The Self Made Life Podcast

Shannon Littlehale built Make Space Organizing from a dream she'd been sitting on since college—and almost walked away from it entirely in 2023. After years of showing up with branding she knew didn't reflect her skill set, she made the decision to go all in. Weeks after her rebrand launched, she sent a $25,000 proposal to a client she'd never met — and got the deposit before she finished weeding her garden. In this episode, Shannon gets honest about the moment she nearly quit, how perfectionism and anxiety create executive dysfunction (and what she's doing about it), and why a slow Q1 turned into one of her most strategic quarters yet. We also talk about what it actually looks like to stop following the industry playbook and start building the business you actually want including her expansion into commercial and small business spaces. If you're building intentionally and wondering when it's going to start feeling like it's working, this one's for you. 🔗 Book a call with Shannon — $99 for Self-Made Life listeners (reg. $150): makespacenj.com 📲 Follow along: @makespaceNJShannon went from a Canva logo she couldn't explain to booking a $25,000 project just weeks after her rebrand launched. That's what the right brand foundation can do. If you're ready for that kind of shift, I'd love to work with you. Visit themonarchdesign.co to book a discovery call.

What happens when the version of your business that got you here is no longer the one meant to take you forward? In this final episode of the 7 Lessons in 7 Years series, Ashley Wyatt shares a powerful reflection on growth, identity, and giving yourself permission to let go of what no longer fits. This conversation is for the entrepreneur who feels pulled toward change but is wrestling with guilt, fear, or the pressure to stay loyal to an old version of success. Ashley opens up about her own path from calligraphy, Etsy, and wedding stationery to branding, web design, and building a business that better supports her life, family, and future. She talks about outgrowing offers, releasing old identities, moving through resistance, and choosing support over struggle. If you’ve been feeling the nudge to pivot, simplify, refine your offers, or step into a new season in business, this episode will remind you that you are not starting over. You are building from experience. In this episode, Ashley shares: why outgrowing parts of your business is a sign of growth how to release old offers, roles, and expectations the mindset shift that changed how she built her business why getting support can increase your capacity and impact encouragement for entrepreneurs stepping into a new chapter This episode is a must-listen for creative entrepreneurs, small business owners, moms in business, and service providers who want to build a business that feels aligned with the life they actually want. If this episode speaks to you, share it with a fellow business owner and explore working with Ashley at themonarchdesign.co.

Have you ever shown up everywhere online and still felt invisible? In this episode of The Self-Made Life Podcast, I’m sharing Lesson 6 in my 7 Lessons in 7 Years of Business series — and this one changed everything for me. For years, I thought more visibility was the answer.More posts. More platforms. More consistency. More noise. But what I discovered the hard way is this:Visibility without alignment doesn’t build confidence. It builds pressure. In this episode, I’m sharing: Why more content isn’t always the solution How misaligned messaging attracts the wrong inquiries The shift that helped me move from performing online to communicating clearly Why referrals and relationships are still powerful growth drivers A simple question to ask before you post this week If your marketing feels heavy, exhausting, or disconnected from the business you actually want — this episode is for you. Links & Resources Work with me at Monarch Design Co.https://themonarchdesign.co Explore the Showit Website Template Shophttps://themonarchdesign.co/showit-template-shop Connect with Ashley:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarchdesignWebsite: https://themonarchdesign.co

Freedom in business doesn’t come from working less — it comes from deciding once. In Lesson 5 of my 7 Lessons in 7 Years series, I’m breaking down how systems completely changed the way I run my business — not because I was scaling, but because I was exhausted. For a long time, every client was custom, every email was written from scratch, and every process lived in my head. The result? Constant decision fatigue, mental overload, and feeling busy without actually moving the needle forward. In this episode, we talk about: Why decision fatigue quietly kills momentum How structure can actually make you more creative The shift from reinventing the wheel to deciding once How VIP-style offers brought clarity to my time and delivery Using CRMs like HoneyBook and Dubsado to support your client experience Why SOPs, canned emails, and automation aren’t impersonal — they’re supportive How AI tools like Fyxer AI can reduce mental load and inbox overwhelm Building boundaries into your systems so they work even when you’re offline If your business feels chaotic, it’s not because you’re doing it wrong—it’s because nothing is holding it together. This episode is an invitation to stop carrying everything in your head and start building systems that support your real life, your energy, and your next season. 🎙 Tune in, then pick one thing this week to decide once — and let it work harder for you. Episode Links Showit Template Shop: https://themonarchdesign.co/shop Website: https://themonarchdesign.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonarchdesignco

What happens when the business you built no longer fits the life you’re living? In Lesson 4 of my 7 Lessons in 7 Years series, I’m sharing the moment I realized my business was competing with my life and why motherhood forced me to rethink what success actually looks like. For a long time, my business looked successful on paper. I said yes to opportunities, filled my calendar, and proved I could handle more. But when life changed, everything shifted. My capacity looked different. My priorities changed. And the structure I’d built no longer supported my real days. In this episode, we talk about: Why pushing harder isn’t always the answer How motherhood reshaped my definition of success What it really means to build a supportive business Why ambition doesn’t disappear—it gets clearer How to restructure your work to fit your current season If you’re feeling stretched thinner than expected, juggling work and life, or wondering why what used to work doesn’t anymore—nothing has gone wrong. You’re simply being invited to build differently. This episode is a reminder that success isn’t about how much you can juggle—it’s about how supported you feel while doing the work. Episode Links Showit Template Shop: https://themonarchdesign.co/shop Website: https://themonarchdesign.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonarchdesignco

This episode is a candid 2025 business reflection—the kind that happens after a year that stretched you in ways you didn’t see coming. I’m sharing what last year really looked like behind the scenes: navigating motherhood with two under two, rebuilding my business during postpartum, being the sole income provider for my family, and realizing that the structure that once worked no longer fit the life I’m living now. As we step into 2026, I’m no longer chasing more. I’m choosing better. In this solo episode, I talk about: What 2025 taught me about resilience, capacity, and sustainability Why being booked doesn’t always mean being profitable How support at home and in business changed everything The shift toward a micro agency model and stepping into a creative director role What’s staying, what’s changing, and how I’m building differently in 2026 If you’re in a transition season—where what used to work doesn’t fit anymore—this episode is for you. Listen in, reflect alongside me, and take what you need as you head into your next chapter. Episode Links Website: https://themonarchdesign.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonarchdesignco

Are you stuck between the girl boss hustle and the soft life era, wondering how you’re supposed to show up online while also raising tiny humans and running a real business? In this episode, Ashley sits down with social media strategist and host of The Consistency Corner, Ruthie Sterrett, for part two of their conversation on content, consistency, and marketing in the messy middle of motherhood and entrepreneurship. They talk about late school drop-offs, babies who need emergency baths before recordings, and the pressure to “should” all over your marketing… and then shift into a grounded plan for building a social media strategy that actually supports your business goals without burning you out. You’ll hear about: Why social media alone is not a strategy (and what to focus on instead) How to define the job of your social platforms so you can ignore the noise Ruthie’s 5 C’s framework for consistent marketing in busy seasons Top, middle, and bottom of funnel content (and where Instagram fits) How to measure success beyond likes and viral moments What to outsource when you’re tired of doing it all yourself This conversation is especially for founders who serve moms, creative entrepreneurs, and anyone tired of trying to keep up with every trend while juggling real life. 🎧 Start with part one over on The Consistency Corner, then pop back here for part two.Find + Connect with Ruthie:www.theconsistencycorner.comhttps://www.instagram.com/theconsistencycorner/https://www.instagram.com/ruthie.sterrett/Networking for Founders serving moms in business Our Website: www.themonarchdesign.co The Monarch Experience VIP Days Freebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva Templates Instagram: @monarchdesignco @selfmadelifepodcast

A real conversation about pivoting in business, trusting your intuition, and creating offers that match the season you’re in.

