The Classy Career Girl Podcast

How to Build a Business That Fits Your Life (Start With Your Life First) What if you built your business around the life you actually want—instead of building your life around your business? In this special training from inside my CLASS membership, I'm sharing why one of the most important things you can do when starting or growing a business is to start with your life first. Before you decide what to sell, how much to charge, or which business model to follow, get clear on what you want your days, schedule, priorities, income, and family life to look like. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your life vision should come before your business plan How to choose a business model that supports your priorities Why career fulfillment and life fulfillment should work together How to stop building a business that requires you to sacrifice the life you wanted it to create How to think differently about success, flexibility, and growth Plus, Career Coach Certification starts tomorrow , and our pricing is increasing. If you've been considering becoming a Certified Career Coach, I highly recommend applying for the Fall cohort now. You can complete Certification in as little as 90 days, but you currently have up to one year to graduate. Apply for Career Coach Certification: www.classycareergirl.com/certification Watch the free Career Coach training: www.classycareergirl.com/coachwebinar

What if you could actually look forward to Monday? If your career looks good on paper but doesn't feel like the right fit anymore, this episode is your mini career clarity class. I'm walking you through 4 practical steps to get clear on what you want next — without quitting your job or having your entire future figured out. In this episode, you'll learn: How to identify the "career clues" showing you what needs to change The simple Money-Out Test I use to help determine whether you need to redesign your career or make a bigger change How to design your career around the life you actually want How to run a small 30-day career experiment instead of making a huge leap How your existing experience could become the foundation for your next career or business You don't have to start over. You may already have years of experience, skills and knowledge that can lead you toward work that gives you more purpose, flexibility and freedom. FREE TRAINING: Break Free From the Wrong Career Join me live on September 9 at 7 PM Eastern for a free training where I'll show you how to take the experience you already have and turn it into a flexible, profitable career coaching business. Register at https://www. classycareergirl.com/breakfree

If I could go back and talk to myself before becoming a working mom, there are a few things I would want her to know. Have patience. Give yourself grace. Keep moving toward your vision. And know that working fewer hours doesn't mean you're less ambitious or productive. In fact, one of the biggest lessons I've learned is that cutting my work hours actually made me more focused, efficient, and happier. In this final episode of the Working Mom's Survival Guide series, I'm sharing what I wish I had known about balancing motherhood, work, business, and the life I actually wanted to create. We'll talk about: ✨ Why fewer work hours can actually make you more productive ✨ How to identify what really deserves your time ✨ Why systems at home AND at work are essential ✨ The simple phone changes that helped me become more present with my kids ✨ Why you don't need to check email, Slack, or social media all day ✨ How your 5–10 year vision can help you through overwhelming seasons ✨ Why taking a break can make you a better mom and business owner One of the best changes I ever made was removing work apps, email, and social media from my phone and creating specific times to check them instead. Because when work is done, I want to actually be DONE. You don't have to be available to everyone all the time. You don't have to do everything. And you don't have to sacrifice being present with your family in order to build meaningful work. Give yourself grace. Keep creating systems that support the life you want. And remember WHY you're doing all of this in the first place. Your action step: Ask yourself what is distracting you from being present with your family. Is there an app you need to remove—or a boundary you need to create—so you can truly log off?

If you constantly feel like you're putting out fires at work and at home, you may not need to work harder — you may need better systems. In Part 4 of the Working Mom's Survival Guide , I'm sharing one of the biggest changes I made after having my third daughter: creating simple systems and routines to eliminate as much last-minute stress as possible. Instead of relying on myself to remember everything, scrambling to meet deadlines, or constantly answering questions from my team, I started asking: How can I create a system so this is easier next time? In this episode, we'll talk about: → Identifying the areas creating the most stress at home and work → Creating systems for meals, groceries, laundry and cleaning → Batching work and content ahead of time → Delegating tasks instead of doing everything yourself → Creating processes so your team doesn't always need you → Building routines around your kids and family → Protecting your energy and scheduling what fills you back up → Creating boundaries when you work from home → Turning recurring stress into a repeatable system Your home doesn't have to be perfect. Your business doesn't have to be perfect. And YOU don't have to do everything. The goal is to notice what keeps creating unnecessary stress and build a simple system that makes it easier next time. Your challenge: Identify the top three areas causing last-minute stress in your life right now — and decide what system you can create for each one. And if you want to see how I plan my weeks, months and priorities as a busy mom and business owner, grab my free planning guide at ClassyCareerGirl.com/freeplan .

What if you didn't need eight uninterrupted hours to make meaningful progress? In Part 3 of the Working Mom's Survival Guide , I'm sharing how to restructure your work around the life you actually want — instead of constantly trying to squeeze your life around your work. Because 15 minutes really does add up. In this episode, you'll learn how to: → Make progress even when you only have 15–30 minutes → Use timers and deadlines to get more done in less time → Create simple daily routines for recurring tasks → Identify your best times to work → Stop expecting yourself to do everything → Build more fun and breathing room into your days → Create a weekly work calendar that works for you AND your family You don't have to sit at a desk for eight hours a day to be productive. And you don't have to wait until you have the "perfect" schedule to pursue the work that matters to you. The goal is to get creative, focus on what matters most, and restructure your work in a way that supports your life. Go at your own perfect pace. ❤️ And if you want to see how I plan my weeks, months and priorities as a busy mom and business owner, grab my free planning guide at ClassyCareerGirl.com/freeplan .

