161. Farm Life, Three Kids, and a Thriving Business with Sydney Walden

This one's been a long time coming. I'm pulling back the curtain on the biggest business evolution I've made to date with the new revenue streams I've added across both Current and The Studio Co., the ones coming next, and the real story behind why I'm doing all of it. This isn't a highlight reel. It's the honest, behind-the-scenes version of what it looks like to build a business that actually fits your life. If you've been sensing something shifting over here, you're right. Let's talk about it.currentdesignstudio.com/coachingthestudioco.co

What does it look like to build a business that truly revolves around your life, not the other way around? In this episode, I'm sitting down with Sydney of Rouse Design Studio, a brand and web designer, mom of three, and accidental homesteader who traded suburban life for 12 acres, cows, donkeys, and some very stubborn potbelly pigs. Sydney shares how leaving teaching ignited her confidence, why she only takes calls on Mondays, how she carves out alone time with a six-week-old at home, and the mindset shift that changed everything to just chill out. It's not that deep. If you've been trying to do it all and wondering why it feels so hard, this one's for you.

In this episode of Behind the Design, I'm sharing the five non-negotiable standards that kept me grounded through one of the most overwhelming seasons I've had in business and life. These standards are rooted in identity, not business strategy or tactics. We're talking about what it actually means to lead yourself first, why structure is the thing that creates freedom (not the thing that takes it away), how to show up consistently when motivation is nowhere to be found, the sneaky way consuming content keeps you stuck, and why making fast decisions is one of the most underrated skills in business.The Upgraded You: https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/ycxm0bjxgxGet 25% off activations app: https://share.activations.com/olivia6!21d64258b9!a?locale=en1:1 Coaching: https://currentdesignstudio.com/coaching

WE START TOMORROW!! SAVE YOUR FREE SEAT https://thestudioco.co/the-studio-growth-blueprintApril 7–9, we're running The Studio Growth Blueprint, a free 3-day live challenge for brand and website designers who are done being overworked and undercharging.Three days and three trainings with daily live hot seat coaching and a group pop-up channel. Real strategy for attracting high-end clients, building a $200k offer suite, and finally replacing the feast-or-famine cycle with something that actually holds.Replays through April 14th and it's completely free.This is the work. Come do it with us.🔗 Grab your free seat → thestudioco.co/the-studio-growth-blueprint

SAVE YOUR FREE SEAT: https://thestudioco.co/the-studio-growth-blueprintMost designers try something for a month, don't see results, and switch strategies. Then they wonder why nothing works. In this episode, we're cutting through the noise and giving you a real, repeatable marketing framework you can actually stick to without dedicating your entire week to content creation.We're breaking down exactly how to build a marketing strategy that fits your business, starting with the one thing most people skip: getting crystal clear on your ideal client before you do anything else.

FREE CHALLENGE FOR DESIGNERS // Save your free seat: https://thestudioco.co/the-studio-growth-blueprintThis episode is a little more personal. With another year behind me, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped how I live, work, and show up in both business and life. Some of these came from hard seasons, some from growth I didn't expect and some are reminders I'll probably carry with me forever.  In this episode, I’m sharing 10 lessons that changed the way I think about decisions, relationships, ambition, and what it actually means to build a life you love. If you’re in a season of growth, transition, or just craving a deeper level of clarity, this one is for you.

FREE GUIDE: https://thestudioco.co/5-strategic-gaps If you run a design studio, chances are you’ve experienced the feast or famine cycle. One month you're fully booked and feeling confident about your business. The next month inquiries are quiet, projects are ending, and you’re wondering where the next client will come from. While this cycle is incredibly common in the design industry, it’s rarely random.In this episode, Olivia breaks down the structural reasons many designers stay stuck in feast or famine, from inconsistent marketing and referral dependency to unclear service structure and the lack of a predictable lead pipeline.

TAKE THE FREE QUIZ, The Studio Growth Assessment, to find out what's holding your brand & website design studio from scaling. https://thestudioco.co/the-studio-growth-assessmentMany designers assume that if their studio isn’t growing, they simply need more clients, more visibility, or better marketing. But the truth is, most design studios struggle becuase their business was never structured to scale, not because of talent or demand.  In this episode, Olivia breaks down the real reasons many design studios plateau, from unclear positioning and over-customized services to the systems and structural foundations most designers never build.If you’ve ever felt busy but not necessarily growing, or wondered why your studio still feels unpredictable despite working hard, this episode will help you see your business through a new lens.You’ll learn:• The biggest structural mistake most designers make • Why freelance habits often prevent studios from scaling • The four bottlenecks that limit studio growth • The mindset shift that separates freelancers from studio owners

Every design studio experiences slower seasons at some point. While these periods can feel stressful, they can also be some of the most valuable moments for strengthening your business.In this episode, Olivia shares how successful studio owners use slower seasons strategically to improve their positioning, refine their services, build stronger systems, and increase their visibility.Instead of reacting to quiet periods with panic, you’ll learn how to use them to create a stronger foundation for your next season of growth.https://thestudioco.co/aligned-offer-suite-workbook

I’m joined by Shay (co-founder of Bucket List Bombshells) to talk about what it actually looks like to scale a business with intention without letting it consume your calendar, your energy, or your life.We go behind the scenes of how Shay and her co-founder went from meeting in a café in Mexico to building a global education brand with 10,000+ students, a multi-million dollar business, and a team structure that supports freedom (not burnout). We also unpack the difference between chasing shiny strategies and making data-driven decisions you can stand behind—plus Shay’s practical “90-day experiment” framework for knowing what’s worth your time.