If your workday is longer than a Netflix binge and you still aren’t hitting your income goals, there’s something wrong with this picture.
And if you’re feeling like you’re missing out on life while you’re stuck in a never-ending loop of client calls, deadlines, and hustle (surviving on caffeine and willpower!) – the problem may well be that you’re overthinking it.
*clink* 🪙 wait… was that… the penny dropping? There’s plenty more where that one came from!
If you’re nodding your head and thinking “Yeah, I’m spinning my wheels and going nowhere fast… I’m so over this!” then you’ve definitely landed in the right place.
Here’s what I’m covering—click any link to jump to that section (you’re welcome! 😉)
Why I believe you’re not as profitable as you could be
And then…
Strategy 1 – Know your numbers
Strategy 2 – Don’t climb into someone else’s wallet
Strategy 3 – Build healthy boundaries around your priorities
Let’s dive right in with an awkward, but super important, truth…
Your inability to switch off may be reducing the profitability of your business
Being stuck at your laptop 12-14 hours a day doesn’t quite match up with the life you pictured when you started your business, amIright?
You wanted freedom and flexibility. “This is going to be FUN!” you shouted, as you waved goodbye to your old job. But now, here you are … glued to a screen, missing out on the beauty around you—whether it’s your favourite coffee shop, the beach nearby, or even just moments with your family.
You might feel like you’re on a treadmill, running a marathon but not actually getting anywhere. And all the things that were supposed to be a part of your life—community, relaxation, joy—get sacrificed in the name of “hustle.”
But here’s the thing … Without the mental and physical space to recharge? Your creativity tanks, your motivation dwindles, and it feels like you’re always chasing your next breath.
And to cap it all off? In spite of all this hard work, you’re STILL not seeing the results you thought it would bring *womp womp*
Ugh, frustrating, right? I know, I’ve been there—more on that below!
OF COURSE you need time to step away, recharge, and refocus—breathe! But first, you need to create a business structure that supports both your financial goals and your well-being.
Yep, it really is possible to turn this bus around and get to your results without the stress.
That’s what my client Ella did. She’s a copywriter who had been travelling the world for several years, but felt like she was missing out on the adventure because she was glued to her laptop.
Here’s what Ella did to earn more, work less—and have more fun doing it
When she came to me she was fed up with always hustling to find new clients and overdelivering on every project. She loved her work, but never felt like she could truly enjoy her travels. And despite working non-stop, her income plateaued.
We got to work on restructuring her services to include a retainer option and implementing simple systems that reduce her workload without compromising on quality. Within 3 months Ella was actually achieving more in less time. Her retainer clients provided consistent income, and she didn’t have to constantly scramble for new work.
And the best part? She was finally having fun again! She has more freedom, and loves exploring new cities and cultures without the constant weight of work hanging over her.
For Ella, the shift wasn’t just about the money—it was about reclaiming her time, her energy, and her FUN.
So… how exactly did she make these changes? Every client I work with is different and we tailor the strategies to their individual needs. But some of Ella’s new approaches to her business were based on the following ideas.
Here are three specific strategies that YOU can consider—as you begin to prioritise your own well-being—and create the fun, sustainable, PROFITABLE business you always thought it would be.
STRATEGY 1 – KNOW YOUR NUMBERS
It all starts here. If you don’t know how much you need to charge or how many clients you need to hit your income goal, you’ll always feel like you’re chasing something vague.
Crunching the numbers can feel quite confronting, and there are countless ways to do it. But (lean in, this bit is super important!) I recommend you keep it super simple.
People who try to work with a spreadsheet worthy of your accountant or financial advisor often have a hard time putting it into practice (OF COURSE they do! Nobody has time for complex formulas!)
Here’s how we break it down in simple terms inside my IGNITE framework:
First, define your income goal. No more plucking a random number out of the ether – how much money do you want (or need!) to make each month? Get real about your personal and business expenses, savings … ALL.OF.IT. And don’t forget to include money for your taxes—that’s ‘nacho money’! You’re just holding it until it’s due, kk? 😉 Once you’ve got that total monthly figure, you can start planning how you’ll actually GENERATE that income.
Next, review your pricing. Look at all your current offers, whether it’s hourly rates, packages, or retainers. Are they priced to meet YOUR financial needs? You can sell anything at any price—you only have to look online to see that! Raising your prices can be as simple as someone validating what you’re already thinking (I give you permission!) Or it can take a BIG mindset shift to see the value of your expertise. Either way, valuing your expertise is one of my favourite things to help clients with.
Then, calculate how many clients you need. Knowing your target income and pricing makes this simple. Take that income goal and divide it by the price of your offer. For example, if you want to make $10,000 per month and your service is priced at $1,000, you’ll need 10 clients per month. Does signing on—and working with!—10 clients every month feel overwhelming? That’s another sign that it may be time to raise your prices or offer other high-value services.
Take the guesswork out of your business finances so you can focus on the actions that make you money. No more working harder for the sake of it! Create a plan that works for you, not against you.
STRATEGY 2: DON’T CLIMB INTO SOMEONE ELSE’S WALLET
BREAKING NEWS: you are not a mind reader, so ditch the assumption that you already know what your clients are willing or able to pay.
More often than not, this kind of thinking will have you underpricing your services out of fear that no one will pay what you *think* you’re worth. That’s literally a guess, and doesn’t reflect the real value of the results you provide.
Here’s how to shift your thinking and confidently price your work:
Focus on the value, not the cost: Clients aren’t paying for the number of hours you work or how hard you hustle—they’re paying for outcomes and results. Position your services around solving a specific problem they have, or helping your client achieve a meaningful goal.
For example, if you’re a web designer helping a business increase conversions through greater visibility, the potential revenue your client gains from those increased sales is far more valuable than the number of hours you spend designing the website.
One person’s “expensive” is another person’s “cheap”: People make buying decisions based on their own experiences and beliefs—which are influenced by their money archetype, or money personality. For example, an Accumulator archetype will analyse every detail in your offer and pricing, ensuring they’re getting maximum value for their investment. On the flip side, a Romantic archetype will happily pay more for a premium service that makes them feel special. Aligning your offers and pricing with your ideal clients’ money personality is a key part of my IGNITE framework.
Test and refine your pricing: Instead of guessing, try testing different price points with new offers or packages. You can start small, offering higher-priced services to new clients and gauging their reactions. You might be surprised to see that many clients are willing to pay more than you thought when they understand the value and benefits they get from it. Over time, you’ll gather real data about what your market is willing to invest in.
STRATEGY 3: BUILD HEALTHY BOUNDARIES AROUND YOUR PRIORITIES
It may sound cliche, but healthy boundaries are very powerful when done right. Many entrepreneurs, especially creatives, start their business with the dream of freedom, flexibility, and doing work they love—but the reality turns out to be something else. Often they end up with a business that consumes their time, drains their energy, and sucks the fun out of everything.
Not on my watch! Most of my clients have found themselves in this situation, but after making some simple changes they find they have more focus and productivity—enabling them to make more money in less time. Here’s how we do that…
(SIDE NOTE… creating and enforcing boundaries can be HARD! That’s why these four tips are even more effective with the loving accountability and support that comes with my IGNITE framework)
Clarify what really matters to you: What are your non-negotiables? What kind of life do you want to live? Your business should support this, NOT the other way around. Maybe you want time to travel, more moments with family, or to take afternoons off to recharge. Knowing what you value most will influence how you structure your work day, your offers, and your boundaries. If freedom and flexibility are important, for example, you might choose to focus on project-based or retainer work, which gives you predictable income without the constant hustle for new clients.
Align with your energy: Pay attention to when you feel most productive and inspired. If you’re a morning person, block out the mornings for deep work or client projects, and leave afternoons for lighter tasks or personal time. If you’re more creative at night, set up your day accordingly. You don’t work a 9-to-5 job for a reason, so quit forcing yourself to conform to that concept 😉Limiting client meetings to certain days, and batching similar tasks together is one of my personal favourites to maximise focus and avoid burnout. People-ing takes a lot of energy, yo! 😅
Show discernment with your offers: Not everything needs to be about chasing the next dollar—think about what types of work make you feel most fulfilled. If you love one-on-one coaching because of the deep impact it has, do more of that. Or perhaps you prefer group programs that allow you to serve more people at once with a community vibe. Whatever it is, make sure your offers not only align with your financial goals but also with the type of business you want to run. If you value more free time, create packages or offers that allow for streamlined work and predictable income, such as retainers or high-ticket services.
