This conversation is part of a mini series on the ordinary-but-real health complexities so many business owners face. We’re talking honestly about capacity, caregiving, and the behind-the-scenes adjustments we make to keep our businesses sustainable.

Ever had your life plan derailed by something totally out of left field? That’s exactly what happened to Melissa Boufounos, my guest on this episode.

We’re getting real about what it’s actually like to run a business with “hidden” challenges—think post-concussion syndrome, chronic illness, and all the curveballs that force you to break up with time-blocking, Pinterest-perfect plans, and the 40-hour workweek hustle.

Today’s conversation goes beyond the “get up and grind” grind. Melissa shares how she manages client work, deadlines, and the chaos of toddler mom life while listening to her body and honoring actual limits. You’ll hear why flexible systems beat rigid schedules, how to navigate work on both good and migraine days, and, yes, how to use Asana for real life (no, you don’t need to use every hack an “online guru” sold you).

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com

Key Takeaways:

• Ditch traditional time-blocking and break big tasks into small, doable steps—especially when your energy comes and goes.

• Use project tools like Asana to keep your brain organized, your to-dos accessible, and your stress levels at “ordinary business owner” instead of “celebrity meltdown.”

• Give yourself grace and re-prioritize often; sometimes the “shoulds” can wait so you can rest—naps are absolutely work strategy here.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

This conversation is part of a mini series on the ordinary-but-real health complexities so many business owners face. We’re talking honestly about capacity, caregiving, and the behind-the-scenes adjustments we make to keep our businesses sustainable.

In this episode, I chat with Parijat (https://ruvelle.com/), a business owner and parent who’s balancing high-stakes parenting with running a business that actually matters.

I get into the nitty-gritty with Parijat about automations that actually save brain cells, protecting your time like it’s the last donut in the box, and building visibility the real-person way (spoiler: it’s not going viral on Instagram). Forget hustle culture—the conversation is stuffed with honest laughs about dropping balls and why “fame” can stay far away. This episode is for anyone who's tired of business advice written for superhumans with a private chef.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com

Key Takeaways:

• Automate the tasks you hate so your precious brainpower can go toward what actually matters (like remembering a weekday).

• Set real guardrails around your energy by saying “no,” turning off your phone at 8pm, and being okay with missing a few emails.

• Build your business visibility in ways that don’t drain you—like podcasting over Instagram if that’s what actually feels good.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

This conversation is part of a mini series on the ordinary-but-real health complexities so many business owners face. We’re talking honestly about capacity, caregiving, and the behind-the-scenes adjustments we make to keep our businesses sustainable.

In this episode, I sit down with Hillary, a registered dietitian and business owner who found out she has ADHD after building her business. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your keys, thoughts, and clients from falling into the void—or why “cute bowls” are basically survival tools—this one’s for you.

Today, Hillary gets real about theme days, ditching rigid schedules, and exactly how she structures her week to save sanity and keep work actually fun. I dig into what actually helps when timers, sticky notes, and boundaries all threaten to unravel, and why asking for help isn’t “cheating”—it’s basically required. If you’re navigating running a business while also juggling motherhood and re-learning your brain, this episode is basically a group hug.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com

Key Takeaways:

• Hack your day by making even boring jobs cuter (it actually works, promise).

• Build flexible theme days to cut down on chaos, not creativity.

• Give yourself permission to ask for help—nobody wins solo.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Let’s talk what’s really coming: summits (yes, plural!), monthly Slack chats, and maybe a cozy in-person event that’s more coffee chat than conference. My whole focus for next year? Finding ways to help you connect, feel seen, and actually enjoy being a business owner at any stage.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com

Ever buy a stack of books that looks nice on the shelf…but somehow, you never read any of them? Same. This episode, I sat down with Dr. Sapphire, an ordinary business owner who’s juggling two careers, a reading habit that keeps multiplying, and a battle against end-of-year panic. We talked about anchor habits—the sneaky tricks that help you actually follow through on routines without burning out or quietly quitting.

This isn’t another “7 habits of billionaire founders” kind of chat. Dr. Sapphire shares real strategies for weaving new habits into your workday, how routine helps when you’re running on low brainpower, and why sometimes your “failed” experiments are really just clues for what will work next. If you’re tired of trying productivity hacks that never stick—or you just want permission to drop perfection for progress—this is your episode.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com

Key Takeaways:

• Tie new habits to routines you already do, so it feels less like a chore and more like part of life.

• When experiments flop, dig into why—your failed habits usually have a story worth listening to.

• Choose one simple change at a time (not the whole self-improvement buffet) and anchor it to something reliable.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

This episode, I'm spilling the real tea on what it actually looks like to run a profitable, sustainable business, without your “number one moneymaker” being a magical inbox.

Here’s the thing: I’ve spent 14 years in business, tried all the freebies, webinars, and custom quizzes the internet has to offer, and my email list is still not paying my grocery bill. I'm break ing down exactly where my clients do come from (hint: it’s not email), how I’ve learned to let go of what “should” work, and why leaning into what works for you is the real power move for ordinary but thriving business owners—just like you.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com

Key Takeaways:

• Stop forcing a marketing tool that’s never worked for you—focus instead on what actually brings you clients.

