The Holiday Hangover: How to Get Your Ass Back Into Work Mode After Time Off
The post-holiday transition can feel harder than we expect, especially when you've had real rest, space, or slower mornings. In this episode, I'm sharing a very honest, behind-the-scenes look at how I'm getting back into work mode after time off, without the pressure to have everything mapped out or "perfect" on January 1st. We talk about: How to put the post-holiday slump into perspective (and stop being dramatic about it) Why doing the hardest, most needle-moving task first changes everything How I'm using simple focus tools like the Pomodoro technique to ease back in What comparison at the start of the year is really telling you A simple mindset shift that makes getting back to work feel lighter Why having something to look forward to every day matters more than motivation If you're feeling excited about the new year and a little resistant to getting back into routine, this episode will help you reset in a way that actually works for real life. DM me on Instagram @meganyelaney and tell me: are you setting resolutions, intentions, or neither this year? Important Links:  →Follow Meg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganyelaney  →Discover how to craft a powerful business origin story that sets you apart, builds trust, and inspires clients to work with you: https://meganyelaney.com/business-story-blueprint Â
A Real Year-End Recap: Business, Motherhood, and What This Year Taught Me
This is the final episode of the year and of course in Meg fashion…it's a heart to heart. In this episode, I'm reflecting on 2025: the wins, the hard moments, and why this year felt deeply successful even though it wasn't my biggest revenue year. I walk through the year month by month, sharing what worked, what stretched me, and what I'm taking into 2026. We talk about building a business in a full life season, navigating motherhood and identity shifts, letting go of black-and-white success metrics, and why focusing on one core message created multiple streams of revenue without burning me out. If you're ending the year feeling behind, disappointed, or unsure how to evaluate your progress…this episode is for you. →Buy the Edge Led Launch System Workshop to map out your 2026 launches: https://meganyelaney.com/black-friday-workshop-opt-in →DM me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganyelaneyÂ
Outgrowing Your Business Container: Why the Next Level Requires a Bigger Identity
You don't hit a ceiling because you're doing something wrong. You hit it because you've outgrown the container you're operating in. This episode is about what it takes to really expand in your business.. It's about the moment when the version of you who started your business can no longer lead the version of the business you want next. I'm sharing what it looks like when growth starts feeling heavy, why that's actually a signal (not a problem), and how expanding your container changes the way you lead, sell, price, and make decisions. In this episode, we explore: What it actually means to outgrow your business container Why growth often feels uncomfortable right before expansion happens The identity shifts required to move into your next income level How CEO-level thinking changes your relationship with money, pricing, and decisions Why expansion isn't about adding more: it's about holding more The "flower pot problem" and how to know when you need a bigger one What changes when you stop operating like the version who started the business How expanding your container creates ease, confidence, and momentum Why the next level doesn't require a new strategy: it requires a new posture The subtle shifts that separate entrepreneurs who plateau from those who scale If you're in this season… You've built proof. You have results and momentum. Your business works, but it doesn't feel as expansive as it should. You might feel financially tighter than expected for your level of experience. You might notice you're tolerating things that no longer align. You might feel a quiet pull toward bigger conversations, cleaner systems, and more intentional growth. It's a sign you're ready for expansion. About the Expansion Era Mastermind I also share details about my upcoming 6-month mastermind for established entrepreneurs who are ready to expand their income, leadership, and business ecosystem. This is for you if you: Are already having five-figure months Know your body of work is meant to scale Want to lead at a higher level without burning out Are ready for cleaner systems, stronger decisions, and long-term growth 📩 DM "EXPANSION" on Instagram @meganyelaney to learn more
Signs You're Ready for Meta Ads + When to Hire an Ads Manager (Olympic Gold Medal Testing Framework)
In this episode of Business Not As Usual, Megan sits down with Kwadwo (pronounced QUÄ€Y-jo), host of the Art of Online Business podcast, to break down one of the most misunderstood growth decisions in online business: when your business should start using Meta ads, and when it actually makes sense to hire an ads manager versus running ads yourself. This conversation is refreshingly honest and grounded. Rather than selling ads as a magic solution, Kwadwo explains why ads don't fix broken offers, why more eyeballs on the wrong funnel usually lead to frustration (not revenue), and how organic sales are the clearest signal that paid traffic will work. If you've ever felt tempted to "just throw money at ads" because you're tired or stuck, this episode will help you slow down and make a smarter decision. Kwadwo also walks through what he calls his Olympic Gold Medal Testing Framework: a practical way to lower Facebook and Instagram ad lead costs by treating ads like ongoing experiments, not all-or-nothing bets. He shares how to test conservatively, adapt to changes like Meta's Andromeda update, and protect your nervous system (and your cash) while still scaling sustainably. You'll also hear a nuanced discussion about money, pressure, and leadership, including why saving cash creates more freedom than most online business conversations admit, how knowing your profit per lead changes everything, and why no ethical ads manager should ever guarantee results. Whether you've never run ads, have had a bad experience in the past, or are right on the edge of scaling again, this episode will help you make decisions from clarity instead of urgency. Special Moments from the Episode "Jesus saves. Meta ads do not." — why ads amplify what's already working (or broken) The clearest sign your business is ready for Meta ads (and why income alone isn't enough) Kwadwo's profit-per-lead math for deciding DIY ads vs hiring an ads manager Why lead magnet ads + launch ads beat "brand-building ads" early on How to think about the Meta Andromeda update without panic or overreacting A candid conversation about saving money, runway, and freedom most online spaces avoid Kwadwo's Links: →48 Hour Ad-Fix Audit (get $20 off!): https://quayjo.thrivecart.com/audit/?coupon=MEGADS →Listen to The Art of Online Business: https://theartofonlinebusiness.com/aoob-podcast/  Connect with Meg →Discover how to craft a powerful business origin story that sets you apart, builds trust, and inspires clients to work with you: https://meganyelaney.com/business-story-blueprint  →Come say hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganyelaney  Â
How to Turn a 45-Minute Drive into 80 Pieces of Content with Systems Queen Jordan Gill
If life has been lifing hard lately and you're wondering, "How am I supposed to keep showing up in my business like this?"…this episode is going to blow your mind in the most practical way. Today I'm joined by Jordan Gill, creator of Systems Saved Me, longtime VIP Day queen, and the systems brain you wish you had on retainer. We talk about how she turned a 3-hour daily school commute into a content machine that produces up to 80 pieces of content a day, without her sitting at a laptop, and without sounding like an AI robot. This conversation is part systems masterclass, part permission slip to build a life-first business and let automation and collaborations do the heavy lifting. In this episode, we dive into: How Jordan accidentally discovered she's a "systems person" and went from content strategist for a big-name online brand to founder of Systems Saved Me. Her exact "car-to-content" workflow: How she uses a 45-minute school run to answer 10 interview-style questions Why each question becomes 8 pieces of content across platforms The tools she uses (Cleft, Telegram, Zapier, Airtable, ChatGPT, Metricool) to automate everything behind the scenes. Using AI without losing your voice: how Jordan uses AI to organize, structure, and repurpose her actual words, not replace them. The number one system she recommends for non-systems people who feel overwhelmed (spoiler: it's your scheduler, not a 47-step backend build). Collaboration as a growth strategy – how Jordan approaches collabs so they feel like real relationships, not awkward "networking." Why some of her best clients come from collaborations and how she thinks about long-game reciprocity (not tit-for-tat). The "unusual" ways she runs her business: Why she's never required collaborators or speakers to promote her events Why she has always paid her speakers and how that aligns with her values Her philosophy on creating share-worthy offers that people can't help talking about Connect with Jordan →Get Her Carpool Content System Here: https://systemssavedme.spiffy.co/a/Y7zFnxeG7n/5720 →Connect with Jordan on Instagram: @systemssavedme  Connect with Meg →Snag your seat in the Edge Led Launch System Workshop: https://meganyelaney.com/black-friday-workshop-opt-in This workshop will show you how to choose the right topics, craft edge-led messaging, and structure launches that convert even when your Instagram reach is trash. →Come say hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganyelaney   Â