Here's What I Learned: Ditching Biz-as-Usual for Values, Freedom, and Doing It Your Way

Every Launch Is an Experiment: What I Learned From a Zero-Signup Workshop

Send us a textThis episode is a full, honest debrief of a launch that didn’t convert — and what I learned anyway.I promoted a brand-new workshop more than any other offer I’ve ever put out into the world. I showed up consistently. I talked about it everywhere. And it got zero signups.Instead of spiraling or scrapping the idea entirely, I treated the launch like an experiment. In this episode, I walk you through what I tested, what actually happened, the data I’m paying attention to, and the questions I’m carrying into the next iteration so I can learn something real from the experience.If you’ve ever had a launch that felt disappointing or confusing, this episode is an invitation to step out of shame and into curiosity.In This Episode, I Talk AboutWhy I treat launches as experiments instead of personal verdictsThe workshop I launched and the problem it was designed to solveWhat “going all-in on visibility” looked like for me this timeThe actual results (including traffic, emails, and conversions)The questions I’m asking instead of immediately changing everythingThe one variable I’m changing when I rerun this offer — and why that mattersWhat I’m Testing NextI’m not throwing this offer away. I’m rerunning it and changing one thing so I can compare results and actually learn what made a difference. I share what I’m keeping, what I’m adjusting, and how I’m thinking about timing, format, and messaging moving forward.If This Episode ResonatedI’d love to hear from you. What’s one experiment you’re running in your business right now — or one launch that taught you more than you expected?What next?Follow Here's What I Learned on your favorite podcast playerLeave a review so the podcast is seen by more people like youShare this episode with a friendFind the complete show notes and transcripts at jackihayes.co Say hi!Follow me on Instagram at @jackihayes_obm Credits:Intro and Outro Music: Atomic by Alex-Productions |https://onsound.eu/Music promoted byhttps://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Season 10 Trailer

Send us a textWelcome to Season 10 of Here’s What I Learned. I’m Jacki Hayes — a systems thinker with a soft spot for smutty fantasy books and anything involving dice rolls. I help creative business owners build systems that feel honest, doable, and actually supportive of the life they want.This season, we’re leaning fully into the idea that business is one big experiment — made up of dozens of smaller ones happening all the time. Some experiments you plan. Others surprise you. All of them teach you something, if you’re paying attention.You’ll hear a blend of solo episodes and conversations with founders who are right in the middle of their own experiments — refining offers, shifting habits, testing ideas, rethinking systems, and learning in real time what actually works for them.We’re digging into the moments that change things: the decisions that bring clarity, the patterns you can’t ignore anymore, the systems you outgrow, and the small adjustments that quietly shift the whole direction of your business.If you’re tired of “right way” advice…If you crave clarity without the complexity…If you want business to feel simpler, more spacious, and more honest…Season 10 is absolutely for you.So hit follow, grab your favorite beverage, and join me for the experiments, the lessons, and the insights that keep us moving forward. Let’s get into it.Season 10 drops January 6, 2026. 

Episode 99: Best-Of Here’s What I Learned

Send us a textAs I wrap up Season 9 and look ahead to Season 10, I wanted to do something a little different — a mixtape of the moments and ideas that still shape how I think about work, rest, and doing business differently.These clips remind me why I started Here’s What I Learned in the first place: to have honest conversations about what’s working, what’s not, and how we can build businesses that actually fit us.You’ll hear from some of my favorite past guests whose lessons keep coming up again and again:Becky Mollenkamp on how “professionalism” is often code for control — and why it’s worth breaking those rules to make your business more you.Amanda Gold on turning work into play with her D&D dice, using small rolls to gamify focus and motivation.Patricia Sung on designing for energy, not just time — with white space, buffer, and cycle-aware planning that makes business sustainable.Steph Wharton on flipping goal-setting upside down: start with the life you want, then build the business that supports it.Tracy Stanger on doing the weird stuff only you can do — and keeping your plans simple enough to survive real life.Because business isn’t a perfect playbook. It’s a living experiment. Topics:Why “professionalism” often limits creativity — and how to rewrite those rulesThe power of tiny experiments and joyful dataHow to plan for energy, not just timeWhat it looks like to reverse-engineer your business from the life you wantHow simplicity protects creativity (and sanity) Mentioned in the episode:Ditching ‘Professionalism’: How Work Norms Hold Us Back with Becky MollenkampRolling Dice & Making Business Fun with Amanda GoldFailure is Required with Patricia SungGoal Setting for a Whole Damn Vibe with Steph WhartonDo the Weird Shit Only You Can Do with Tracy Stanger What next?Follow Here's What I Learned on your favorite podcast playerLeave a review so the podcast is seen by more people like youShare this episode with a friendFollow me on Instagram at @jackihayes_obmThis podcast is powered by curiosity—and by listeners like you. Support future episodes at ko-fi.com/jackihayes Here's What I Learned is a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective, a community of indie creators amplifying each other’s work through collaboration and care. Credits:Intro and Outro Music: Atomic by Alex-Productions |https://onsound.eu/Music promoted byhttps://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)

From Burnout to Better Systems: Biggest Business Lessons (Mixtape Edition)

Send us a textIn this final mixtape edition of Here’s What I Learned, three entrepreneurs share the biggest business lessons they’ve learned since their last visit—covering how to redefine success, simplify operations, and build sustainable systems that actually fit real life. You’ll hear practical insights on shifting from default offers to energy-aligned work, using experiments to “fail faster” and learn smarter, and embracing the natural seasons of business so you can let go of what no longer serves. We dig into ADHD-friendly time management, fractional executive strategy for small businesses, and creative decision-making frameworks that reduce overwhelm, protect capacity, and improve profitability.   Topics:Redefining success in real time (and updating your metrics to match)Simpler operations for more capacity and less stressSeasons of business: what to pause, end, or double-down onConfidence by doing: experiments, “fail faster,” and learning loopsEnergy-aligned work: choosing roles and projects that actually fit  Frenchie Ferenczi is a small business strategist, fractional executive, and growth advisor.  You can find Frenchie at:Website: frenchieferenczi.comInstagram: frenchie.ferenczi Patricia Sung is an ADHD Coach for Moms who have ADHD. She supports mamas world-wide through her Top 5 Parenting Podcast with 1M+ downloads, Motherhood in ADHD. You can find Patricia at:Website: patriciasung.comInstagram: motherhoodinadhd Rachel Lee is an Artist, Designer & Co-Founder of Neo Genesis, a personal branding agency for creatives & misfit entrepreneurs who are ready to own their weird, and (finally) rock it online.You can find Rachel at:Website: racheltylee.comInstagram: @racheltylee  What next?Follow Here's What I Learned on your favorite podcast playerLeave a review so the podcast is seen by more people like youShare this episode with a friendFind the complete show notes and transcripts at jackihayes.co Say hi!Follow me on Instagram at @jackihayes_obm Credits:Intro and Outro Music: Atomic by Alex-Productions |https://onsound.eu/Music promoted byhttps://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Evolving as a Business Owner (Mixtape Edition)

Send us a textThis is the second mixtape I'm sharing as we head toward episode ninety-nine. The question this time: How have you evolved as a business owner over the years? You’ll hear short notes on what changed, what stayed, and how that shows up day to day—from editing offers and schedules to trusting your judgment and keeping plans simple enough to follow. If you missed the first mixtape, you can head back and catch it after this one.Topics Redefining “success” so the business supports the life you wantEditing offers, schedules, and metrics to reduce noise and increase focusTrusting your judgment and moving faster to learn fasterDesigning plans that hold on low-capacity days (simple, clear, doable)Choosing values-aligned clients and containers as you evolve Bridget Baker is a collaborative brand + website designer who specializes in working with people who help people.You can find Bridget at:Website: bridgetbakerbranding.comInstagram: bridget-baker-branding Patricia Sung is an ADHD Coach for Moms who have ADHD. She supports mamas world-wide through her Top 5 Parenting Podcast with 1M+ downloads, Motherhood in ADHD.You can find Patricia at:Website: patriciasung.comInstagram: motherhoodinadhd What next?Follow Here's What I Learned on your favorite podcast playerLeave a review so the podcast is seen by more people like youShare this episode with a friend Say hi!Follow me on Instagram at @jackihayes_obm Credits:Intro and Outro Music: Atomic by Alex-Productions |https://onsound.eu/Music promoted byhttps://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US