634: Jess Racklyeft of Jesses Mess on finding your true self

Award-winning author and illustrator Jess Racklyeft has created more than 50 children’s books, but her path to a full-time creative career was anything but straightforward. In this episode, Jess chats with Fiona about moving from publishing and sales into illustration, the realities of making a living from creative work, and why experimentation, side projects and simply making things for the joy of it continue to play such an important role in her career. You'll learn: How Jess moved from publishing and sales into a full-time career as an author and illustrator What the business of children’s books really looks like, from the lengthy publishing process to royalties, multiple income streams and the importance of treating creativity like a business Why protecting time for play, experimentation and creativity without an outcome can be so important, especially after burnout Connect with Jess: IG:  @jessesmess Need help with your own business strategy, impact, visibility or personal brand ? Get in touch: [email protected]  Connect with My Daily Business: Instagram: @mydailybusiness_ TikTok: @mydailybusiness Email: [email protected] Website: mydailybusiness.com Resources mentioned: AI Monthly Chat Group for Small Business Owners My Daily Business courses - mydailybusiness.com/courses IN MELBOURNE? COME TO THE SUBJECT OBJECT MARKET Join me on Saturday 5 September, 10am–2pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Hall for the second Subject Object Market. We’re bringing together vintage homewares, ceramics, jewellery, design, local makers, drinks and plenty of good things to buy, including some excellent last-minute Father’s Day gifts. Saturday 5 September | 10am–2pmWarrandyte Mechanics Hall Cnr Yarra Street & Mitchell Avenue, Warrandyte Follow @subject__object on Instagram for more Want to get your #smallbusiness sorted in 2026/ 27? Check out our 1:1 business coaching packages from a one-off session to 6-months of coaching. Want to know more about AI and how to harness it for your small businesS? Join our new monthly AI chat for small business owners. You can join anytime at www.mydailybusiness.com/AIchat Try out my fave AI tool, Poppy AI here and use discount code FIONA. We also love Descript. Connect and get in touch with My Daily Business via our shop, freebies, award-winning books, Instagram and Tik Tok.

Confidence isn’t something you either have or you don’t. In this Quick Tip episode, Fiona challenges the idea that you need to feel confident before taking action, and explores why confidence is actually a skill built through repetition. From putting up your prices to showing up on camera, pitching yourself or speaking in public, it’s often doing the uncomfortable thing that creates confidence, not the other way around. You'll learn: Why confidence is a skill you can build rather than a fixed personality trait How taking small, uncomfortable actions can make bigger moves feel more manageable over time A simple way to start doing the thing you’ve been putting off because you don’t feel ready yet Need help with your own business strategy, impact, visibility or personal brand ? Get in touch: [email protected]  Connect with My Daily Business: Instagram: @mydailybusiness_ TikTok: @mydailybusiness Email: [email protected] Website: mydailybusiness.com Resources mentioned: AI Monthly Chat Group for Small Business Owners My Daily Business courses - mydailybusiness.com/courses IN MELBOURNE? COME TO THE SUBJECT OBJECT MARKET Join me on Saturday 5 September, 10am–2pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Hall for the second Subject Object Market. We’re bringing together vintage homewares, ceramics, jewellery, design, local makers, drinks and plenty of good things to buy, including some excellent last-minute Father’s Day gifts. Saturday 5 September | 10am–2pmWarrandyte Mechanics Hall Cnr Yarra Street & Mitchell Avenue, Warrandyte Follow @subject__object on Instagram for more Want to get your #smallbusiness sorted in 2026/ 27? Check out our 1:1 business coaching packages from a one-off session to 6-months of coaching. Want to know more about AI and how to harness it for your small businesS? Join our new monthly AI chat for small business owners. You can join anytime at www.mydailybusiness.com/AIchat Try out my fave AI tool, Poppy AI here and use discount code FIONA. We also love Descript. Connect and get in touch with My Daily Business via our shop, freebies, award-winning books, Instagram and Tik Tok.

