I’m pulling back the curtain on my 2026 strategy—what I’m cutting, what I’m keeping, and how I’m simplifying my entire business around one clear plan. I break down my 4-part strategic plan framework—visibility, nurture, easy yes, and primary offer—and explain how it all connects inside a streamlined funnel.

And I'm sharing what I'm cutting (which? honestly might be the hardest part)

Looking for business clarity too?? I made you a free challenge to walk you through my ARISE framework to guide you through clarifying your business goals and action steps for this season of your business and life.

JOIN HERE

Want to build your plan? Start with Grounded.

Want accountability to actually follow through? That’s what The Percolator is for.

Dusty's Website | Dusty on Instagram 

Let's work together: https://dustyhegge.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hard Decision
01:11 Gratitude and Community Engagement
03:23 The Shift in Business Strategy
04:29 Facing Burnout and Capacity Challenges
09:22 Establishing Boundaries for Growth
13:22 Conversations with Brian: A Turning Point
20:17 Simplifying the Business Model
29:27 The Strategic Plan for 2026

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Get Your Free Action Planner: The free work planner uniquely designed for the inconsistent coach, author, or leader who’s ready to take persistent action. HERE

This is one of those “take 15” days—spilled coffee, scattered brain, Christmas chaos - but honestly? This episode is just TOO good to not publish today!!!

I’m sharing my full scheduling framework: how I plan my year, quarter, month, and week, the tools I rely on, and the little systems that keep our family running when time blindness is doing the most.

We’ll cover the mindset (be nice to yourself, build with intention, hold it with surrender), my Google Calendar setup, the weekly fridge notepad routine, and the extra tools that make follow-through easier—without pretending life won’t change mid-week.

Join us at Company Retreat: Deep Work + Deep Rest Sojourn

Get the weekly notepad I use here

The Sylight Calendar (save $20!)

Honeybook (save 40% on your 1st year!)

DUSTY'S WEBSITE

Dusty on Instagram (come say hi and make my whole day!!!!)

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Christmas Reflections
00:48 The Importance of Scheduling
03:16 Mindset and Intentionality in Scheduling
06:05 Tools for Effective Scheduling
07:02 Google Calendar: The Master Tool
09:21 Family and Work Calendar Coordination
11:02 No plans days system
12:52 Integrating Honeybook and my personal calendar
15:12 Managing Kids' Schedules
16:54 Planning rest, family time, and vacations first
20:07 Meal Planning and Weekly Systems
24:27 Supplementary Tools for Scheduling
29:24 Action Planner and Task Management
34:22 Flexibility and Adaptability in Scheduling
35:17 Conclusion and Call to Action

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Get Your Free Action Planner: The free work planner uniquely designed for the inconsistent coach, author, or leader who’s ready to take persistent action. HERE

I'm sharing some fun life updates (hello Wordle obsession) and some more vulnerable ones. Plus my pure EXCITEMENT (and a few updates) for Company Retreat!!! But the bulk of this episode is a very practical look at what's actually working right now on Instagram and Threads—without chasing fast growth or burning yourself out in the process.

This is a practical and honest conversation for Christian authors, coaches, and ministry-minded business owners who want to grow with integrity, steward their energy well, and stay faithful in a hard season. Because WOAH, this year has been a hard one, and I know I'm not the only one.

ALL THE LINKS:

001. Company Retreat (Applications + Early Bird Info)
+ https://dustyhegge.com/company-retreat

002. Book a Strategy Session

+ https://dustyhegge.com/strategy-sessions

003. Follow Me on Instagram
+ https://instagram.com/dustyhegge

004. Read + Message Me on Substack
+ https://dustyhegge.substack.com

IN THIS CONVERSATION:

• Why “messy, unoptimized action” will always beat overthinking and inaction
• What Company Retreat has taught me about failure, timing, and new beginnings
• How economic pressure is changing buying behavior (and what that means for your offers)
• The difference between fast growth and sustainable visibility
• What’s actually working on Threads right now—and why it’s helping Instagram growth
• How to think about Instagram Stories as relationship-building, not visibility
• Why resharing feed posts to Stories often hurts performance (and what to do instead)
• A healthier, more sustainable approach to content creation that doesn’t kill the joy

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Get Your Free Action Planner: The free work planner uniquely designed for the inconsistent coach, author, or leader who’s ready to take persistent action. HERE

Kicking off the first Dialogue Session, I'm joined by author Kristen LaValley. We talk about lip color, what she'd add to her squirrel bowl, neurodivergence in the Church, Company Retreat, and all about her new book, Growing Up Saved. We keep it light-hearted, we laugh a lot, and still make space for the deep stuff. Because it ALL has a place here. I hope you enjoy!

ALL THE LINKS:

Pre-order Growing Up Saved

Kristen's website | Kristen on Substack

COMPANY RETREAT: A deep work + deep rest sojourn for the Christian author, business owner, and leader

Dusty's Website

Feeling overwhelmed? Grab your free Action Planner HERE.

Let's work together: https://dustyhegge.com

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Lip Color Confessions
02:56 Wicked Movie Review
05:50 Squirrel Bowl Snacks
08:56 Creative Aspirations
11:47 Daily Routines and Comforts
14:45 Coffee Order Reflections
15:18 The Journey to Becoming an Author
20:38 Growing Up in a Pastor's Home
23:46 The Undoing and Rebuilding of Faith
29:26 Navigating Neurodivergence in Church Settings
33:12 Creating an Abundant Life
37:38 Agency Over Adulthood
39:00 Navigating Faith and Community Expectations
40:42 Nurturing Faith in Children
42:57 The Importance of Agency in Faith Exploration
45:45 Creating Safe Spaces for Questions
47:36 Marketing and Creative Processes
53:45 The Importance of Pre-Orders and Community Support

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Get Your Free Action Planner: The free work planner uniquely designed for the inconsistent coach, author, or leader who’s ready to take persistent action. HERE

Are you craving a reset, too? I think we all are. So, today we're gonna talk about a few practical ways to implement a much-needed reset as a Christian leader and business owner. Plus ways to find the support you need to carry out the work God has asked you to do. I hope you feel encouraged and challenged in the very best ways!

LINKS MENTIONED:

The Early Morning Club

Company Retreat: A Deep Work and Deep Rest Sojourn & Year-long Sisterhood

Book a Strategy Session

Apply to join Energized

Attend the next Saturday ResetDUSTY ON INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/dustyhegge

LISTEN + SUBSCRIBE ON: SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS | SUBSTACK | MY WEBSITE

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit voicememosfromdusty.substack.com

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Get Your Free Action Planner: The free work planner uniquely designed for the inconsistent coach, author, or leader who’s ready to take persistent action. HERE

In this episode, we dive into what every Christian entrepreneur needs to know about quarterly planning and creating content that actually works in today’s attention economy. You’ll learn the two essentials you must clarify before planning your quarter, plus how to grab attention fast, cut the fluff, and create engaging content that supports your business goals. Practical, faith-forward, and a little bit spicy—this one will help you plan smarter and communicate clearer.

Let’s dive in!!

FULL SHOW NOTES + ALL LINKS MENTIONED HERE

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit voicememosfromdusty.substack.com

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Get Your Free Action Planner: The free work planner uniquely designed for the inconsistent coach, author, or leader who’s ready to take persistent action. HERE

If you’ve been overthinking your content, dreading marketing, or wondering how to attract more paying clients without sacrificing your mental health (or time), this one’s for you.

(READ FULL SHOW NOTES HERE)

Sit in on a live, mini Strategy Session with Live Well health coach and Percolator member, Leah Fruth. We unpack why you don’t actually need a “better marketing strategy” so much as embodied leadership, a little play, and a willingness to show up like a real human online.

We talk about using common objections (like “I don’t have time”) as content gold, how to clarify what you actually do when people misunderstand your industry, and how to reclaim Instagram as a place for community, creativity, and discipleship—not just pressure and performance.

Enjoy!

Connect with Leah Fruth

Website: https://www.leahfruth.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahfruth/Her Book “Less is More”: https://amzn.to/3K3vdCtConnect with Dusty

Website: https://dustyhegge.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/dustyheggeSubstack (Voice Memos from Dusty): https://voicememos.substack.comAction Planner (Free Notion Template): https://dustyhegge.com/action-planner

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

If you’re ready to embody your leadership in a more grounded, integrated way:

Book a Strategy Session: https://dustyhegge.com/strategy-sessionsA 90-minute solution-focused consulting session to help you create a strategic plan that fuels business growth and kingdom impact.

Join us at Company Retreat: https://dustyhegge.com/company-retreatWhere deep rest meets strategic renewal: a five-day retreat and year-long sisterhood for kingdom-minded leaders ready to build what God has placed on their hearts.

Join the Percolator Waitlist: https://dustyhegge.com/percolatorA group mastermind where biblical discipleship meets business development in real time. You’ll get live strategy, personalized feedback, and the accountability of a faith-driven community— so your shaky sales become steady, your systems finally serve you, and your task list starts to energize you again.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit voicememosfromdusty.substack.com

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Get Your Free Action Planner: The free work planner uniquely designed for the inconsistent coach, author, or leader who’s ready to take persistent action. HERE

I once heard someone say, “Quantity time is a precursor to quality time,” and this past month has proved just how true that is—in my marriage, my home, and my business.

Things rarely unfold on our timeline, mostly because we expect instant quality without first making room for quantity. Our homes need time to be lived in before we know how they’re meant to serve us. Our relationships need minutes—not just moments—or every “quality time” window turns into life admin instead of connection. And in business, especially when you’re working in the margins like I have been for nearly a decade, trial and error naturally stretches out. This is normal. And it’s okay.

What matters is what we do next. Are we making space for quantity? Are we allowing enough margin—in our homes, calendars, and businesses—for growth to actually take root?

