602 - How Entrepreneurs Can Turn Speaking and Thought Leadership Into Income

If you’ve ever wondered whether speaking could actually turn into income—or questioned if your story is “big enough” to share—this episode will change the way you see your voice and your potential.In this conversation, I sit down with bestselling author and keynote speaker Jess Ekstrom to talk about how entrepreneurs can use speaking and thought leadership to build confidence, visibility, and sustainable income. We discuss what it really looks like to grow a business while balancing family and travel, how to confidently charge for your expertise, and why speaking has become one of the most powerful authority-building tools in Jess’s business.Jess also shares the mindset shift that helps entrepreneurs move past self-doubt, step into leadership, and turn their voice into an income stream—without burnout or chasing constant visibility.If you’re an entrepreneur curious about speaking, personal branding, or building authority in a way that aligns with your life and values, this episode will help you see that you already have what it takes to get started. Today you’ll hear:03:35 – What a life-first business looks like for Jess in this season of motherhood06:10 – How becoming a parent pushed her to finally charge her value as a speaker07:10 – The “Gig Scorecard” she uses to decide which speaking opportunities are truly worth it10:48 – Her process for uncovering the through-line in your story (even if you don’t think you have one)12:56 – The vulnerable moment she started sharing on stage that changed the way audiences connected with her14:48 – Why speaking becomes a launchpad for book deals, media opportunities, and new revenue16:20 – The first step she recommends if you want to start speaking this year19:00 – Her mantra before big events and the mindset shift from spotlight to lighthouse26:11 – The advice she’d give her younger self about evolving, pivoting, and worrying less about what people thinkCONNECT WITH JESS:Website: www.jessekstrom.comInstagram: @jess_ekstromJanuary Speak on Stage Bootcamp: https://micdropworkshop.spiffy.co/a/bootcamp/5805 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  🔗 FREE RESOURCES:https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme 

In this episode, I’m sharing why entrepreneurs don’t need a rigid New Year plan for growth—and how a more sustainable approach to planning can create clarity, momentum, and focus without burnout.We’ll talk about why January doesn’t need to be rushed, how stepping away from internet-driven pressure leads to better decision-making, and what it looks like to set a few clear, grounded non-negotiables instead of an overpacked plan.If you’re an entrepreneur who wants to plan the new year with intention, protect your energy, and build long-term growth without forcing productivity, this episode will help you slow down, recalibrate, and lead your business in a way that actually works.In today’s episode, I share:03:48 – Why 2026 feels like a “becoming year” and what the Year of the Horse symbolizes for leadership, clarity, and movement07:18 – How treating January as a recalibration month (not a sprint) changed everything08:48 – Why focusing on non-negotiables matters more than setting big goals or resolutions09:28 – Why the podcast remains the portal and the most aligned anchor in the business10:38 – The power of one simple weekly email and how the Better Together newsletter fits into a sustainable rhythm11:48 – Why committing to one in-person networking event a month creates real momentum and connection12:48 – How the CEO Week schedule provides structure without rigidity (and why No-Meeting Fridays are sacred)14:08 – A simple framework to define your own theme, non-negotiables, and quarterly rhythm16:18 – Permission to stop forcing clarity, trust your boundaries, and let your habits reveal what’s next 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  🔗 FREE RESOURCES:https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme 