In this coaching episode, Fiona challenges one of the biggest myths in business: that being constantly busy is a sign of success. She explores why busyness can become a distraction from the work that truly matters and shares practical ways to create more space, clarity and intention in your business. You'll learn: Why being busy isn't the same as building a successful business. How to identify the tasks that genuinely move your business forward. Practical ways to create more time, focus and intention in your week. Need help with your own business strategy, impact, visibility or personal brand ? Get in touch: [email protected]  Connect with My Daily Business: Instagram: @mydailybusiness_ TikTok: @mydailybusiness Email: [email protected] Website: mydailybusiness.com Resources mentioned: AI Monthly Chat Group for Small Business Owners My Daily Business courses - mydailybusiness.com/courses IN MELBOURNE? COME TO THE SUBJECT OBJECT MARKET Join me on Saturday 5 September, 10am–2pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Hall for the second Subject Object Market. We’re bringing together vintage homewares, ceramics, jewellery, design, local makers, drinks and plenty of good things to buy, including some excellent last-minute Father’s Day gifts. Saturday 5 September | 10am–2pmWarrandyte Mechanics Hall Cnr Yarra Street & Mitchell Avenue, Warrandyte Follow @subject__object on Instagram for more Want to get your #smallbusiness sorted in 2026/ 27? Check out our 1:1 business coaching packages from a one-off session to 6-months of coaching. Want to know more about AI and how to harness it for your small businesS? Join our new monthly AI chat for small business owners. You can join anytime at www.mydailybusiness.com/AIchat Try out my fave AI tool, Poppy AI here and use discount code FIONA. We also love Descript. Connect and get in touch with My Daily Business via our shop, freebies, award-winning books, Instagram and Tik Tok.

In this quick tip episode, Fiona shares a simple annual exercise that can transform your marketing, messaging and decision-making. By identifying the common traits of the people you most love working with, you'll gain valuable insights into who your business is really built for You'll learn: How to identify the qualities your best clients or customers share. Why those patterns can help you refine your messaging and attract more of the right people. A practical audit to ensure your marketing reflects who you genuinely want to work with. Need help with your own business strategy, impact, visibility or personal brand ? Get in touch: [email protected]  Connect with My Daily Business: Instagram: @mydailybusiness_ TikTok: @mydailybusiness Email: [email protected] Website: mydailybusiness.com Resources mentioned: AI Monthly Chat Group for Small Business Owners My Daily Business courses - mydailybusiness.com/courses IN MELBOURNE? COME TO THE SUBJECT OBJECT MARKET Join me on Saturday 5 September, 10am–2pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Hall for the second Subject Object Market. We’re bringing together vintage homewares, ceramics, jewellery, design, local makers, drinks and plenty of good things to buy, including some excellent last-minute Father’s Day gifts. Saturday 5 September | 10am–2pmWarrandyte Mechanics Hall Cnr Yarra Street & Mitchell Avenue, Warrandyte Follow @subject__object on Instagram for more Want to get your #smallbusiness sorted in 2026/ 27? Check out our 1:1 business coaching packages from a one-off session to 6-months of coaching. Want to know more about AI and how to harness it for your small businesS? Join our new monthly AI chat for small business owners. You can join anytime at www.mydailybusiness.com/AIchat Try out my fave AI tool, Poppy AI here and use discount code FIONA. We also love Descript. Connect and get in touch with My Daily Business via our shop, freebies, award-winning books, Instagram and Tik Tok.

A huge thanks to our sponsor #gifted a platform that helps businesses connect with real people creating real content, at a fraction of the time and cost of a traditional campaign. My Daily Business listeners can use code MDB50 at checkout for 50% off their first month, on either monthly plan. Check out #gifted.  In this quick tip episode, Fiona explores one of the most common visibility mistakes business owners make: assuming their audience knows the full range of their services or products. She shares why clarity matters just as much for your customers as it does for you, and how to make sure your marketing reflects what you really offer. You'll learn: Why your audience may only know you for one part of your business. How to check whether your marketing reflects everything you actually offer. Simple ways to communicate your full range of products and services without confusing your audience. Need help with your own business strategy, impact, visibility or personal brand ? Get in touch: [email protected]  Connect with My Daily Business: Instagram: @mydailybusiness_ TikTok: @mydailybusiness Email: [email protected] Website: mydailybusiness.com Resources mentioned: AI Monthly Chat Group for Small Business Owners My Daily Business courses - mydailybusiness.com/courses IN MELBOURNE? COME TO THE SUBJECT OBJECT MARKET Join me on Saturday 5 September, 10am–2pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Hall for the second Subject Object Market. We’re bringing together vintage homewares, ceramics, jewellery, design, local makers, drinks and plenty of good things to buy, including some excellent last-minute Father’s Day gifts. Saturday 5 September | 10am–2pmWarrandyte Mechanics Hall Cnr Yarra Street & Mitchell Avenue, Warrandyte Follow @subject__object on Instagram for more Want to get your #smallbusiness sorted in 2026/ 27? Check out our 1:1 business coaching packages from a one-off session to 6-months of coaching. Want to know more about AI and how to harness it for your small businesS? Join our new monthly AI chat for small business owners. You can join anytime at www.mydailybusiness.com/AIchat Try out my fave AI tool, Poppy AI here and use discount code FIONA. We also love Descript. Connect and get in touch with My Daily Business via our shop, freebies, award-winning books, Instagram and Tik Tok.

A huge thanks to our sponsor #gifted a platform that helps businesses connect with real people creating real content, at a fraction of the time and cost of a traditional campaign. My Daily Business listeners can use code MDB50 at checkout for 50% off their first month, on either monthly plan. Check out #gifted.  What if the key to getting unstuck isn't working harder, but getting more curious? In this quick tip episode, Fiona explores why curiosity isn't just a personality trait. It's a business skill that helps you spot opportunities, adapt to change and keep moving forward, even when everything feels uncertain.You'll learn: Why curiosity is one of the most underrated skills in business. Simple ways to build curiosity into your everyday life and work. How staying curious can help you find new ideas, opportunities and momentum when you feel stuck. Need help with your own business strategy, impact, visibility or personal brand ? Get in touch: [email protected]  Connect with My Daily Business: Instagram: @mydailybusiness_ TikTok: @mydailybusiness Email: [email protected] Website: mydailybusiness.com Resources mentioned: AI Monthly Chat Group for Small Business Owners My Daily Business courses - mydailybusiness.com/courses IN MELBOURNE? COME TO THE SUBJECT OBJECT MARKET Join me on Saturday 5 September, 10am–2pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Hall for the second Subject Object Market. We’re bringing together vintage homewares, ceramics, jewellery, design, local makers, drinks and plenty of good things to buy, including some excellent last-minute Father’s Day gifts. Saturday 5 September | 10am–2pmWarrandyte Mechanics Hall Cnr Yarra Street & Mitchell Avenue, Warrandyte Follow @subject__object on Instagram for more Want to get your #smallbusiness sorted in 2026/ 27? Check out our 1:1 business coaching packages from a one-off session to 6-months of coaching. Want to know more about AI and how to harness it for your small businesS? Join our new monthly AI chat for small business owners. You can join anytime at www.mydailybusiness.com/AIchat Try out my fave AI tool, Poppy AI here and use discount code FIONA. We also love Descript. Connect and get in touch with My Daily Business via our shop, freebies, award-winning books, Instagram and Tik Tok.