Pinterest has changed, but it’s far from dead. In this episode, Ashley chats with Pinterest strategist Elaine Timms about what’s working in 2025—keywords, pin styles, timelines, and smart systems that keep your evergreen content working while you live your life. You’ll hear: Why keywords beat volume every time Static vs. video vs. carousel pins (and what to ignore) Tailwind in 2025: what to use, what to skip How to repurpose IG/blog content for a cold search audience A realistic traction timeline (hello, 6–9 months) The 3 biggest mistakes that kill reach on Pinterest A simple workflow to organize links, do keyword research, and batch pins Quick hits: Best pin cadence: start with ~5/day if you can, but Pinterest SEO > pin count Board names = keywords (skip the cutesy) Write human-friendly board descriptions with secondary keywords Avoid keyword stuffing; diversify pin titles and visuals Connect with Elaine: website, newsletter (Evergreen Impact), Instagram, LinkedIn.Our Website:www.themonarchdesign.coThe Monarch ExperienceVIP DaysFreebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva TemplatesInstagram:@monarchdesignco@selfmadelifepodcast

In this powerful episode of The Self Made Life Podcast, host Ashley Wyatt sits down with financial advisor and money mindset coach Paula Wilimek to unpack the emotional and practical sides of money for creative entrepreneurs. Paula shares her 20+ years of experience helping women break through limiting beliefs, set empowering financial goals, and finally feel confident in their cash flow. We dive into: Why money mindset matters more than math How ancestral beliefs and family dynamics affect your income ceiling Simple, non-intimidating ways to start tracking your business finances How to create projections that actually feel achievable What Paula means by having an “F-U account” Behind the scenes of Ashley’s Rich Girl Summer experience (and the launch of Rich Girl Fall!) Whether you’re navigating feast-or-famine cycles, coming back from maternity leave, or just want to build wealth your way, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 Connect with Paula: @paula_wilimekfinancialadvisor 🌐 Learn more: wilimekfinancial.com📝 Resources mentioned: Lucky Bitch app, Rich As F*ck, Thank and Grow Rich, Rich Girl Fall CoachingOur Website:www.themonarchdesign.coThe Monarch ExperienceVIP DaysFreebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva TemplatesInstagram:@monarchdesignco@selfmadelifepodcast

In this episode of The Self Made Life Podcast, Ashley sits down with serial entrepreneur Britt Holmes, founder of Merit Media and The Operations Collective, to talk about what it really takes to run a thriving business without burning out. Britt shares her journey from corporate VP to building multiple businesses while raising two kids, and how she transformed chaos into clarity through streamlined systems and boundaries. Together, Ashley and Britt dive into: Why most entrepreneurs struggle with operations and how to fix it The power of creating one ”home base” for all your tasks and responsibilities How automation, outsourcing, and tools like ClickUp can free up your time Setting boundaries as a mom and business owner (and actually sticking to them) Why Britt believes traditional SOPs are outdated—and what to do instead If you’ve ever felt like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this episode is packed with practical strategies, real talk, and inspiration to help you reclaim your time and scale sustainably. 👉 Connect with Britt on Instagram @britthomeslive, at Merit Media, and The Operations Collective. Our Website: www.themonarchdesign.co The Monarch Experience VIP Days Freebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva Templates Instagram: @monarchdesignco @selfmadelifepodcast

In this episode of The Self Made Life Podcast, Jungian Coach Chris Deir shares his journey from corporate finance to launching Soul Advocacy Coaching, guiding clients through life transitions with authenticity and purpose. We explore entrepreneurship, Jungian coaching, and the power of slowing down to listen to your soul.

In this solo episode of The Self Made Life Podcast, Ashley Wyatt pulls back the curtain on what life has really looked like behind the scenes. From welcoming baby #2 just months ago, navigating postpartum anxiety and depression, to scaling her design business Monarch Design Co.—this is an honest conversation about the messy middle of entrepreneurship and motherhood. Ashley shares the truth about what it’s been like going back to work just 3 weeks postpartum, managing two kids under two, rebuilding momentum in her business after a challenging season, and learning to ask for help. She also talks about how she's restructured her offers, leaned into support systems, and continued to grow her brand despite unexpected curveballs—like her husband being out of work for months. Whether you're a mom, entrepreneur, or creative juggling too much and wondering how others do it—this episode is for you. It’s not about doing it all. It’s about doing what matters, with intention, grace, and the support you deserve.Our Website:www.themonarchdesign.coThe Monarch ExperienceVIP DaysFreebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva TemplatesInstagram:@monarchdesignco@selfmadelifepodcast