Today’s episode dives into all of that: what I’ve learned, why it matters, and how I’m choosing to lean into the quantity so the quality has room to show up.

WORK WITH DUSTY | INSTAGRAM

LINK ROUNDUP

• Instagram Post: Part 1 of My Sales Series

• Last Week’s Episode: Office Hours with Emma

• The Bible Is For You Devotional (She Reads Truth)

• Grounded: The Strategic Planning Course - Early access + first priority for Percolator applications.

• The Percolator Mastermind - Cohort details, applications, and how the next round will open.

• Company Retreat (March on the Oregon Coast) - A week of deep work, deep rest, and strategic consulting.

• My Threads Post About Rom-Coms - The giant comment thread full of cozy rom-com recommendations.

• TV Rec: “Nobody Wants This”

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit voicememosfromdusty.substack.com

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Get Your Free Action Planner: The free work planner uniquely designed for the inconsistent coach, author, or leader who’s ready to take persistent action. HERE

Emma from Homeward Creative Co. joins me for an Office Hours session that hits on all the good stuff — finding clarity in the messy middle, attracting higher-paying clients, and creating freebies that actually call in the right people.

Also: I’m raving about my new favorite thing (Brick!!!) and confessing just how strong social media’s chokehold really was on me.

I hope you enjoy!!

☕ Apply for The Percolator → dustyhegge.com/percolator

Resources + Links:

📝 Action Planner (Notion Work Planner – Free) → dustyhegge.com/action-planner

☕ Apply for The Percolator → dustyhegge.com/percolator

☏ BRICK → Save 10% with my affiliate link (And fight phone addiction!)

CONNECT WITH EMMA:

Website URL: homewardcreativeco.com

Instagram: instagram.com/homewardcreativeco

Facebook: facebook.com/homewardcreativecoCHAPTERS:00:00 — A New Office Hours Session!01:05 — A Quick Life + Brick Update03:15 — Why Addiction Gets in the Way of Stewardship06:45 — Practical Tips for Using the Brick09:30 — Why It’s Worth Every Penny12:00 — A Lighthearted TV Rec & Launch Update16:20 — Inside Today’s Office Hours: Meet Emma18:00 — The Challenge: Finding Clarity & Consistency19:45 — Defining Your Owner’s Intent22:00 — Aligning Capacity with Client Type23:00 — Funnels, Freebies, and Nurture Sequences25:45 — Creating a Freebie for Higher-Quality Clients27:45 — What’s Already Working: Referrals30:10 — Visibility Strategies that Fit Her Season32:00 — Encouragement: You’re Already Doing Great Work33:40 — Faith, Obedience, and Trusting God with Outcomes34:55 — Wrap-Up + Links35:30 — Outro + Action Steps

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit voicememosfromdusty.substack.com

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Get Your Free Action Planner: The free work planner uniquely designed for the inconsistent coach, author, or leader who’s ready to take persistent action. HERE

VOICE MEMOS THURSDAYS!!!!!! In this rambly, coffee-fueled catch-up, I talk about why I’m shifting my content strategy (bye, Instagram as the main character), how to practice real business discernment when everyone’s pulling “lessons from Taylor Swift,” the tiny tools helping me get my focus back, and why foundations > flourishes (always). Consider this your friendly nudge to choose visibility + connection with INTENTIONALITY, to move your body, to open your Bible, and to build the kind of business that actually blesses your life (and the lives of those around you).

LISTEN + SUBSCRIBE ON: SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS | SUBSTACK | MY WEBSITE

WANT A FREE COFFEE????

If you enjoyed this episode (or past episodes), would you share it? One of my goals this year is to welcome more ambitious, Jesus-loving business owners into our community, and I’m gonna need your help to do that!

And, to make it more fun (and caffeinated) and to show my incredible gratitude, the first two people to share it and tag me (@dustyhegge) on either Instagram, Threads, or Substack - get their next coffee on me!! I’ll send you either a Starbucks gift card or a Venmo gift so you can get coffee (or tea or treat of your choosing) at your favorite place!

ALL THE LINKS:

☕️ The Percolator (group mentorship + mastermind): https://dustyhegge.com/percolator

☕️ Grounded: The Strategic Plan Course — Early Access (save $200): https://dustyhegge.com/strategy

☕️ Action Planner (free Notion work planner): https://dustyhegge.com/action-planner

☕️ The Brick device/app (distraction blocker): https://getbrick.app/products/the-brick

☕️ The Christina & Dusty Show — “How God gave us each other’s dreams” (Ep. 5): https://open.substack.com/pub/thechristinaanddustyshow/p/5-how-god-gave-us-each-others-dreams?r=bjm5e&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

☕️ Join the chat on Substack: https://substack.com/chat/5624653

ESPRESSO SHOTS:

☕️ Discernment over trends: Learn from big launches without copying goals, budgets, or team size. Filter everything through your Owner’s Intent and

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Get Your Free Action Planner: The free work planner uniquely designed for the inconsistent coach, author, or leader who’s ready to take persistent action. HERE