Ever notice how spending money in your business can feel strangely loaded, like you’re supposed to know the “right” number, the “right” time, or the “right” formula, even though no one ever actually taught you how to make those decisions? In this episode, I’m joined by Kickstart Accounting CEO and co-founder Danielle Hayden for a grounded, refreshing conversation that takes the pressure off your finances and puts clarity back in the driver’s seat. Danielle breaks down the psychology behind spending, the expense categories every entrepreneur should understand, and the simple percentages that make decision-making feel less emotional and more strategic. We talk about navigating different seasons of life and business, why permission to invest is often the turning point for growth, and how to shift from “I’m not a money person” to “I can absolutely learn this.” If you’ve been craving structure, confidence, or a healthier relationship with your numbers, this episode will help you see spending as a tool, not a test, and step more fully into your CEO role. Today you’ll hear:02:48 – How Danielle’s journey from corporate CFO to entrepreneurship reshaped her mission around helping women feel empowered with their money05:48 – The hidden money narratives entrepreneurs bring into business and why so many feel intimidated by their numbers06:48 – Why reducing expenses isn’t the path to profitability and how spending should reflect your actual goals08:48 – The major business spending categories explained (plus the healthy percentage ranges to aim for)10:48 – When to invest in expert support, how to use operating costs to buy back time, and what shifts as you approach six figures12:48 – A real client case study showing how spending evolves across growth, personal life changes, and different business seasons15:48 – The power of quarterly planning and why long-term goals must stay flexible in a changing world17:48 – The most common limiting belief around money and Danielle’s reframe that helps entrepreneurs stop seeing finances as a personal flaw19:48 – How the 48-Hour Rule keeps you from impulse investing and brings your decisions back into alignment20:48 – Danielle’s non-negotiable business expense (and why no entrepreneur regrets hiring the right help)21:48 – Her top recommended money resources and the advice she’d give her younger entrepreneurial self CONNECT WITH DANIELLE:Website: http://www.kickstartaccountinginc.comInstagram: @kickstartaccounting 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  🔗 FREE RESOURCES:https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme 

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.  In today's pep talk, I share about high-impact activities—the tasks that actually move the needle and help you hit your goals. The secret to real growth isn’t doing more—it’s doing the right things. In today's episode, I share:How to identify high-impact vs. low-impact tasks in your businessThe 80/20 rule and how to maximize your results with less effortThe 3 categories of business activities and where to focus your timeHow to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing real progress 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  🔗 FREE RESOURCES:https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme 

What if the thing you’re calling “chaos,” “overwhelm,” or “not enough time” is actually a sign that your life is running on someone else’s definition of success? In today’s episode, I’m joined by New York Times bestselling author and Slow Living advocate Stephanie O’Dea for a conversation that will make you rethink how you work, plan, parent, and build your business, especially if you’ve been craving a calmer pace but don’t know where to start. Stephanie shares how a single New Year’s resolution turned into 11 books, a massive online brand, and a completely different way of designing life, one rooted in intention, capacity, and tuning out the noise. We talk about redefining productivity, creating a three-year plan that actually feels doable, why journaling changes everything (even if you hate journaling), and how to build a business without burning out your brain, body, or joy. If you’re heading into a new season wanting more peace, more purpose, and less rushing, this episode is your reminder that slow isn’t stagnant, it’s sustainable. And it may be the very thing that moves you forward the fastest. Today you’ll hear:01:48 – The truth about holiday overwhelm and why acknowledging “this is too much” is the first step toward slowing down04:48 – How a crockpot, a New Year’s resolution, and consistency built an accidental empire (plus what she learned about working in her true capacity)07:54 – The power of finding your pockets of time, why hustle seasons are personal, and what slow living actually looks like in different life stages09:58 – The S.L.O.W. acronym12:13 – Why Stephanie walked away from Instant Pot culture, what happened when her publisher dropped her, and the voice of intuition that redirected her business14:48 – Real-life slow living examples16:08 – How to begin slow living when your life feels too full17:48 – Why she swears by a 3-year plan (and why 1-year and 5-year goals often fail humans in real life)19:40 – The “sleep, creep, leap” model and how to use it for business, health, relationships, finances, and long-term life design21:08 – The one small daily shift to start today23:00 – Stephanie’s most-requested crockpot recipe (and why her kids still make it in college)25:00 – How thinking three years ahead creates stability, peace, margin, and resilience — even when life gets unpredictable CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE:Website: stephanieodea.comInstagram: @stephanieodeaFREE daily journaling and goal setting worksheet: stephanieodea.com/daily 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  🔗 FREE RESOURCES:https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme 

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.  This week's pep talk kicks-off a replay of our very first ever live CEO Week series. In this series, we'll be breaking down actionable tips to help you design your dream schedule and bring your business vision to life without burning out. Each week, you'll learn three crucial shifts to focus your efforts, attract the right customers, and create a balanced life you love. Today, we begin with Shift #1: Finding your focus. In today's episode, I share:What a CEO Week actually looks like (spoiler: it’s more than just blocking off time) How to prioritize the right tasks based on your season of life and business The 3 key categories that should always be on your CEO calendar Why traditional to-do lists are failing you—and what to do instead Real-life examples you can model (even if your schedule feels crazy) 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  🔗 FREE RESOURCES:https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme 

What if the reason planning never seems to stick isn’t your willpower, your discipline, or your color-coded calendar… but your identity? In this episode, I’m joined by subconscious success alchemist Mindi Heubner for a conversation that will completely shift how you approach the new year — especially if you’re tired of setting goals that look good on paper but fall apart in real life. Mindi breaks down why traditional planning still leads so many women straight into hustle, burnout, and over-responsibility… even when we think we’re choosing ease. We dig into the real drivers behind your habits, why your subconscious identity always wins, and how to step into the calm, confident CEO version of you who plans sustainably — not stressfully. If you want 2026 to feel different, more grounded, and more you, this episode will help you release the pressure, rewire the patterns that keep you stuck, and plan from your true capacity — not unrealistic expectations. Today you’ll hear:02:48 – What “life-first business” looks like for Mindi this season — and how identity creates capacity04:36 – The pressure of December, why reflection triggers your inner critic, and how to plan without hustling06:53 – Why traditional SMART goals miss the mark when your subconscious identity isn’t aligned09:28 – How to recognize the identity patterns driving your habits: the Prover, Performer, Over-Responsible One, and Chameleon12:38 – How to shorten the identity gap and plan for 2026 from who you’re becoming, not who you’ve been15:12 – What fear of success actually sounds like — and simple ways to prove to your brain that growth is safe20:03 – Why “how you do one thing is how you do everything” needs a rewrite — and what’s actually true22:58 – The biggest red flag in year-end planning and how to shift into a self-led, sustainable approach25:41 – How 1% identity shifts create the biggest results (plus the tiny change Mindi is making herself) CONNECT WITH MINDI:Website: mindihuebner.comInstagram: @mindihuebnerFREE Identity Quiz: mindihuebner.com/ceoquiz 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  🔗 FREE RESOURCES:https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme 

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. Still relying on Instagram to bring in leads? You might be missing out on 65% of your potential clients. In 2025, most buyers start their search on Google—not social media. That means if you’re spending all your time posting and hoping the algorithm works in your favor, you’re leaving money on the table. In today’s episode, I share:Why Instagram alone won’t cut it anymore (Hint: Your content disappears too fast!)How to make SEO, Pinterest, and YouTube do the heavy liftingHow to use AI to streamline your content and get found fasterSimple tweaks to rank on Google instead of fighting for engagement 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  🔗 FREE RESOURCES:https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme 

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 lifestyle06:35 – 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 CEO09:25 – What it really means to own your brand—and how trademarks protect your intellectual property long-term11:35 – 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 anything14:13 – 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 help17:38 – Why so many entrepreneurs delay legal protection—and the real risks of waiting too long19:00 – 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 time24:15 – Sarah’s reminder about how legal protection boosts confidence—and why your clients expect it CONNECT WITH SARAH:Website: destinationlegal.com / twistlaw.coInstagram: @sarahwaldbuesserFREE RESOURCE: The AI Legal Starter Pack: https://thelegitcoach.com/ailegalpack 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  🔗 FREE RESOURCES:https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme 

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 strategyWhere 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🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat  🔗 FREE RESOURCES:https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme