What if I lost everything I've built with Classy Career Girl and had to start again from zero?

No email list. No programs. No website. No audience. No podcast downloads.

After more than a decade of entrepreneurship, I know one thing for sure: I would build my business very differently today.

And the biggest change?

I wouldn't build a coaching business. I'd build a business around coaching.

In this episode of Behind the Business, I'm sharing the exact business model I'd build if I were starting over today—and how I'd keep it much simpler from the beginning.

We're talking about:

• Why I'd start with ONE person, ONE problem, and ONE offer
• Why coaching is one of the best ways to start—but shouldn't necessarily be where you stop
• How I'd create coaching, scalable, and recurring income
• Why you don't need multiple businesses to create multiple income streams
• The simple customer journey I'd build
• Why I'd focus on one primary content platform
• What I'd stop doing completely
• How to build your business around the life you actually want

If you're starting a business, growing a coaching business, or wondering how you can turn what you already know into multiple income streams, this episode will help you simplify your next move.

🎧 Listen now and ask yourself: If I were starting from zero today, what would I build differently?

Ready to explore becoming a career coach? Grab my free Career Coach Startup Kit to learn how you can turn your experience into a coaching business. http://www.classycareergirl.com/coachwebinar

And if you're ready to take the next step, applications are now open for Career Coach Certification. http://www.classycareergirl.com/certification

Have you ever wondered if you could become a career coach?

I didn't start Classy Career Girl knowing that career coaching would become my career. I was actually trying to figure out my own career when I discovered how much I loved helping other women find work they loved.

In this Behind the Business episode, I'm sharing the story of how I became a career coach, how Classy Career Girl grew from my own career journey, and why I believe career coaching is one of the best businesses for women who want meaningful, flexible work.

We're talking about:

• How I accidentally found my way into career coaching
• The signs you may already have career coaching skills
• Why your career and life experience matter
• What career coaches actually help people do
• Why you don't need to coach clients 40 hours a week
• How one coaching expertise can create multiple income streams
• What I would do if I were starting a career coaching business today

If people already come to you for help with resumes, interviews, career decisions, job searches or figuring out what's next, there may be a business hiding inside what you already know.

And maybe the career you've been looking for is helping someone else find theirs. 🤍

Ready to explore career coaching?

Grab my Career Coach Startup Kit to learn how to get started. http://www.classycareergirl.com/coachwebinar

And if you're ready to become a trained career coach and build your own career coaching business, applications are now open for Career Coach Certification. http://www.classycareergirl.com/certification

Do you really need a team, a virtual assistant, a housekeeper, expensive software, and a complicated funnel to build a successful business?

I used to think so.

In this episode of Behind the Business, I'm sharing why I followed the traditional advice to outsource and delegate everything—and why I eventually realized I was building a version of success I didn't actually want.

We're talking about how to build a lean, profitable business that fits your life, especially if you're a mom building in the margins of a 9–5, homeschooling, raising kids, or simply wanting more flexibility.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why hiring help doesn't always solve an overwhelmed business
• What I learned from outsourcing housekeeping, childcare, cooking, tech, and more
• Why systems should often come before hiring
• How AI has dramatically lowered the cost of starting a business
• What you actually need to make your first sale
• Why profit—not revenue—is what creates freedom
• How you can build a business in small pockets of focused time
• Why coaching can be one of the simplest, highest-margin businesses to start

If you've been thinking about becoming a career coach, grab my free Career Coach Startup Kit to explore how you can turn the skills and experience you already have into meaningful, flexible work.

Career Coach Start-up Kit: https://www.classycareergirl.com/coachwebinar

And if you already know career coaching is your next step, applications are now open for Career Coach Certification.

Certification for fall and fast action bonuses: https://www.classycareergirl.com/certification

You don't need to build a huge company.

You need a simple business that creates income, protects your margin, and supports the life you're building it for.

What would it actually take for your business to replace your paycheck—or reach your first $5K or $10K month?

In this episode of Behind the Business, I'm sharing the simple revenue planning method I use to stop guessing and start mapping out exactly where my monthly income will come from.

We'll talk about:

• How to determine your monthly income goal
• How to work backward from that number
• Why I don't recommend relying only on 1:1 clients
• How to build multiple streams of income through coaching, group programs, and digital products
• The order I recommend building your income streams as a coach
• How to create a business model that gives you more freedom—not another full-time job

I'll also walk you through my Revenue Calculator so you can plug in your own numbers and see exactly how many clients, sales, or group members you need to reach your goal.

Want help starting your career coaching business?

Grab my Career Coach Startup Kit, where I'll help you start mapping out your offers, pricing, income streams, and revenue plan.

And if you're ready for more personalized support, applications are now open for my Fall Career Coach Certification cohort.

I just opened 5 pre-enrollment spots, and inside Certification, I personally help you build the offers, marketing, client strategy, and revenue plan designed to move you toward consistent $10K months.

Apply for Career Coach Certification: classycareergirl.com/certification

Your goal isn't just to leave your job.

It's to build a business that actually supports the life you want.

Behind the Business #9: How I Actually Get Work Done With Three Kids at Home

Hook: How I stay consistent in my business—even when motivation is gone.

Welcome back to Behind the Business, where I'm taking you behind the scenes of how I actually run Classy Career Girl.

Last week, I took you behind the scenes of my life—motherhood, homeschooling, travel, routines, and the choices we've made as a family.

This week, we're going behind the business.

Yesterday, I shared the one-page business plan I actually use.

But here's the thing:

A business plan doesn't work if you don't actually do the work.

And that is what I want to talk about today.

Because I have three kids at home. We homeschool. We have gymnastics, activities, appointments, meals, laundry, and all the normal things happening around us.

And I still have a business to run.

So how do I actually get things done?

Especially on the days when I don't feel motivated?

Motivation Is Not My Strategy

One of the biggest things I've learned after more than a decade of entrepreneurship is this:

You cannot build a business based on whether you feel motivated that day.

There are mornings when I'm excited to work.

There are also mornings when I'm tired, someone needs me, the schedule changes, or I would rather do almost anything else.

Consistency comes from having a simple system I can return to.

And for me, that starts with knowing my priorities.

1. I Design My Work Around My Life

I don't start by asking:

"How can I fit my family around everything I need to accomplish in my business?"

I do the opposite.

I look at our family schedule first.

When are we homeschooling?

When do the kids need me?

What activities do we have?

When do I want to be completely off?

Then I decide where work fits.

I've learned that less time can actually make me more productive because I have to decide what truly matters.

I can't spend six hours making a Canva graphic perfect.

I have to focus on the work that actually grows the business.

2. I Know My Most Important Business Activities

There will always be more things I could do than I have time to do.

So I focus first on the activities that move the business forward:

Sales.

What am I selling? Who needs to hear about it? What conversations do I need to have?

Delivery.

What do my clients and customers need from me?

Marketing.

What podcast, email, social media post, or piece of content needs to go out?

Everything else comes after those things.

Because a full to-do list does not necessarily mean you're growing your business.

3. I Pick My Top Three

This is probably one of the simplest things I do, but it makes a huge difference.

Every day, I identify my top three priorities.

Not 27.

Three.

If the day completely falls apart but I accomplish those three things, I can still say:

"Today moved the business forward."

That helps me avoid spending my best working hours answering random emails, organizing files, or doing little tasks that feel productive but aren't actually important.

4. I Time Block the Work

Once I know the priorities, I give them somewhere to live.

I don't just write:

"Record podcast."

I decide when I'm recording the podcast.

I don't just write:

"Follow up with potential clients."

I put a block on my calendar to do it.

Your calendar forces you to confront reality.

You might have 15 things on your list, but only two hours available.

Something has to go.

And that's okay.

5. I Make Consistency Easier

I also use simple tools to reduce the amount of thinking I have to do.

I use things like ChatGPT to help me organize a messy brain dump into priorities.