Boundaries are your friend!: Once you’ve got your business structured in a way that feels good for you, protect it at all costs! If weekends are your sacred personal time, make it known that you don’t take client calls or answer emails then. If travel is important, create systems that allow your business to run smoothly even when you’re on the move. Boundaries can feel hard at first, especially if you’re used to saying yes to everyone and everything. But this is super important when it comes to living the life YOU want. Plus there’s an added bonus that when clients see that you value your time, they naturally respect it.
FUN FACT: If you implement this one strategy alone, you’ll magically bring more fun into your business and your money. You’ll have more energy, creativity, and motivation because your work supports the life you actually want to live.
You might be thinking … “That’s all well and good, but how do I shift away from working all.the.time without it impacting my income?
I get it. I really do, because I’ve been there too.
In 2019, I hit rock bottom with serious burnout because I was trying to do all.the.things—juggling a family with 2 teen boys, a new business direction, and a full time job with a long commute. I was undercharging and over-delivering with my coaching clients, while constantly pumping out fresh social media content in the search for MORE clients. And at the time, I felt like nothing I was doing would ever help me reach my financial goals—or the time freedom I desperately wanted. So I really do get it.
But here’s some of what I learned about making necessary changes—and staying accountable to those changes.
First, give yourself permission to change what isn’t working. It’s easy to get stuck in the mindset that if you stop working long hours, everything will fall apart. But ask yourself: is the way you’re currently working sustainable? If you’re constantly exhausted or on the edge of burnout, something needs to change NOW. Just because you’ve always worked a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the only way to succeed. Be open to simplifying your business processes, cutting back on the services that drain you, and shifting your focus to the offers that bring you the most joy and profit.
As a business coach focusing on simplicity as the key to making money, this 👆is one of the foundational things I work on with clients. Once we’ve removed the layers of complexity your money-makers become obvious, and it’s so much easier for you to implement strategies and stay on track.
Next, it’s important to release the belief that you must work hard for your money. Many entrepreneurs have ‘grown up’ with the hustle culture that has become the norm over the past couple of decades. But it really is about working smarter, not harder. When you focus on what you do best—your zone of genius—and create a business that supports your lifestyle, you’ll find that you really can achieve more with less effort. Your skills and experience are valuable, and you don’t need to overwork to prove anything to anyone.
Finally, implement small changes that will make an immediate impact. As a solopreneur, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the moving parts of your business. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, focus on simplifying your workflow. For example, if emails are the bane of your life, start by creating a few templates for common responses, or dedicate 30 minutes each day to clear your inbox. When you break it down into easy-to-implement steps, you can quickly reduce overwhelm and create more time in your day without sacrificing your income.
This is also a way in which a business coach can support you. Having someone to check in with regularly and offer support and encouragement can make a big difference in your ability to take action and GSD—get shizz done! That is definitely part of the role that I play when I’m working with clients on implementing their strategic plans.
Start small, and dream big. Give yourself permission to shift away from constant work, make strategic changes, and let go of the “work harder” mindset. Your future self will thank “today you” for it! You deserve to have a business that supports your well-being as much as it supports your financial goals.
If I was your business coach, here’s what I would tell you – pick ONE of these strategies and focus on that. As mentioned above, it’s really hard to implement everything at once and change your work habits overnight. So pick one, and commit to working on it for 20-30 min at a time.
I know you’re SO READY to consistently hit your income goals.
The endless grind of 12-14 hour workdays isn’t the solution—it’s actually simplifying your approach that will help you move forward and achieve more with less effort.
So yes … It really is time to simplify your business so you can reclaim your time and boost your income!
Best of all? It doesn’t have to feel like a drag. Incorporating simple financial tracking, prioritising your money-maker activities, and letting go of over-delivering … These are some great places to start.
If you’re ready to make some simple, smart tweaks so you can work less, earn more, and finally enjoy the freedom you imagined when you started your business, I have the perfect bite-sized next step for you.
The START STOP CONTINUE guide is an integral part of my IGNITE framework. It’s designed to help you zero in on what really matters so you can focus on things that:
✅ Moves your business forward
✅ Lights you up with joy and energy
✅ Creates meaningful impact
✅ Makes you money
(That last one is pretty important! 😉)
Grab your Start Stop Continue guide and make those simple shifts for big results.
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