Crush the Rush™: The Life-First CEO Podcast

594 - Confidently Owning Your Business: Why Legal Protection is the Power Move Every Entrepreneur Needs with Attorney Sarah Waldbuesser

What if protecting your business didn’t have to feel overwhelming, scary, or “something you’ll get to later”? In this episode, I’m joined by trademark attorney and online business owner Sarah Waldbuesser, founder of Destination Legal and Twist Law. After more than a decade of helping entrepreneurs safeguard their brands, Sarah knows exactly how legal protection becomes confidence—powerfully shifting how you show up and lead.   We dive into what it actually means to own your brand, why waiting to trademark can cost you big, and how a solid legal foundation helps you sleep better at night (literally). If you’ve ever felt intimidated by contracts, trademarks, or choosing the “right” name, this conversation will give you clarity, direction, and simple next steps you can take today.   Today you’ll hear: 03:18 – What “life-first business” means to Sarah now—and how she built a location-independent lifestyle 06:35 – Why she resisted doing legal work at first…and how the online business world pulled her back in (hard) 07:53 – The mindset shift that turns legal from “boring paperwork” into personal power and protection as a CEO 09:25 – What it really means to own your brand—and how trademarks protect your intellectual property long-term 11:35 – The biggest myths about trademarking (including why you don’t need to be Nike to get one) 12:48 – Why DIY trademark searches miss critical details—and what to check before you name anything 14:13 – The #1 legal document every business owner needs from day zero (hint: it’s not a trademark) 15:40 – What makes a contract actually protective—and why random templates often cause more harm than help 17:38 – Why so many entrepreneurs delay legal protection—and the real risks of waiting too long 19:00 – What to do if you’re rebranding or pivoting (and how to avoid a costly cease + desist) 20:38 – How often you need to review contracts and maintain trademark paperwork over time 24:15 – Sarah’s reminder about how legal protection boosts confidence—and why your clients expect it   CONNECT WITH SARAH: Website: destinationlegal.com [http://destinationlegal.com/] / twistlaw.co [http://twistlaw.co/] Instagram: @sarahwaldbuesser [https://www.instagram.com/sarahwaldbuesser] FREE RESOURCE: The AI Legal Starter Pack: https://thelegitcoach.com/ailegalpack [https://thelegitcoach.com/ailegalpack]   🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek [http://www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek] 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com [http://www.hollymariehaynes.com/] 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes [https://www.instagram.com/thehollymariehaynes] 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  [https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat]   🔗 FREE RESOURCES: https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme  [https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme]

593 - How to Make More Money Without Posting Daily: A Life-First Marketing Strategy That Lasts (The Best of 2025)

We’re wrapping up the year with your most-downloaded episodes—the ones that helped you grow smarter, simplify faster, and work less without losing momentum.    What if you could make MORE money while posting LESS on social media? Sounds impossible, right? But here’s the reality—social media engagement doesn’t always equal revenue (and most of the time, it doesn’t!).   In today’s episode, I share: * Why posting daily isn’t a business strategy (and what actually makes you money!) * The biggest myth keeping you stuck in an Instagram-first marketing strategy * Where your dream clients REALLY are in 2025 (hint: they’re searching for you, not scrolling past you!) * The 3-part framework to marketing smarter, not louder   🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek [http://www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek] 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com [http://www.hollymariehaynes.com/] 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes [https://www.instagram.com/thehollymariehaynes] 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  [https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat]   🔗 FREE RESOURCES: https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme  [https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme]

592 - How I Built a 10-Year Client Waitlist Without Relying on Social Media with Jessica Freeman

What if staying fully booked didn’t require posting every day, chasing trends, or hustling on Instagram? In this episode, I’m joined by Jessica Freeman, award-winning designer, SEO strategist, and founder of Jess Creatives. After 10+ years in business, Jess has built a multi-month waitlist—without launches, ads, or the algorithm dictating her success.   We dive into how she intentionally designed a life-first business (including 10 years of work-free Fridays), what actually drives her consistent referrals, and why SEO still beats social in longevity and ease. If you’re craving stability, sanity, and predictable revenue as a service provider, this conversation is a breath of fresh air.   Today you’ll hear: * 02:30 – What “life-first business” looks like for Jess today—and how Fridays became sacred space * 04:05 – Why she left hustle-heavy tactics behind and embraced SEO + referrals for long-term stability * 05:50 – The Facebook-group scramble that made her rethink her entire marketing approach * 08:51 – How she built a waitlist in her first month—and why it’s remained a core part of her business mode * 10:25 – Why her waitlist fluctuates (and why a “shorter” waitlist still triggers anxiety every year) * 11:25 – The power of payment plans for predictable revenue—no launches required * 12:39 – How Jess books clients months ahead by simply educating and sharing real-time availability * 13:53 – Why SEO is her #1 organic strategy—and how a single 2020 blog post still brings clients today * 15:20 – How she uses scarcity ethically by sharing true capacity (not manufactured urgency) * 16:34 – The referral system that brings in most of her clients—with bonuses clients actually use * 17:55 – How she stays top-of-mind with just a few personalized check-in emails a year * 19:18 – Why sharing other people’s offers boosts her referrals and relationships * 20:45 – The easiest next step to grow referrals (set a recurring reminder—seriously) * 22:30 – The boundary that changed everything: no more “quick little projects” squeezing into her calendar * 23:38 – The one marketing channel she’d keep: why Instagram still works for personality-driven brands * 25:10 – Why Threads feels refreshing—and how it’s helped her book clients, too * 26:20 – The grounding ritual that began after losing her mom—and still centers her today   CONNECT WITH JESSICA: Website: www.jesscreatives.com [http://www.jesscreatives.com/] Instagram: @jesscreatives [https://www.instagram.com/jesscreatives] Free Resource: How to Find Keywords for Your Website - https://jesscreatives.com/keywords/ [https://jesscreatives.com/keywords/]   🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 👉 Learn more about the Collective Co-Op → www.holllymariehaynes.com/coop [http://%20www.holllymariehaynes.com/coop] 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com [http://www.hollymariehaynes.com/] 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes [https://www.instagram.com/thehollymariehaynes] 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  [https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat]   🔗 FREE RESOURCES: https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme  [https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme]

