Turning Fear Into Fuel: How a Health Scare Sparked Charity Alyse’s Mobile Bookshop Dream

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showSpring cleaning isn’t about crisis.It’s about circulation.In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at recording during a literal New Jersey blizzard, the decluttering session that unexpectedly boosted my energy, and a confession: I procrastinated this episode harder than I’d like to admit.Because here’s the truth — dust is just deferred decisions.And that buildup? It happens in our businesses too.If things are “technically working,” it’s easy to tolerate small inefficiencies… until the mental load starts to feel heavier than it needs to.So instead of overhauling everything, we’re starting at the front door.I’ll walk you through a simple, tactical place to begin your seasonal edit: your lead management process. What happens when someone fills out your contact form? Are they guessing what’s next? Or are you professional by design?You don’t need a brand-new business.You need to breathe inside the one you built.If you’ve ever wondered whether the systems running your business are actually helping—or quietly making things heavier—this might be a good place to start. I offer backend systems audits for both 17hats and Flodesk that review what’s working, what’s fragile, and what deserves your attention next. Learn more at kristenlettini.com/audits.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showYou don’t always get the full five-year blueprint in business.Sometimes you get a clear season.Sometimes you get a quiet one.And sometimes you hit a speed bump and think… okay, now what?This 10-minute solo episode is a grounded reframe for those moments.Not a checklist.Not a dramatic pivot.Just a steadier way to think about uncertainty, slow seasons, and the in-between chapters of building a sustainable business.If you’ve ever felt tempted to overhaul everything because things felt unclear — this is the episode to come back to.Tune in for a practical mindset shift on choosing direction over certainty, using planning containers (like a 12-week sprint or seasonal strategy), and why long-term business growth requires calm leadership instead of panic decisions.And if you’re curious about the Marketing Planning Reset I mentioned in the episode, you can join the waitlist here.Whether you’re in a clear season or a quieter one, this episode is one to bookmark for the next time you can’t see the whole staircase.If you’ve ever wondered whether the systems running your business are actually helping—or quietly making things heavier—this might be a good place to start. I offer backend systems audits for both 17hats and Flodesk that review what’s working, what’s fragile, and what deserves your attention next. Learn more at kristenlettini.com/audits.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showFebruary is the season of love — and this year, I want you to turn some of that attention toward your business. ❤️ In this episode, we’re talking about what it really looks like to love your business long-term — not the honeymoon phase, not the Instagram highlight-reel version, but the kind of relationship that actually lasts.Because most business owners don’t fall out of love with their work. As your business grows, the logistics grow too. Emails, invoices, scheduling, follow-ups… all the things that quietly take up space and energy. And when there’s no room left, the work you love gets buried.In this episode, I’ll walk you through:Why losing excitement doesn’t mean you chose the wrong businessHow the “honeymoon phase” shows up in both relationships and businessWhy quick fixes (and shiny features) aren’t always the answerHow intentional design creates room for your spark to shine againWhy awareness is the most important first step before changing anythingI’m also sharing what I’ve been working on behind the scenes this year — refining my offers, rethinking support, and why system audits have become a non-negotiable starting point in my work with clients.If you’re using 17hats or Flodesk and your business feels heavier than it should, a simple audit might be the clarity you need. No pressure. No commitment. Just a clear look at what’s working, what’s draining you, and what’s possible.👉 Book a free consult (your coffee date) to see if an audit is a good next step.The modern fairytale isn’t about loving every moment. It’s about building a business you don’t want to leave. 🫶 If you’ve ever wondered whether the systems running your business are actually helping—or quietly making things heavier—this might be a good place to start. I offer backend systems audits for both 17hats and Flodesk that review what’s working, what’s fragile, and what deserves your attention next. Learn more at kristenlettini.com/audits.