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I'm sharing exclusive content from my March 2025 CEO Retreat, including my battle-tested "Oh Shit Kit" framework to help you stabilize your business during uncertainty. In this special episode, you'll experience key moments from the retreat as I provide actionable steps to secure your finances, generate revenue from existing relationships, and adjust your messaging to meet clients' shifting needs. Discover why increasing visibility—not retreating—is crucial during economic downturns, and how transparent leadership builds trust when others hide. These practical retreat strategies will help you make clearheaded decisions from a place of strength rather than fear.

Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @racheal.cook
• TikTok: @rachealcookmba
• LinkedIn: @rachealcook
• YouTube: @the_ceo_collective
• Website: The CEO Collective

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Do you ever feel like you're carrying the weight of your business entirely on your shoulders? 

In this candid episode, I tackle the isolation that many women entrepreneurs experience. Drawing from my personal story of being raised by entrepreneur parents and the life-altering car accident that changed my family forever, I share powerful insights about the critical importance of building multi-layered support systems. I reveal how my father's business survived a crisis that could have destroyed it, thanks to a community of fellow entrepreneurs who stepped up. 

Whether you're struggling with business overwhelm, household management chaos, or simply craving deeper connections, this episode offers practical frameworks for creating the support you need—before you need it. Because the truth is, we all face unexpected challenges, and having systems in place isn't a sign of weakness—it's strategic preparation that allows your business to thrive even when life throws curveballs.

Episode Highlights:

• The Crisis That Shaped My Perspective - How my family's tragedy revealed the power of community support for entrepreneurs
• Your Business Continuity Plan - Creating systems so your business can function without you for weeks if necessary
• Finding Your "Right Hand" Person - The essential team member who buffers between you and clients during emergencies
• Home Systems That Actually Work - Applying business principles to systematize household responsibilities
• Automation Strategies - Simple ways to eliminate recurring mental load at home
• Building Your Personal Support Circle - Why intentionally cultivating friendships is crucial for entrepreneurs
• The Courage to Ask for Connection - How I "propose friendship" to build my support network

Mentioned in this episode:

• Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
• NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners)

Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @racheal.cook
• TikTok: @rachealcookmba
• LinkedIn: @rachealcook
• YouTube: @the_ceo_collective
• Website: The CEO Collective

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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

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Running a business during political and economic uncertainty requires strategic focus, not panic. In this episode, I share practical strategies to stay grounded when consumer spending tightens and decision fatigue creeps in. Learn how to audit expenses, build a cash cushion, optimize your marketing systems, and implement the "less but better" approach that preserves your capacity. Discover why adjusting tasks based on your energy levels helps maintain productivity without burnout. Rather than waiting to see what happens, these actionable frameworks will help you navigate challenging times while continuing to build your business as an act of resistance.

Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @racheal.cook
• TikTok: @rachealcookmba
• LinkedIn: @rachealcook
• YouTube: @the_ceo_collective
• Website: The CEO Collective

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In this episode, I share some helpful strategies for entrepreneurs to stay grounded when things get uncertain. You'll learn about expanding your "window of tolerance" between fight-or-flight and freeze responses, and discover practical tools like creating your own personalized "thrive list" and choosing meaningful "reset buttons" instead of just defaulting to whatever's easiest. We explore seven different types of rest—physical, mental, emotional, sensory, creative, social, and spiritual—and talk about how taking care of yourself intentionally actually builds your capacity to lead effectively. Throughout our conversation, you'll find actionable advice for managing your energy and reducing decision fatigue, helping you stay centered as a leader rather than operating from a place of panic.

Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @racheal.cook
• TikTok: @rachealcookmba
• LinkedIn: @rachealcook
• YouTube: @the_ceo_collective
• Website: The CEO Collective

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

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Discover proven strategies to keep your business moving forward amid unpredictability and overwhelm. After 18 years navigating economic ups and downs, I share my framework for creating resilient business plans that don't require perfect circumstances to succeed. Learn how to stop starting over, build reusable assets, implement rinse-and-repeat systems, and focus on what truly matters. Perfect for entrepreneurs feeling drained by current events or disappointed by recent results. Build momentum with less stress by creating adaptable business strategies that can weather any storm.

Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @racheal.cook
• TikTok: @rachealcookmba
• LinkedIn: @rachealcook
• YouTube: @the_ceo_collective
• Website: The CEO Collective

Subscribe & Review:

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In my latest episode, I'm tackling the elephant in the room: marketing during uncertain times. Drawing from my experience growing up in a small business family and working with countless entrepreneurs, I expose why the polished "perfect" marketing approach is failing and what actually works today. I share practical strategies for building genuine connections with your audience, why community matters more than ever, and how to market authentically when everything feels uncertain. If you're tired of performative marketing and ready for real connection, this episode reveals the path forward.

Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @racheal.cook
• TikTok: @rachealcookmba
• LinkedIn: @rachealcook
• YouTube: @the_ceo_collective
• Website: The CEO Collective

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

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Feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of today’s world? In this episode, I dive into why values-driven leadership matters more than ever. Learn how to navigate uncertainty, stand firm in your beliefs, and protect your peace while growing your business. Discover why silence isn’t neutral, how brands are paying the price for ignoring values, and why community is the key to resilience. Tune in for a confidence-boosting conversation on stepping into your role as a leader without burnout.

Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @racheal.cook
• TikTok: @rachealcookmba
• LinkedIn: @rachealcook
• YouTube: @the_ceo_collective
• Website: The CEO Collective

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

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Over the past year, I’ve navigated personal and business challenges that tested everything I teach. In this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I kept my business thriving while managing family caregiving, my health, and major shifts in my strategy. I’ll share the smart decisions that led to more revenue with less stress, why I’m going video-first, and how you can create a resilient, life-first business. If you’re ready to take control and build a business that works for you, this episode is a must-listen!

Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @racheal.cook
• TikTok: @rachealcookmba
• LinkedIn: @rachealcook
• YouTube: @the_ceo_collective
• Website: The CEO Collective

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

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As soon as you get up, the dog is already begging to be let outside. The kids don’t want to get ready for school, so you have to practically drag them out of bed. Your partner is wondering where the hell this or that is while you’re trying to get ready yourself for the day. And you’re still just barely awake in all this and haven’t had your coffee yet!

Are your mornings crazy like this? Let’s do something about that! High performance CEOs know how to manage their day and conserve their energy to get the results they want in life and business. So in this last installment of the “Run Your Business Like a CEO” series, I talk about three surprisingly key things to running your day like a CEO, based on my own experience.

On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:

7:54 - A great day truly starts the night before. I used to never be a great sleeper (and even failed at it, according to my FitBit), so here’s how I fixed that.

15:48 - Morning routines can be so different from person to person. As an introvert who likes the quiet, here’s what I do and don’t do.

20:00 - What else can you consider to keep your days running smoothly? Pay attention to these things.

23:00 - I reveal what I do to simplify decision-making regarding my wardrobe, self-care, and home essentials.

26:45 - What’s sucking away your time? I discuss the happy accident that helped me truly relax.

28:27 - I used to feel resistant to morning and nighttime routines. Are you in the same boat?

 

Mentioned in Run Your Day Like a CEO

• FitBit
• Calm
• Grove Collaborative
• “From Not Ready Yet to Ready for Next Level Visibility with Stylist Nicole Otchy”
• Racheal on Instagram and

Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @racheal.cook
• TikTok: @rachealcookmba
• LinkedIn: @rachealcook
• YouTube: @the_ceo_collective
• Website: The CEO Collective

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

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As a CEO, you’ve got many potential distractions in your business. Answering emails or other ongoing administrative work can keep your attention off the tasks that’ll actually move your company forward. Then by the end of the week, you’ve made little (if any) progress on the tasks that do drive business growth and success. In this episode, I talk about how you can run your week as a CEO with five top strategies that help you skillfully manage your time and energy while prioritizing those higher-value tasks that move the needle.

On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:

5:01 - What is a model calendar, and how do you use one? I talk about how I created my model calendar and really dig into the details of how I use it now.

21:57 - If you have other people on your team, here’s something else you should consider doing to protect your time and energy.

26:33 - What’s the second most important strategy to run your week like a CEO? I do this for my business every Monday morning.

39:46 - I’m pretty ruthless when I implement the third strategy. And it certainly helps with client appointments and business boundaries when I do this.

41:37 - I often get asked why I included these couple of questions in The CEO Planner. What are they, and why did I?

45:03 - The CEO Score comes in handy when it comes to sticking to the weekly plan you just mapped out. Here’s a breakdown of what it’s all about.

57:26 - The last strategy is built right into the planner as this series of questions so you can make better decisions and nip any recurring problems in the bud.

1:02:58 - To wrap up, I quickly recap all five top things to do to run your week like a CEO.

Mentioned in Run Your Week Like a CEO

• The CEO Collective
• The CEO Planner
• Fired Up & Focused Challenge
• “How a model calendar help

Connect with Me:

• Instagram: @racheal.cook
• TikTok: @rachealcookmba
• LinkedIn: @rachealcook
• YouTube: @the_ceo_collective
• Website: The CEO Collective

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!