The Rainmaker Family Show | Build Your Family Business

221. The Rainmaker AI Toolkit: Our Favorite AI Tools for Time Freedom and Creativity

Hey Rainmakers—it's Stephen here, and this episode is straight fire if you're ready to boost your productivity and creativity using AI. I'm pulling back the curtain on the tools Chelsey and I are actually using in our business right now. From designing in Canva to writing podcast titles in seconds, this toolkit is stacked with resources that are saving us time and unlocking new creative energy. I'm joined by our Rainmaker marketing assistant Sophie, and we're walking through each AI tool we love—plus how we're using them. You'll get a real look into our process and how you can start using these tools today to simplify your content creation, streamline workflows, and even manage launches with less stress. This episode isn't theoretical—it's practical. Whether you're running a business, homeschooling, podcasting, or just trying to make content faster and smarter, you'll find something in here that makes you say, "Wait—I didn't know AI could do that!" Tune in for a behind-the-scenes peek at what's working for us right now and get inspired to build your own Rainmaker AI Toolkit. Links for this episode: https://aiforcompanies.com Connect with us: ► Rainmaker Instagram: @therainmakerfamily ► Chelsey Instagram: @chels_diaz ► Stephen Instagram: @steezdiaz ► TikTok: @therainmakerfamily ► Facebook: @diazfamilylegacy ► Website: therainmakerfamily.com   Join Our Next Rainmaker Challenge - How To Make Passive Income From Home: https://therainmakerchallenge.com Save On Our Favorite Things: https://rainmakerfamily.com/deals Watch The Million Dollar Mama Case Study: https://www.makeitrainmomma.com/casestudy   Episode Minute by Minute:  0:00 – Welcome and What This Episode Is All About 3:00 – Why We're Obsessed with Using AI Tools 6:00 – The Tool We Use to Design Slides and Graphics 9:20 – Our Favorite AI Podcast Title Generator 12:00 – Launch Planning with Airtable + AI 14:30 – AI in Canva: How to Speed Up Visual Content 18:00 – Top Tips for Getting Started with AI Tools 22:00 – Final Words: You Don't Have to Be an Expert to Start  

220. Embracing the CEO Mindset with Amber McCue: Strategies for Time Freedom and Business Success

Hey Rainmakers! Chelsey and Stephen here—and if you've ever felt like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this one's for you. We're joined by the incredible Amber McCue, a systems queen, time freedom strategist, and all-around business powerhouse.  This episode is all about reclaiming your role as the CEO—not just in your biz, but in your life. Amber shares how she helps entrepreneurs move from reactive to intentional, even when life is full and the calendar feels packed. She breaks down her signature "Planathon" system and how it helps business owners get super clear on what actually moves the needle. You'll hear how to set visionary goals, batch like a boss, and shift from doing all the things to doing the right things. What we love about Amber's story is how real she is about the seasons of business. We talk about letting go of guilt when your pace changes, how to build a business that runs even when you're not "on," and why protecting your energy is the highest form of strategy. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or running a growing team, Amber's insights will meet you right where you are. This convo is an invitation to slow down, reset, and rise up with clarity. Because when you operate from a place of peace and vision, you show up stronger for your family, your clients, and yourself.   Links for this episode: Connect with us: ► Rainmaker Instagram: @therainmakerfamily ► Chelsey Instagram: @chels_diaz ► Stephen Instagram: @steezdiaz ► TikTok: @therainmakerfamily ► Facebook: @diazfamilylegacy ► Website: therainmakerfamily.com   Join Our Next Rainmaker Challenge - How To Make Passive Income From Home: https://therainmakerchallenge.com Save On Our Favorite Things: https://rainmakerfamily.com/deals Watch The Million Dollar Mama Case Study: https://www.makeitrainmomma.com/casestudy   Episode Minute by Minute:  0:00 – Welcome Amber McCue! 1:30 – What It Really Means to Be the CEO 4:00 – From Reactive to Strategic: The Planathon Approach 8:30 – How to Plan Without Burning Out 12:00 – Business Pivots and Owning Your Seasons 16:00 – Amber's Systems for Delegation and Team Growth 20:30 – Mindset Shifts for Sustainable Success 25:00 – Protecting Your Energy While Building Big 29:00 – Final Words on Peace, Vision, and Scaling Smart

219. Lauren 'Lolly' Anderson on Turning Creativity into Cash: The Power of Sugar Cookies

Hey Rainmakers! Chelsey and Stephen here, and this episode is just plain sweet—literally. 🍪 We're talking with Lauren "Lolly" Anderson, the creator behind Lolly's Home Kitchen, who went from corporate life to cashing in on her creativity with sugar cookies that are not only gorgeous but totally profitable. If you've ever wondered if your passion project could actually make money—this one's for you. Lolly shares the real story of how a holiday hobby turned into a business that lets her work from home, bless her family financially, and teach others to do the same. What started with decorated cookies for friends and family quickly became a word-of-mouth hit, and before she knew it, she had more orders than time. That's when she realized—this wasn't just baking. It was business. We talk about pricing with confidence, the mindset shifts required to charge what you're worth, and how important it is to set boundaries (especially when friends start asking for freebies!). Lolly also opens up about teaching other women to start their own cookie businesses and how empowering it's been to watch them unlock a new level of confidence and income. This episode is a masterclass in turning your creativity into cash—and it's so much more than just cookies. If you've ever had a spark of an idea, a creative outlet you love, or a dream of doing something from home that actually works—Lolly's story will light a fire in you.   Connect with us: ► Rainmaker Instagram: @therainmakerfamily ► Chelsey Instagram: @chels_diaz ► Stephen Instagram: @steezdiaz ► TikTok: @therainmakerfamily ► Facebook: @diazfamilylegacy ► Website: therainmakerfamily.com  Join Our Next Rainmaker Challenge - How To Make Passive Income From Home: https://therainmakerchallenge.com Save On Our Favorite Things: https://rainmakerfamily.com/deals Watch The Million Dollar Mama Case Study: https://www.makeitrainmomma.com/casestudy   Episode Minute by Minute:  0:00 - Meet Lauren "Lolly" Anderson of Lolly's Home Kitchen 2:00 - From Corporate Life to Cookie Biz 5:30 - Turning a Hobby into a Legit Business 9:00 - Pricing Confidently and Charging What You're Worth 12:00 - Setting Boundaries When Everyone Wants a Favor 16:30 - Teaching Others to Build Cookie Businesses 21:00 - The Power of Belief, Consistency, and Showing Up 24:00 - Final Encouragement for Creative Entrepreneurs  

