Circumstances (CLC)" actually means—and why it changes how you market and sell
• Why most strategies feel like duct tape on a Lamborghini for high-capacity people with layered lives
• The difference between stabilizing your nervous system vs just soothing it
• How a framework gives you one clear way to explain what you do (and reduces daily decision fatigue)
• What changed when they stopped "spraying the internet" with content and started selling with a clear process
• How private invites work when you're not trying to be templated, pushy, or weird
• The underrated result: building systems that help you have a business and a life
• Why your message can't survive on "$27/month energy" if you're here to make real impact
• How autonomy inside a program creates better results than copy/paste "be like me" coaching

Memorable moments / quotes:

• "It felt like duct tape on a Lamborghini."
• "It was energizing versus depleting."
• "I can't not do this work."
• "You can't survive on $27 a month if you're here to deliver a real message."
• "Meg never asked us to be her—she asked us to get out of our own way."

Connect with Tasha & Brandon (Rules & Rebellion)

• Instagram: @rulesandrebellion
• Website: https://www.rulesandrebellion.com/
• Podcast: Boldly Becoming You: https://rulesandrebellion.libsyn.com/

Want to apply for The Distinctive Edge?

DM Meg on Instagram @MeganYelaney or apply at https://meganyelaney.com/tde

[THE DISTINCTIVE EDGE CLIENT CASE STUDY]

In this episode, Meg sits down with Leah Bryant, Podcast Growth Strategist and Coach, to talk about how clarifying her messaging—and fully owning her distinctive edge—helped her book multiple podcast audits and full podcast launches in a matter of weeks.

Leah shares the honest reality of being five years into business, having already experienced success, and still realizing something was missing. After transitioning from an agency model to a solo business, Leah knew she was good at what she did—but wasn't clearly articulating why she was different in a saturated market.

Inside this conversation, Leah breaks down how leaning into her background as a former fraud investigator (yes, really) changed everything—from her confidence to her conversions.

If you've ever thought, "I know I'm good at what I do, but my message isn't landing," this episode is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Leah almost didn't invest—and what helped her make a grounded, confident yes

• How podcast SEO can turn a show into an actual revenue-generating asset

• The mistake most podcasters make when trying to grow (and why tips alone don't convert anymore)

• How Leah transitioned from an agency voice to owning her voice as the brand

• Why owning your background and pattern-recognition skills builds instant trust

• What shifted when Leah stopped "sounding like everyone else" and showed more personality

• How clarity in messaging led to booked audits, paid launches, and inbound clients

• Why confidence—not just strategy—is the real multiplier in sales

Quotes you'll hear echoed:

• "I knew I was good at what I did—I just wasn't owning it."

• "I was burned before, and I didn't want another program collecting dust."

• "Once I started being myself, everything shifted."

Connect with Leah Bryant

• Website: https://leahbryantco.com/

• Leah's Podcast: https://leahbryantco.com/podcasting-problem-solver/

• Leah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahbryant_co/

Want to apply for The Distinctive Edge?

DM Meg on Instagram @MeganYelaney or apply at https://meganyelaney.com/tde

[THE DISTINCTIVE EDGE CLIENT CASE STUDY]

What does it look like to move from "I'll join next year" to a full-body gut yes—and then watch your business immediately start to click?

In this case study-style episode, I sit down with Deb Driscoll, founder of The Be Her Collective, whose North Star is "reminding women just how frickin' magical they are." Deb supports women to reclaim their intuitive wisdom, remember who they are, and step into heroine status—and reminded us all that intuition + strategy is a lethal combo when you finally give yourself permission to be fully seen.

Deb shares the honest behind-the-scenes of what it felt like to invest (hello, excitement + nausea), how old scarcity stories almost kept her out, and why she decided TDE would be the "pathway, full stop."

Then we get into what actually changed: the framework, the messaging clarity, and the (surprise!) sales support Deb didn't realize she needed—especially the power of private invites to enroll clients without a big launch.

If you've ever felt like your work feels "too intangible" to explain clearly… or you're tired of spinning in circles trying five different strategies at once… this one will hit.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Deb joined The Distinctive Edge (TDE) and what made it feel like "the risk that has reward"

• The difference between a true "not now" and a scarcity-based "no"

• How Deb stopped the "I know so much" expert spiral by becoming a beginner again (TDE school energy)

• The real key to making a "vague" or intuitive transformation feel tangible and clear in your messaging

• Why your signature framework can become your one message, one mission across offers

• What made the material reviews so powerful (and why "knowing the why" matters)

• How Deb used private invites to start 2026 with clients already enrolled (without a traditional launch)

• The underrated ROI: community, connection, and not building your business alone

Quotes you'll remember

• "This feels risky, but this is the risk that has reward."

• "I unsubscribed to so many people… I'm listening to myself, and I'm listening to Meg."

• "I start 2026 not just as a business owner. I'm a woman on a mission."

Connect with Deb Driscoll

• Website: https://thebehercollective.com/

• Subscribe to Deb on Substack: https://substack.com/@thebehercollective

Want to apply for The Distinctive Edge?

DM Meg on Instagram @MeganYelaney or apply at https://meganyelaney.com/tde