591 - Behind the Curtain: The AI Squad That’s Changing the Game (Behind the Scenes Series: Part 3 of 3)

In this week's pep talk, I am sharing how we’re using custom AI bots inside our programs to simplify office hours, streamline prep work, and help clients get faster, deeper results without overwhelming their schedules.   In today’s episode, I share: * 02:30 – Why office hours often feel repetitive and how AI helps students show up more prepared * 04:00 – The real reason we rebuilt Antisocial School using micro-topic bots * 05:12 – How AI now handles the “prep work” so live calls can focus on strategy and deeper coaching * 07:03 – What Layla the Layout Legend does and why clients get instant momentum with her * 09:23 – The simple system for training each bot with curriculum, FAQs, examples, and voice * 10:58 – How Betty the Blogger turns transcripts into SEO-friendly posts + carousel content * 12:30 – Why bots must be integrated into the workflow—not offered as optional extras * 14:41 – How Principal Paige creates a custom roadmap that eliminates overwhelm * 17:21 – The ripple effect: more confidence, faster progress, and higher-level questions * 19:32 – Your next step: identify one repetitive question and build your first bot around it   🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 👉 Learn more about the Collective Co-Op → www.holllymariehaynes.com/coop [http://%20www.holllymariehaynes.com/coop]  🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com [http://www.hollymariehaynes.com/]  📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes [https://www.instagram.com/thehollymariehaynes] 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  [https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat]   🔗 FREE RESOURCES: https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme  [https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme]

590 - AI Hacks to Boost Your PR with Nicole Pearl

What if getting press didn’t require a huge budget—just the right strategy and the right story? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Nicole Pearl, award-winning PR coach, journalist, and TV personality. With 25 years in media, Nicole reveals what actually makes a pitch land, how founders can stand out without overwhelm, and the right way to use AI so you sound human, not automated.  We get into the mindset behind great pitching, how small business owners can stand out even without huge budgets, and the right way to use AI so you sound polished—not robotic. If you’ve ever wondered why your pitches fall flat, how to position your personal brand, or whether AI can actually help you get visible, this conversation is full of real talk and real strategy from someone who has seen it all. Today you’ll hear: * 02:55 – What “life-first business” looks like for Nicole as a mom of three and long-time media professional * 03:16 – Why she blends journalism + PR coaching—and the moment she realized small business owners were getting left behind * 03:43 – The real reason most founders struggle to get featured (and it has nothing to do with talent) * 04:39 – What a journalist-first approach actually means—and why your “cool story” may not be the story that lands * 05:10 – The phrases journalists instantly recognize as AI-generated (and why they’re such a turnoff) * 05:33 – How media outlets now flag and blacklist AI-written pitches * 06:23 – The biggest AI mistakes people make when pitching—and how to use it the right way * 06:59 – How Nicole built her Media Matchmaker tool and why most founders don’t know where they actually belong in the press * 07:54 – Using AI to find gift guides and niche placement opportunities * 09:13 – How Nicole integrates AI into her workflow—including finding contacts (and the limitations you need to know) * 10:56 – Why journalists never rely on AI for fact-checking (and neither should you) * 11:31 – The most common red flags in pitches—and why founders get the “why me?” part totally wrong * 12:42 – Why your personal brand is the key to standing out in the modern media landscape * 13:36 – How to use AI to identify patterns in your own story so you can pitch more effectively * 15:02 – The AI tools Nicole uses daily (including her own TV Pitch Writer bot) * 17:19 – A super simple but powerful AI prompt for researching relevant outlets * 19:05 – The biggest myth about being on TV—and why your goal should NOT be sales * 20:52 – Why TV is a visibility play, not an advertising strategy * 21:21 – The trend Nicole is loving in marketing right now: private podcasts   CONNECT WITH NICOLE: Website: Nicolepearl.com [http://nicolepearl.com/] Instagram: @nicolepearlbeautygirl [https://www.instagram.com/nicolepearlbeautygirl] Free Resource: AI Media Matchmaker https://nicolepearl.com/op/media-matchmaker/ [https://nicolepearl.com/op/media-matchmaker/]   🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 👉 Learn more about the Collective Co-Op → www.holllymariehaynes.com/coop [http://%20www.holllymariehaynes.com/coop] 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com [http://www.hollymariehaynes.com/] 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes [https://www.instagram.com/thehollymariehaynes] 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  [https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat]   🔗 FREE RESOURCES: https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme  [https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme]