How Stephanie Runs a 16-Hour Workweek Without Losing Her Cool

Giving Away a $4,000 Service for Email List Growth with Allea

Ever wondered if you could actually grow your business without giving into the “never sleep, always grind” nonsense? I’m diving in with email strategist Allea Grummert (https://duett.co/), who’s keeping it very real about what it takes to launch a new offer, court those elusive leads, and keep your voice intact when you accidentally record 80 personalized videos. We're talking about giveaways that actually feel human, what to do when you get “only” 85 signups, and why a $4,000 service freebie isn’t some marketing power move, but a thoughtful experiment for finding your people. If you want actionable strategies, relatable stories (yes, including post-softball-sweat breakdowns), and proof that “small” can still mean sustainable and successful, you’re in the right place. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com [https://www.theordinarybusiness.com/] → Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠ [https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness%E2%81%A0] → Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠ [https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy%E2%81%A0] Key Takeaways: * Kickstart new offers with a personal, generous approach—even if that means one big, strategic giveaway. * Nurture your email list by tagging actual interests and sending real follow-ups, not just “here’s another funnel” emails. * Don’t measure success by bloated numbers—a handful of the right people engaging honestly beats 10,000 ghost subscribers any day. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Are Coffee Chats Worth Your Time? A Roundtable Episode

I know what it’s like to look at your calendar and wonder if you actually need that coffee chat—or if you’d rather just, you know, nap, read a book, or, in a wild twist, get your actual work done. This episode is for ordinary business owners juggling work and life (and maybe a little people-pleasing fatigue), wrestling with whether “coffee chats” are networking magic or just another time trap. >> Huge thanks to our sponsor, Virtually Robyn [https://virtually-robyn.com/strategy-session?utm_source=ordinary+podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ordinary_podcast&utm_id=ordinary+podcast]! Check out her Strategy Sessions and mention 'Ordinary' for a bonus. Today, I sat down with four fellow business owners—Melissa [https://litchfieldmedia.org/], Michelle [https://michelledenioconsulting.com/], Sam [https://www.nomadcopyagency.com/], and Olivia [https://boldaugust.com/]—to unpack the messy real talk of coffee chats: who loves them, who dreads them, how to spot (and avoid) a brain-picking disaster, and why boundaries are a life-saver for your schedule and sanity. If you’re sick of hearing that “just one more coffee chat a day” will get you clients—but also wondering if you’re missing something—this episode is definitely for you. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com [https://www.theordinarybusiness.com/] → Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠ [https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness%E2%81%A0] → Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠ [https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy%E2%81%A0] Key Takeaways * Set clear boundaries for your calls—protect your schedule like your favorite hoodie. * Don’t confuse “networking” with “brain-picking” (or being polite about those pitches you never asked for). * Remember there isn’t one right way: referrals, DMs, Slack channels, and even actual coffee chats all work—find what fits for your kind of ordinary but thriving business. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Gamifying Your To-Do List with Stickers and Bundt Cake with Branda

Ever felt like you’re drowning in sticky notes, missing appointments, or accidentally double-booking three summits and your sister-in-law’s birthday—all in the same month? This episode is for the ordinary but thriving business owner who wants fewer headaches, more naps, and a business system that doesn’t feel like a second full-time job. >> Thanks to our sponsor, Bright Bunch Designs [https://www.brightbunchdesigns.com/⁠]! Today, I get nosy with Branda (https://www.therelevantcollective.com/), the funnel nerd and former teacher who ditched chaos by turning her business (and her life) into a giant board game—stickers, dessert prizes, and all. From visual tracking methods that actually work for human brains just like yours, to saying “yes” and “no” without feeling like you’ve ruined your reputation, this convo is about building a business on your terms, not whatever’s trending on TikTok. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com [https://www.theordinarybusiness.com/] → Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠ [https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness%E2%81%A0] → Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠ [https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy%E2%81%A0] Key Takeaways * Get honest about your capacity by using a physical quarterly calendar (because yes, paper counts as tech). * Motivate your ordinary business life with real, small rewards along the way (Bundt cake > burnout every time). * Say no with zero guilt by seeing the real mental load of every “yes”—and celebrate actual progress, not just the big wins. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Walking Away from Instagram (and Still Booking Clients) with Shannon

Ever felt like you’re supposed to be everywhere online…but you’d rather be literally anywhere else? This episode is basically your permission slip. I sit down with Shannon (https://www.sundaymusedesign.com/), an ordinary but thriving business owner who’s done the unthinkable: she stepped off the Instagram hamster wheel and didn’t disappear into the void. If you’re exhausted by the endless “post more” advice and want a business that works for your actual life (think: client work, family time, naps), you’re in the right place. Today’s chat is about running a design business without making Instagram a second job. I dig into Shannon’s numbers-first approach (spoiler: her 9-grid is now a sales page, not her personal diary), where her clients come from, and what truly happens to your business when you stop chasing likes. If you want realistic ideas about where to spend your precious energy—without feeling guilty or behind—grab your coffee and tune in. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com [https://www.theordinarybusiness.com/] → Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠ [https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness%E2%81%A0] → Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠ [https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy%E2%81%A0] Key Takeaways * Track your numbers for at least six months before making big marketing changes—vibes alone are not a business strategy. * Turn your social media into a portfolio or sales page, then actually reclaim your time (permission to NOT talk to camera: granted). * Focus your energy where it really counts—clients still find you when you’re clear and consistent, Instagram grid or not. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Airtable + Zite: The Client Portal Setup Emylee Uses

This episode is for every ordinary business owner who’s done with juggling too many tools, wants a business that feels manageable, and refuses to trade their nap time for “hustle.” If you’re all about keeping things real (and maybe just a smidge pretty), you’re in the right place. Today, I’m chatting with Emylee Williams (https://www.soldoutservices.com/) about her actual tech stack—including why she’s hoarding over a thousand Airtable tables and why she ditched the usual suspects like Dubsado and Asana in favor of tools that keep things simple. We swap notes on automation, making client experiences less “DIY cold sweat” and more “just click and go,” and exactly how to streamline your business without overcomplicating it. This is for ordinary but thriving business owners who want fewer headaches and more freedom in their day. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com [https://www.theordinarybusiness.com/] → Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠ [https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness%E2%81%A0] → Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠ [https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy%E2%81%A0] Key Takeaways: * Ditch unnecessary apps by making one tool (like Airtable) do all the work for your business (seriously, who needs Asana and ClickUp and Dubsado?). * Create smoother (less headache-y) client experiences using tools that are actually brandable, simple to use, and don’t require your clients to remember 47 logins. * Build systems that work for you—not some fictional “7-figures-in-7-minutes” entrepreneur—so you can focus on the parts of business (and life) you actually like. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.