218. From Care.com to AI: How Sheila Lirio Marcelo is Reimagining the Modern Family's Time

Hey Rainmakers! Chelsey and Stephen here—and this conversation is a game-changer. If you've ever juggled childcare, business, and the never-ending to-do list, this episode is going to hit home. We're joined by Sheila Lirio Marcelo, the brilliant founder of Care.com and now co-founder of Proof of Learn—where she's leveraging AI to reimagine how families function in today's fast-paced world. Sheila's journey from needing childcare help as a young mom in law school to building a billion-dollar solution is nothing short of inspiring. But what's even more powerful is the next chapter she's writing—one where technology doesn't replace human connection, but enhances it. We dive deep into how AI, blockchain, and learning platforms like Proof of Learn are equipping families with more freedom, more leverage, and more possibility. This conversation covers everything from entrepreneurship as a mom, to the emotional toll of leadership, to what it looks like to make bold pivots later in your career. Sheila shares how she learned to delegate, how she created boundaries to protect her family time, and what she's most excited about building next. If you've ever felt like you're drowning in logistics—or you dream about what's possible when families have more time—this episode is for you. You'll walk away encouraged, inspired, and reminded that with the right support, your vision for family + business can thrive. Connect with us: ► Rainmaker Instagram: @therainmakerfamily ► Chelsey Instagram: @chels_diaz ► Stephen Instagram: @steezdiaz ► TikTok: @therainmakerfamily ► Facebook: @diazfamilylegacy ► Website: therainmakerfamily.com   Join Our Next Rainmaker Challenge - How To Make Passive Income From Home: https://therainmakerchallenge.com Save On Our Favorite Things: https://rainmakerfamily.com/deals Watch The Million Dollar Mama Case Study: https://www.makeitrainmomma.com/casestudy   Episode Minute by Minute:  0:00 - Welcome Sheila Lirio Marcelo! 1:30 - Sheila's Origin Story: From Law School Mom to Tech CEO 4:00 - How Care.com Was Born from a Personal Need 8:00 - Learning to Delegate and Protect Family Time 12:00 - From Care.com to AI: The Vision for Proof of Learn 16:00 - What Families Really Need in the Next Generation 20:00 - Embracing Big Pivots and Being Okay with Uncertainty 24:00 - The Intersection of Tech, Education, and Family 28:00 - Final Words on Courage, Calling, and Innovation

217. Adrienne Richardson on Burning It Down and Starting Over: A Raw Journey of Reinvention In The Midst of Uncertainty

Hey Rainmakers! Chelsey and Stephen here—and today's episode is a powerful one. We're sitting down with our friend Adrienne Richardson, who's been a force in the marketing world for years. But instead of talking Facebook ads or funnels, Adrienne takes us behind the scenes of one of the most raw, real, and faith-led reinventions we've ever heard. What do you do when everything you've built—the business, the team, the income—stops feeling right? Not because it's failing, but because deep down, you know you're being called to something else. That's exactly where Adrienne found herself in 2024, and in this conversation, she shares what it looked like to shut down her successful membership, let go of her team, and start from scratch with no plan—just obedience and a whole lot of faith. We talk about the tension of knowing something needs to change but having no clarity yet, how fear and peace can coexist, and the importance of listening to those subtle nudges before they become deafening. Adrienne's honesty about the emotional toll, the decision to let people go, and the freedom that followed is going to speak directly to your heart—especially if you're in a season of transition or reinvention. If you've ever felt like you've outgrown a version of your life or business, or you're quietly wondering, "What's next for me?"—this episode is your permission slip to explore the unknown. Adrienne doesn't just share what it's like to burn it all down—she shares how to do it with courage, clarity, and a deep trust in what's next. Connect with us: ► Rainmaker Instagram: @therainmakerfamily ► Chelsey Instagram: @chels_diaz ► Stephen Instagram: @steezdiaz ► TikTok: @therainmakerfamily ► Facebook: @diazfamilylegacy ► Website: therainmakerfamily.com   Join Our Next Rainmaker Challenge - How To Make Passive Income From Home: https://therainmakerchallenge.com Save On Our Favorite Things: https://rainmakerfamily.com/deals Watch The Million Dollar Mama Case Study: https://www.makeitrainmomma.com/casestudy   Episode Minute by Minute:  0:00 - Welcome Adrienne Richardson & Setting the Stage 1:30 - When Everything Stops Working: The Quiet Unraveling 4:00 - Getting Clarity Through Obedience, Not Control 7:00 - Canceling the Biggest Launch & Trusting the Process 11:00 - Fear, Provision, and Letting Go of the Membership 14:00 - Shutting Down the Entire Business: Adrienne's Bold Leap 17:00 - Letting Go of Team with Compassion and Faith 21:00 - Wrestling with People-Pleasing and Outside Pressure 27:00 - Rediscovering Yourself After Years of Being Small 33:00 - The Power of Starting Over and What's Next for Adrienne