A huge thanks to our sponsor #gifted a platform that helps businesses connect with real people creating real content, at a fraction of the time and cost of a traditional campaign. My Daily Business listeners can use code MDB50 at checkout for 50% off their first month, on either monthly plan. Check out #gifted.  What are you still carrying in your business simply because you've become used to it? In this coaching episode, Fiona reflects on a powerful quote from Dostoevsky and explores how the stories, systems and assumptions we've stopped questioning can quietly hold our businesses back. Through personal stories and client examples, she shares why letting go is often the key to moving forward. You'll learn: How outdated beliefs and assumptions can quietly limit your business growth. Why it's worth auditing the stories, systems and habits you've stopped questioning. A simple exercise to identify what's creating unnecessary friction and what it's time to let go of. Need help with your own business strategy, impact, visibility or personal brand ? Get in touch: [email protected]  Connect with My Daily Business: Instagram: @mydailybusiness_ TikTok: @mydailybusiness Email: [email protected] Website: mydailybusiness.com Resources mentioned: AI Monthly Chat Group for Small Business Owners My Daily Business courses - mydailybusiness.com/courses IN MELBOURNE? COME TO THE SUBJECT OBJECT MARKET Join me on Saturday 5 September, 10am–2pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Hall for the second Subject Object Market. We’re bringing together vintage homewares, ceramics, jewellery, design, local makers, drinks and plenty of good things to buy, including some excellent last-minute Father’s Day gifts. Saturday 5 September | 10am–2pmWarrandyte Mechanics Hall Cnr Yarra Street & Mitchell Avenue, Warrandyte Follow @subject__object on Instagram for more Want to get your #smallbusiness sorted in 2026/ 27? Check out our 1:1 business coaching packages from a one-off session to 6-months of coaching. Want to know more about AI and how to harness it for your small businesS? Join our new monthly AI chat for small business owners. You can join anytime at www.mydailybusiness.com/AIchat Try out my fave AI tool, Poppy AI here and use discount code FIONA. We also love Descript. Connect and get in touch with My Daily Business via our shop, freebies, award-winning books, Instagram and Tik Tok.

A huge thanks to our sponsor #gifted a platform that helps businesses connect with real people creating real content, at a fraction of the time and cost of a traditional campaign. My Daily Business listeners can use code MDB50 at checkout for 50% off their first month, on either monthly plan. Check out #gifted.  In this Quick Tip episode, Fiona reflects on more than a decade in business and shares the seven lessons she wishes she'd known from the very beginning. From pricing and confidence to boundaries, relationships and backing yourself, it's an honest conversation every business owner needs to hear. You'll learn: Why your expertise is probably worth more than you're charging. The seven lessons Fiona wishes she'd known in her first year of business. How to build a business with more confidence, stronger boundaries and less second-guessing. Need help with your own business strategy, impact, visibility or personal brand ? Get in touch: [email protected]  Connect with My Daily Business: Instagram: @mydailybusiness_ TikTok: @mydailybusiness Email: [email protected] Website: mydailybusiness.com Resources mentioned: AI Monthly Chat Group for Small Business Owners My Daily Business courses - mydailybusiness.com/courses IN MELBOURNE? COME TO THE SUBJECT OBJECT MARKET Join me on Saturday 5 September, 10am–2pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Hall for the second Subject Object Market. We’re bringing together vintage homewares, ceramics, jewellery, design, local makers, drinks and plenty of good things to buy, including some excellent last-minute Father’s Day gifts. Saturday 5 September | 10am–2pmWarrandyte Mechanics Hall Cnr Yarra Street & Mitchell Avenue, Warrandyte Follow @subject__object on Instagram for more Want to get your #smallbusiness sorted in 2026/ 27? Check out our 1:1 business coaching packages from a one-off session to 6-months of coaching. Want to know more about AI and how to harness it for your small businesS? Join our new monthly AI chat for small business owners. You can join anytime at www.mydailybusiness.com/AIchat Try out my fave AI tool, Poppy AI here and use discount code FIONA. We also love Descript. Connect and get in touch with My Daily Business via our shop, freebies, award-winning books, Instagram and Tik Tok.

A huge thanks to our sponsor #gifted a platform that helps businesses connect with real people creating real content, at a fraction of the time and cost of a traditional campaign. My Daily Business listeners can use code MDB50 at checkout for 50% off their first month, on either monthly plan. Check out #gifted.  What would happen to your business if you were completely unavailable for 10 days? In this quick tip episode, Fiona explores the uncomfortable reality of becoming the bottleneck in your own business. She shares why founders often hold onto decisions, approvals and everyday tasks for too long, and how control, undocumented processes and even identity can keep you trapped in the doing. You’ll learn how to identify where work is getting stuck, decide what genuinely needs your involvement and begin handing things over, one process at a time. You'll learn: How to identify whether you've become the bottleneck in your own business. Why founders struggle to let go, even when it limits growth. Simple ways to document, delegate and build a business that doesn't rely on you for everything. Need help with your own business strategy, impact, visibility or personal brand ? Get in touch: [email protected]  Connect with My Daily Business: Instagram: @mydailybusiness_ TikTok: @mydailybusiness Email: [email protected] Website: mydailybusiness.com Resources mentioned: AI Monthly Chat Group for Small Business Owners My Daily Business courses - mydailybusiness.com/courses IN MELBOURNE? COME TO THE SUBJECT OBJECT MARKET Join me on Saturday 5 September, 10am–2pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Hall for the second Subject Object Market. We’re bringing together vintage homewares, ceramics, jewellery, design, local makers, drinks and plenty of good things to buy, including some excellent last-minute Father’s Day gifts. Saturday 5 September | 10am–2pmWarrandyte Mechanics Hall Cnr Yarra Street & Mitchell Avenue, Warrandyte Follow @subject__object on Instagram for more Want to get your #smallbusiness sorted in 2026/ 27? Check out our 1:1 business coaching packages from a one-off session to 6-months of coaching. Want to know more about AI and how to harness it for your small businesS? Join our new monthly AI chat for small business owners. You can join anytime at www.mydailybusiness.com/AIchat Try out my fave AI tool, Poppy AI here and use discount code FIONA. We also love Descript. Connect and get in touch with My Daily Business via our shop, freebies, award-winning books, Instagram and Tik Tok.

What if the biggest thing holding a business back isn't a lack of resources, but a lack of permission to think bigger? In this Quick Tip, Fiona challenges listeners to revisit the ambitious ideas they've quietly shelved and take one small step towards them You'll learn: Why AI often agrees with you, even when you're wrong How to spot bias and AI "hallucinations" before they catch you out Practical ways to use AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement for your judgement Need help with your own business strategy, impact, visibility or personal brand ? Get in touch: [email protected]  Connect with My Daily Business: Instagram: @mydailybusiness_ TikTok: @mydailybusiness Email: [email protected] Website: mydailybusiness.com Resources mentioned: AI Monthly Chat Group for Small Business Owners My Daily Business courses - mydailybusiness.com/courses IN MELBOURNE? COME TO THE SUBJECT OBJECT MARKET Join me on Saturday 5 September, 10am–2pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Hall for the second Subject Object Market. We’re bringing together vintage homewares, ceramics, jewellery, design, local makers, drinks and plenty of good things to buy, including some excellent last-minute Father’s Day gifts. Saturday 5 September | 10am–2pmWarrandyte Mechanics Hall Cnr Yarra Street & Mitchell Avenue, Warrandyte Follow @subject__object on Instagram for more Want to get your #smallbusiness sorted in 2026/ 27? Check out our 1:1 business coaching packages from a one-off session to 6-months of coaching. Want to know more about AI and how to harness it for your small businesS? Join our new monthly AI chat for small business owners. You can join anytime at www.mydailybusiness.com/AIchat Try out my fave AI tool, Poppy AI here and use discount code FIONA. We also love Descript. Connect and get in touch with My Daily Business via our shop, freebies, award-winning books, Instagram and Tik Tok.