I use project-management tools to keep track of what needs to happen.

I use Calendly so I'm not going back and forth scheduling calls.

I use ManyChat so someone can comment a keyword and automatically receive the resource they're looking for.

The goal isn't to add more technology.

The goal is to remove friction.

Every little decision you can eliminate gives you more energy for the work that actually needs you.

6. I Communicate My Boundaries

This is a huge one when you work from home.

My kids know there are times when Mom is working.

They also know there are times when they have my full attention.

Is it perfect?

Absolutely not.

There are interruptions.

Plans change.

Someone needs something.

That's life with kids.

But having boundaries and rhythms makes it possible for me to be present in both places.

What I Do When Motivation Is Completely Gone

And then there are those days.

You know the ones.

You don't want to record the podcast.

You don't want to write the email.

You don't want to make the sales call.

Here's what I do:

I make the next step smaller.

I don't tell myself I have to finish everything.

I ask:

"What's the next most important thing I can do?"

Open the document.

Record the first five minutes.

Send one follow-up.

Write one paragraph.

Start.

Because action creates momentum.

You don't have to feel motivated before you begin.

The To-Do List I Actually Use

I have a really simple Daily To-Do List that helps me do all of this.

It's one page.

It helps me identify my priorities, organize what needs to happen, and focus on what actually matters that day.

And you can download the exact template I use for free.

I'll put the link in the show notes.

Because you don't need another complicated productivity system.

You need to know:

What matters today?

When am I going to do it?

And what can I let go of?

That's how I've stayed consistent.

Not because I'm motivated every day.

Not because I have unlimited time.

But because I've learned to focus the limited time I do have on the things that matter most.

And sometimes, that's actually the gift of building a business with kids at home.

You learn very quickly what deserves your time.

I'll see you tomorrow for another episode of Behind the Business.

What if you could plan your entire business on one page instead of 50?

In this episode of Behind the Business, I'm taking you inside the simple one-page business plan I've used for over a decade to grow Classy Career Girl.

Last week, we went behind the scenes of my personal life—motherhood, homeschooling, traveling, and building a life around what matters most. This week, we're going inside the business and looking at the actual strategies, systems, and plans I use to run it.

I'll walk you through the five sections of my one-page business plan:

• Purpose: Why are you building this business?
• People: Who are you here to help?
• Product: What are you going to sell?
• Promotion: How will the right people find you?
• Profit: What numbers actually need to happen to reach your goals?

If you've been jumping from strategy to strategy, wondering what to post, creating too many offers, or feeling like your business is more complicated than it needs to be, this episode will help you get back to the basics.

Because you probably don't need another strategy.

You need a clear plan.

🎧 New to Behind the Business? Go back and listen to the first seven episodes to hear the personal stories and decisions behind the business and life I've built.

Get the Full Business Plan Workshop

This episode is just a peek inside my process. In my Business Plan in a Day Workshop, I give you my actual one-page business plan template and walk you through it step by step so you can create your own.

Get the workshop + template at classycareergirl.com/businessplan

Motherhood changed my definition of success.

Before becoming a mom, I thought success meant working harder, accomplishing more, saying yes to opportunities, and continuing to climb.

Then my first daughter was born—and suddenly, time felt different.

In this episode, I'm taking you back to something I originally wrote when she had just turned one and sharing the lessons that first year of motherhood taught me about success, work, fear, flexibility, and building a life on your own terms.

We'll talk about:

• Why becoming a mom changed the way I thought about work and ambition
• Choosing impact over hustle
• Why flexibility became more valuable than the perfect schedule
• The moment I realized I couldn't—and didn't need to—do everything myself
• What motherhood taught me about facing fear and doing hard things
• Why success can look completely different in different seasons
• Building work around your family instead of constantly fitting your family around your work

More than a decade later, these lessons still shape the way I build my business and raise my family.

Success isn't always about doing more.

Sometimes it's about having the freedom to decide what matters most in this season—and creating a life that reflects it.

If your definition of success has been changing since becoming a mom, this episode is for you. 🤍

How do you keep a busy family organized when you're juggling work, kids, homeschooling, appointments, activities, meals, and everything else that comes with everyday life?

In Behind the Business #6, I'm taking you behind the scenes of the simple planning systems we use in our family every single week.

These aren't complicated productivity systems or rigid schedules. They're practical tools that help us communicate better, build routines, share responsibilities, and keep everything from living inside my head.

In this episode, I'm sharing the 5 tools I use to plan our weeks:

• Our weekly fridge calendar that keeps the entire family on the same page
• My weekly planning sheet and three priorities for the week
• Our shared Google Calendar and monthly family calendar
• The kids' weekly checklists we use for school, chores, and daily habits
• The simple cleaning routine that helps us keep our home running without trying to clean everything at once

I also share why I've learned to involve my kids in household routines early, how these systems reduce the mental load of motherhood, and why the goal isn't to have a perfectly organized week.

The goal is to create enough structure that your family knows what's happening—and enough flexibility that life can still happen.

Want my weekly fridge calendar? Send me a DM on Instagram @classycareergirl with the word FRIDGE, and I'll send it to you.

Want my weekly planning sheet? Download my free 90-Day Planner at ClassyCareerGirl.com/freeplan.

This episode is part of my Behind the Business series, where I'm sharing the real systems, routines, decisions, and lessons behind running Classy Career Girl while raising a family.

What do you do when you make a beautiful plan for the week…and by Tuesday, everything has changed?

Kids get sick. Appointments move. Work takes longer than expected. Your energy changes. And suddenly, the schedule you carefully created no longer works.

In this episode of The Classy Career Girl Podcast, I'm sharing the simple weekly planning rhythm I use to stay focused without creating a rigid schedule that falls apart the moment real life happens.

You'll learn my 4-part gentle weekly planning system:

• How to choose your top three priorities for the week
• Where to put everything else you'd like to accomplish
• How to batch administrative tasks so they don't take over your week
• Why family, personal commitments, and time for yourself belong in your plan too
• How to connect your weekly priorities to your bigger goals
• Why planning should create peace and clarity—not more pressure

The goal isn't to perfectly execute everything you wrote down on Sunday.

The goal is to know what matters most so that when life changes, you know what to come back to.

Because you probably don't need more hours in your day.

You need clarity about what deserves those hours.

🎁 FREE WEEKLY PLANNING TEMPLATE

Want to create your own weekly rhythm? Download my free planning template and use it every Sunday to clear your head, choose your priorities, and prepare for the week ahead.

http://www.classycareergirl.com/freeplan

You don't need a perfect plan. You need a plan that serves the life you're actually living.

My Daily Anchors: A Morning Routine for Peace in Busy Seasons

What keeps you grounded when every day looks different?

As a mom, entrepreneur, and homeschooler, I've learned that I don't need a perfectly structured morning routine—I need a few simple anchors I can return to when life gets busy.

In this episode of The Classy Career Girl Podcast, I'm sharing the daily practices that help me stay rooted in my faith, focused on my priorities, and present with my family.

I'm taking you behind the scenes of my real morning routine, including:

• How I start my day even when I don't have time to sit quietly • The three journaling questions that help me clear my head • How I create my daily priority list without expecting myself to finish everything • Why I sometimes use ChatGPT to organize my brain dumps and to-do lists • The simple nutrition and strength-training habits I'm working on • How I move from quiet morning time into the reality of homeschooling, work, chores, and family life • Why I focus on consistent anchors instead of a rigid schedule

The biggest lesson I've learned is that a peaceful life doesn't come from controlling every hour of your day.

Some days are still messy. Some mornings don't go according to plan. And I definitely don't accomplish everything on my list.

But having a few familiar practices to come back to helps me reset, refocus, and remember what matters most.

If you're a busy mom trying to balance your faith, family, work, health, and everything else on your plate, this episode is your reminder: you don't need a perfect routine. You just need a few anchors that bring you back to what matters.