The Ordinary Business®️ Podcast

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

In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Darby (https://stephaniedarbyrd.com/) who proves you don’t have to sabotage your sleep or sanity just to “make it” in business. If you’re juggling nap schedules and client calls while side-eyeing hustle culture, you’re absolutely in the right place. Stephanie and I dig into what running a business on 16 hours a week actually looks like (spoiler: there’s no secret millionaire playbook here), how she sets boundaries that make room for real life, and why it’s very okay if your business grows at a speed that feels good, not just fast. We also get real about what it means to model healthy work for your kids and yourself—yes, that includes actually eating lunch. → 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 the 9-to-5 guilt by setting boundaries that fit your life (not someone else’s spreadsheet). * Stop waiting for a magical “right time” and instead, make your business match your real season of life—even if that means less growth and more sanity. * Prioritize actual self-care (think: lunch breaks, movement, and end-of-day rituals) because “pausing” isn’t procrastination, it’s survival. 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.

How Angelina Builds Business Friendships Without Getting Burned Out

Ever feel like finding real business friends online is basically adult trick-or-treating—sometimes you get a full-size Snickers, sometimes it’s a toothbrush? In this episode, Angelina (https://wildwavepodcasting.com/) and I get honest about what it really takes to create actual connections when you’re a regular busy human, not a “networking queen” who collects business cards like Pokemon. From resisting the pressure to pitch (or be pitched) at every coffee chat, to showing up as yourself—even when your “office” is the corner of your kitchen table. >> Thanks to our sponsor, Bright Bunch Designs [https://www.brightbunchdesigns.com/]! >> Grab the Airtable template [https://devinlee6.gumroad.com/l/relationship-database-auto] that Angelina mentioned. This episode dives into the nitty-gritty of making business friends online without any sleazy vibes, why sometimes you have to be the one to reach out first, and how setting up simple systems can save your tired brain from forgetting birthdays, details, and—well—your own sanity. I get into how I use voice notes, memes, and actual human conversation instead of feeling like I need to give a TED Talk every time I DM someone. Spoiler: “Ordinary” connections with ordinary but thriving business owners are way more fun (and sustainable) than just chasing random leads. → 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: * Start relationships by reaching out first and expecting nothing in return—sometimes your people just need an invitation. * Use easy systems (like a relationship hub) to remember important details and actually show up for your business friends, without becoming a robot. * Drop the performative networking—casual voice notes and real conversation turn acquaintances into supportive business pals. 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.

Ending the Day with a "Did It" List with Tammie Bennett

In this episode, I sat down with Tammie Bennett (https://itstammiebennett.com/), a totally ordinary but thriving business owner, to talk honestly about shutting down the nightly mental to-do list parade and celebrating small, real wins. >> Thanks to our sponsor, Roop Creative Agency [https://www.roopcreativeagency.com/]! Tammie gives the rundown on her low-pressure “did it list” practice—the most anti-hustle thing you’ll try this week. If you’re tired of performative productivity and want a no B.S. way to actually see your efforts (without weaponizing them against yourself), this episode is basically your permission slip. Think: building confidence, teaching your brain to spot the good stuff, and letting ‘enough’ really be enough, even when your inner critic wants to play manager. → 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: * Start a “did it list” by writing one small win at the end of each day—yes, even if it’s just surviving the day. * Notice and gently quiet the voice that says your efforts “aren’t enough”—one thing is plenty, your people. * Flip back through your wins on rough days to remind yourself you’re making progress (even when it doesn’t feel like it). 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.

800 Subscribers and No Social Strategy: How Karen Gets Clients

In this episode, I sit down with Karen Webber (www.goodnessmarketing.co.uk) [http://www.goodnessmarketing.co.uk/] to spill the tea on ditching the hustle, making real connections, and building a business that actually feels good—yes, even if you secretly love silly Reels and occasionally stalk LinkedIn. If you’re tired of feeling like you’re supposed to do everything by the algorithm and just want a business that fits around your life (naps, groceries, family and all), this one’s for you. Karen Webber gets real about how most of her clients come from places that have absolutely nothing to do with constant posting or trend-chasing. We dig into building a marketing “ecosystem” instead of a hamster wheel, the magic of email newsletters nobody tells you about, and why being a good human is secretly the best marketing plan. If you’re dreaming of a business that lets you skip the social media pressure and still get dream clients while living your life, you’ll feel right at home here. → 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: * Stop chasing every social trend and focus on what actually works for your people (spoiler: your website is still a superstar). * Build relationships like, well, an actual human—even silly Reels and non-salesy DMs count. * Track your own progress, but don’t let numbers run your self-worth (or your 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.

BTS: The Event That Flopped in 2017 (And Why I Tried Again Anyway)

I’m sharing the messy (and embarrassing) truth about my failed first attempt at hosting an event in 2017, the internet post that spiraled, and how building a tight-knit community of ordinary business owners made all the difference. If you think success means doing things big and loud, let’s talk about selling tickets without a huge following, growing slowly, and showing up as your real self—even if that means running things in sweatpants. → 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: * Revisit your “failures”—what flopped once might thrive when you try it your way, in your season. * Build a business community that sees you (not just your stats or so-called “influence”). * Trust takes time: Honest conversations, low-pressure sales, and showing up consistently matter way more than a giant following. 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.