• Know that referrals, SEO, and genuine connection on social media can be your secret sauce (no matter what the gurus say).

• Give yourself permission to ditch the “shoulds,” play to your business strengths, and define success on your own, very ordinary terms.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Do you really have to “be everywhere” online to run a thriving business? In this episode, I sit down with Brittney Lynn (https://www.humanconnectionagency.com/), a business owner who ditched the constant posting and still managed to run a profitable business.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to chase every trend or stack your calendar with marketing to-dos, you’re in the right place. This conversation gets real about riding out tough seasons, grieving, changing direction, and finding out what actually matters when you work for yourself.

We're digging into what it looks like to keep your business going when life hits hard, how to decide between hiring a team or staying solo, and why it’s totally okay to find most of your clients through relationships instead of Instagram Reels.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com

Key Takeaways:

• Focus on deepening relationships with current clients instead of chasing new ones across every social platform.

• Give yourself permission to pause, pivot, or stay solo if a big team doesn’t feel right for you right now.

• Don’t box yourself in—try out new offers or services and let your path evolve based on real opportunities, not just business plans.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

The first week of every month, I drop three related episodes for a little mini-series deep dive. This month, we’re talking about the reality of parenting while running a business: the interruptions, the routines, and the tiny windows of focus we protect with our lives. Grab your coffee and dive in. ☕️

In this episode, I sit down with Payton Moran, a business coach (https://payton-moran-495e.mykajabi.com/) and homeschool mom, to talk about what it really takes to run a business and keep the tiny humans alive—without turning into a productivity robot. Spoiler: Peyton’s not here for color-coded perfection or out-of-touch hustle hacks, and honestly, neither am I.

In our conversation, Payton gets real about making business and family life play nice. We chat about prioritizing what actually matters (hint: it’s not having spotless dishes), finding a rhythm with homeschooling and work, and why letting go of “the right way to do things” might be the biggest sanity-saver of all. There’s also some honest talk about interruptions, messy notes apps, and why sometimes you just have to write content while the kids watercolor a chicken nugget.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritize needle-movers in your business and let the small stuff slide.

• Use practical routines (like the humble Notes app) to capture ideas on the fly, whenever messy life allows.

• Give yourself permission to break the “rules” and build a business that fits your actual, ordinary-but-thriving life.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

The first week of every month, I drop three related episodes for a little mini-series deep dive. This month, we’re talking about the reality of parenting while running a business: the interruptions, the routines, and the tiny windows of focus we protect with our lives. Grab your coffee and dive in. ☕️

Let’s be honest: folding laundry is the least glamorous business task out there—which is why I’m glad to hand the mic to Morgan Specht, military spouse, mom of two, and founder of Specht & Co (https://www.spechtand.co/), who’s here to tackle the real juggling act of running a business while solo parenting (and, yes, trying to find her blow dryer in a house full of moving boxes). If you’ve ever dreamed about outsourcing everyday household chores or wondered how anyone keeps a business afloat when life doesn’t stick to a plan, you’re in the right place.

In this episode, I chat with Morgan about what it’s really like to grow a service-based business while moving bases, navigating solo parenthood, and trying not to lose your client pipeline every time the Wi-Fi changes. We talk practical support and why making friends (even if you’re the world’s biggest introvert) is a business strategy, not just a sanity saver. If you’re crafting a business that suits your ordinary-but-thriving life, this one’s for you.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com

Key Takeaways:

• Make your business sustainable by being honest about what support you need—inside and outside your business.

• Embrace seasons of lower productivity (like moving or solo parenting), and drop the guilt about not “doing it all.”

• Build your network, ask for help, and remember: finding your people is half the battle, both in business and in everyday life.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

The first week of every month, I drop three related episodes for a little mini-series deep dive. This month, we’re talking about the reality of parenting while running a business: the interruptions, the routines, and the tiny windows of focus we protect with our lives. Grab your coffee and dive in. ☕️

In this episode, I sit down with flower preservation artist (and certified time-blocking wizard) Kristin Wilson to talk about what it really looks like to run a business with just a handful of hours a day—while still showing up for your people, keeping burnout at bay, and letting go of all those “shoulds” that clutter up your to-do list.

Kristin ditches the “rise and grind” mindset in favor of the slow-burn success that actually fits real life. We get into how she schedules her week around family needs (without apologizing for her priorities), why she’s loyal to basic tools instead of shiny new apps, and what she’s intentionally saying “no, thanks” to—looking at you, TikTok. If you crave permission to do less, but better, this chat is all you.

→ Grab a summit replay pass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/tickets

Key Takeaways:

• Break your work into realistic time blocks based on actual life (not what the productivity gurus say).

• Use simple systems—like post-its and Google Calendar—to stay organized, instead of overcomplicating everything with “must-have” tools.

• Set boundaries with yourself and your clients—intentional slowness is a strength, not a flaw.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.