You can't do everything. You have to prioritize. In Part 2 of the Working Mom's Survival Guide , I'm sharing how to get clear on what matters most, protect your time, and stop spending your days on things that aren't actually moving your life, career, or business forward. One of the biggest lessons I've learned as a working mom is this: If there isn't enough time, there isn't enough time. Something has to go — and it's not the kids. In this episode, you'll learn how to: • Identify your "big rocks" and top 3 priorities each day • Get your most important work done earlier in the day • Look honestly at where your time is going • Stop doing things that aren't working • Focus your career or business on the activities that are producing results • Make sure the way you spend your time actually reflects the life you want to create I'll also share how I track my time and why one of my goals has always been to figure out how to work less while focusing on what matters most. Your action step: Identify your top 3 priorities for tomorrow. And if you want to learn how I plan my weeks, days and months as a working and homeschooling mom, grab my free planning guide at ClassyCareerGirl.com/freeplan .

Do you ever feel like you're trying to be a great mom, build a meaningful career, grow a business, take care of your family—and somehow you're still falling behind? You love your kids. You care about your work. But you're tired. Welcome to Part 1 of The Working Mom's Survival Guide , a special series I'm bringing to the Classy Career Girl Podcast. I originally created this training four years ago for our Corporate Rescue Plan members, but the lessons feel even more important to me today. And we're starting with one of the biggest: You have to decide what you want your LIFE to look like before you build your career or business around it. In Part 1, you'll learn how to: → Re-envision what you actually want your life to look like → Get clear on your WHY and the vision you have for your family → Decide how many hours you actually want to work → Set boundaries around your career and business → Stop building your life around work → Create a career or business that supports the life you want Your season may have changed. Your priorities may have changed. Your definition of success may have changed. Maybe it's time to create a new vision for what comes next. FREE PLANNING GUIDE Want to see how I plan my months, weeks and days as a busy mom and business owner? Get my free planning guide at classycareergirl.com/freeplan

Think you're too busy to become a career coach or start a coaching business? Meet Melanie Smith. Melanie is a mom, finishing her undergraduate degree, running a recruiting and staffing agency AND building a coaching and consulting business. In this episode, Melanie shares how she stopped feeling scattered, got clear on how her recruiting and coaching businesses could work together, and learned how to turn her years of experience into meaningful, purpose-driven work. We talk about: Why becoming a career coach doesn't mean starting over How to turn your existing career experience into a coaching business What helped Melanie go from overwhelmed and scattered to clear and focused How she manages two businesses using 90-day planning How Career Coach Certification helped her clarify her offers and messaging Why you don't have to wait until life "slows down" to pursue work you're called to do How Melanie went on to sell out her VIP Days and build more confidence in her business One of my favorite reminders from Melanie's story is this: You're not starting over. You're taking everything you've learned with you and turning it into purpose. If you've been wondering whether your experience could become your next career, this episode is for you. Ready to become a career coach? Applications are now open for the Fall cohort of Classy Career Girl® Career Coach Certification. Learn more and apply at ClassyCareerGirl.com/Certification.

What does it really take to build a successful career coaching business—and stand out in a growing industry? In this special replay episode, I'm switching seats! One of our Corporate Rescue Plan members interviews me about my journey becoming a career coach, what I've learned from more than a decade in the industry, and where I believe career coaching is headed next. We talk about: My experience building a career coaching business How the career coaching industry has evolved Trends shaping the future of career coaching What successful career coaches need to do differently How to stand out in an increasingly competitive coaching industry Why career coaching can be an incredible business for women who want more flexibility, freedom, and control over their schedules This is a replay from an earlier episode, but the strategies and insights are just as relevant today—especially if you've been thinking about becoming a career coach. Ready to Become a Career Coach? If you love helping people navigate career changes, find meaningful work, prepare for interviews, build confidence, or figure out what they want to do next, career coaching could be the business you've been looking for. Inside Classy Career Girl® Career Coach Certification, you'll learn the coaching frameworks, tools, resources, and business strategies you need to confidently coach clients and build your own career coaching business. Learn more about Career Coach Certification and apply here: www.classycareergirl.com/certification Please Rate, Review & Subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and reviewing the Classy Career Girl Podcast on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more women who want to find or create work they love that supports the life they really want. And make sure you subscribe so you don't miss upcoming episodes!

Trying to grow a side hustle while working a full-time job—but wondering how you're supposed to find the time to do it all? In this replay of one of our most popular Classy Career Girl episodes, I'm sharing the time-management strategies I used while building my business alongside my day job—before eventually turning that side hustle into my full-time career. In this episode, you'll learn: How to use batching to get more done in less time The three types of time I use: Sacred Time, Administrative Time, and Focus Time How to identify the activities that actually grow your business Why your revenue-producing activities need to come first How to create a schedule that helps you build your business without letting it take over your life If you're building a coaching business, online business, or other side hustle while juggling a job, family, and a very full schedule, this episode will help you get clear on what deserves your limited time. You don't need unlimited hours to build something that can eventually give you more freedom. You need to know what matters most and make time for it.

Ready to move beyond 1-on-1 coaching and start scaling your coaching business? In this replay episode of The Classy Career Girl Podcast, I'm breaking down how to transition from individual coaching into a group coaching model—without overcomplicating your offer or trying to scale before you're ready. In today's episode, I cover: The best business model to start with when you first become a coach How to know when you're ready to transition from 1-on-1 to group coaching The first steps to plan and launch your group coaching program How to structure and schedule your group coaching calls How to create the content and curriculum for your program How group coaching can help you serve more clients and scale your business If you're currently coaching 1-on-1—or dreaming about starting your coaching business—this episode will help you see the path from your first clients to a scalable coaching program. Want to become a certified career coach and build your own coaching business? Learn more about Career Coach Certification at ClassyCareerGirl.com/certification .

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.