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showRunning a business can feel a lot like working on a puzzle.You’ve got pieces everywhere — ideas, tools, workflows, client needs — and you know they’re supposed to fit together… but sometimes the picture just doesn’t feel complete.With National Puzzle Day coming up, I’m leaning into one of my favorite metaphors and breaking down how puzzles and business are surprisingly similar — especially for solopreneurs navigating the messy middle of growth.In this episode, I’m sharing:Why January can feel overwhelming (even when nothing is “wrong”)A simple PUZZLE framework to help you figure out what’s missingThree different ways people naturally approach building a businessWhy support systems don’t replace your thinking — they protect your progressHow to stop feeling scattered and start placing the right next pieceIf your business feels heavy, incomplete, or just slightly off right now, this episode will help you zoom out, get grounded, and move forward with more clarity.ICYMIEp 140: No Man's Land: Why the Messy Middle Isn't the End of Your Fairytale🎁 17hats Giveaway (through January 25, 2026)If leads, contracts, invoices, or client follow-up feel heavier than they should, this is a great time to explore what better backend support could look like.Details & enter here.🧩 Completing the Puzzle Subscription Looking for a fun, low-pressure way to unwind? A subscription with Completing the Puzzle could be a great fit! They send you a puzzle, you enjoy it, send it back, and move on to the next one (no clutter, no stacks collecting dust). Use code FAIRYTALE for $6 off your first month.If you’ve ever wondered whether the systems running your business are actually helping—or quietly making things heavier—this might be a good place to start. I offer backend systems audits for both 17hats and Flodesk that review what’s working, what’s fragile, and what deserves your attention next. Learn more at kristenlettini.com/audits.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showThis is a special bonus episode of Build Your Own Fairytale, recorded live, in real life, while I was in Nashville with two of my favorite fellow systems strategists and business friends.What started as a casual “let’s finally get together in person” trip quickly turned into something much bigger — real conversations, honest pushback, whiteboard brainstorming, and one brand-new business idea that went from thought to action in under 24 hours.If you listened to the previous episode about consistency and being stuck in no man’s land, this conversation is the natural next chapter.In this episode, we talk about:How three “competitors” became genuine business bestiesWhy being in the room together still matters (even in an online world)What actually helps ideas move out of no man’s land and into momentumAnd what happens when smart women give each other honest, supportive pushbackYou’ll also hear how this Nashville trip sparked early conversations around creating intentional space for business owners — part strategy, part systems, part breathing room — and why we’re inviting listeners into that conversation from the very beginning.If you’ve ever felt stuck between knowing what you want to do and actually doing it, this episode is for you.P.S. If the mention of my new offer to support marketing and strategic content planning sparked something for you, join the waitlist here.Learn more and connect with my guests here:Deb Mitzel: debmitzelcreative.com and @debmitzelcreative on IG Nicole Larson: letnicolehelp.com and @letnicolehelp on IGIf you’ve ever wondered whether the systems running your business are actually helping—or quietly making things heavier—this might be a good place to start. I offer backend systems audits for both 17hats and Flodesk that review what’s working, what’s fragile, and what deserves your attention next. Learn more at kristenlettini.com/audits.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showWhat if the hardest part of building a business isn’t the beginning… or the end — but the middle?In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful lesson that hit me in the middle of a long, sweaty run while training for my upcoming half marathon. My instructor introduced the concept of No Man’s Land — the point in a long run where you’re too far from the start to feel excited, but too far from the finish to see the payoff.And honestly? It felt exactly like solopreneurship.We talk about:Why the “messy middle” is where so many business owners get stuckThe mindset shifts that help you keep going when motivation dipsWhy discomfort doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong — it often means you’re growingHow working smarter (not harder) becomes essential as your business growsThe systems that help reduce mental load and create breathing room againAnd to kick off the new year, I’m excited to be partnering with 17hats on a giveaway designed to support solopreneurs in this exact season. One winner will receive a one-year 17hats membership (open to new and existing users), plus a 60-minute 1:1 session with me to help you figure out the best place to start. Enter here.✨ Because the messy middle shouldn’t be the thing that stops you from building your fairytale.If you’ve ever wondered whether the systems running your business are actually helping—or quietly making things heavier—this might be a good place to start. I offer backend systems audits for both 17hats and Flodesk that review what’s working, what’s fragile, and what deserves your attention next. Learn more at kristenlettini.com/audits.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showAs we wrap up 2025, I wanted to take a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate — both the growth of Build Your Own Fairytale and the incredible conversations we shared this year.In this special Best of 2025 episode, I’m revisiting some of the most powerful moments from the podcast — blending guest wisdom with highlights from my most-downloaded solo episodes. From the courage to just start, to the importance of pausing and stacking small wins, to staying rooted in connection and core values as you grow, these lessons perfectly capture what this year was all about.Episodes referenced:Ep# 122 The Art of Starting Over: Michelle Amman's Leap from Education to EntrepreneurshipEp# 138 Building Her Dream Land: How Megan Lewis Turned Disney Magic into a Thriving Nanny BusinessEp# 116 Solo Travel & Solopreneurship: How Kristine Thomason Found Fulfillment as a Freelance WriterEp# 114 Maddy Fero's Fast Story from NASCR to Biz OwnerEp# 118 Beyond the Pool Deck: Erica Beine's Journey from D1 Coach to Wellness EntrepreneurEp# 124 Science, Sugar & Soul: How Grace "Grey" Pak is Redefining CakeEp# 134 Marco Polo's Vlada Bortnik on the Magic of Technology (for Good) & Human ConnectionEp# 135 My Solopreneur Tech Stack: The Essentials That Do It All (Solo)Ep# 133 October Theory: Fresh Starts Aren't Just for January (Solo)Ep# 131 Behind the Scenes: Observations & Lessons Learned from my 1st Collab (Solo)If you’ve ever wondered whether the systems running your business are actually helping—or quietly making things heavier—this might be a good place to start. I offer backend systems audits for both 17hats and Flodesk that review what’s working, what’s fragile, and what deserves your attention next. Learn more at kristenlettini.com/audits.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showCinderella might have had a fairy godmother—but Megan Lewis built her own magic. ✨At just 24, Megan founded Dreamland Nannies, an Orlando-based childcare company that helps families enjoy the Disney parks stress-free. In this episode, we talk about how she turned her love for kids and theme parks into a growing business serving hotels and families across Central Florida.You’ll hear how Megan: 🎢 Took the leap from college grad to CEO 🪄 Built a team of 20+ nannies across Orlando’s theme parks 💫 Learned that “just start” really is the secret to successIf you’ve ever dreamed of starting something new—or making your own kind of magic in business—this episode is your reminder that fairytales are built one brave step at a time.Connect with Megan at dreamlandnannies.com or follow along on social (Instagram | Facebook | TikTok)If you’ve ever wondered whether the systems running your business are actually helping—or quietly making things heavier—this might be a good place to start. I offer backend systems audits for both 17hats and Flodesk that review what’s working, what’s fragile, and what deserves your attention next. Learn more at kristenlettini.com/audits.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showIt’s Thanksgiving week — the season of gratitude, chaos, & calendars that somehow manage to fill themselves.If you’ve ever said, “I can’t use an online scheduler… my schedule’s always changing!” or “I don’t want to be boxed in!” — this one’s for you.I’m busting the biggest myths about online scheduling & showing you how a scheduling link doesn’t take away your freedom — it protects it.Spoiler alert: an online scheduler can help you set clear boundaries, avoid double-booking, & give clients an easier way to connect — all while saving you hours each week.If you’ve been hesitant to share your calendar, you’ll leave this episode ready to set one up — and finally feel like your schedule is working for you, not against you.If you’ve ever wondered whether the systems running your business are actually helping—or quietly making things heavier—this might be a good place to start. I offer backend systems audits for both 17hats and Flodesk that review what’s working, what’s fragile, and what deserves your attention next. Learn more at kristenlettini.com/audits.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showAuthor and entrepreneur Charity Alyse shares the heartwarming story behind Austen’s Shelf, her tiny bookshop on wheels — a Jane Austen–inspired mobile bookstore bringing literary magic to communities across New Jersey.After a health scare reminded her that “someday” isn’t guaranteed, Charity decided to stop waiting and start building. Within weeks, she and her husband transformed a simple trailer into a charming, book-filled escape — complete with wallpaper, shelves, and the warmth of Jane Austen’s parlor.In this episode, Charity shares ALL the details of learning how to run a bookstore — budgeting, inventory, and the steep logistics of transporting and setting up hundreds of books. She also shares the lessons she’s learned about knowing your audience, building community, and staying calm when everything goes sideways (including losing the keys to her bookshop on launch day).Her story is a beautiful reminder that courage, curiosity, and persistence can turn even life’s scariest moments into something extraordinary — and that sometimes, the fairytale begins when you stop waiting for “someday.”Connect with Charity at austensshelf.com or on Instagram (@austensshelf | @charityalyse)If you’ve ever wondered whether the systems running your business are actually helping—or quietly making things heavier—this might be a good place to start. I offer backend systems audits for both 17hats and Flodesk that review what’s working, what’s fragile, and what deserves your attention next. Learn more at kristenlettini.com/audits.