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

Jacki Hayes
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 Welcome to Here's What I Learned, the podcast for progressive entrepreneurs ready to grow their businesses without sacrificing their values, creativity, or sanity. Hosted by me, Jacki Hayes—a systems strategist, unapologetic smutty romantasy fan, and D&D geek—this show is your go-to space for honest conversations about what it really takes to create a business and life you love. Each week, we dive into relatable stories and actionable lessons from values-driven leaders who’ve figured out how to scale sustainably while staying true to themselves. Whether you’re managing growth, navigating overwhelm, or rethinking hustle culture, this podcast is here to show you that success doesn’t have to mean burnout. If you value integrity, autonomy, and time freedom—and you’re looking for inspiration that’s as practical as it is empowering—you’ve found your people. Hit play, and let’s rewrite the rules together.

  1. 4 NOV

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

    Send us a text As 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 t Track Your Leads (Your Way) is a live workshop to build your customizable, human-centered lead tracker in Airtable. Thursday, Dec 4 @ 2pm CT | Live on Google Meet $97 USD | Includes Airtable template, workbook + replay access Ready to build a lead tracker that actually works for you? Register here.

    24 min

  2. 28 OCT

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

    Send us a text In 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.com Instagram: 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.com Instagram: 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.com Instagram: @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.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Track Your Leads (Your Way) is a live workshop to build your customizable, human-centered lead tracker in Airtable. Thursday, Dec 4 @ 2pm CT | Live on Google Meet $97 USD | Includes Airtable template, workbook + replay access Ready to build a lead tracker that actually works for you? Register here.

    18 min

  3. 21 OCT

    Evolving as a Business Owner (Mixtape Edition)

    Send us a text This 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.com Instagram: 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.com Instagram: 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.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Track Your Leads (Your Way) is a live workshop to build your customizable, human-centered lead tracker in Airtable. Thursday, Dec 4 @ 2pm CT | Live on Google Meet $97 USD | Includes Airtable template, workbook + replay access Ready to build a lead tracker that actually works for you? Register here.

    18 min

  4. 14 OCT

    Business Experiments That Flopped—And What We Did Next (Mixtape Edition)

    Send us a text This mixtape is one of three I'm sharing as we head toward episode ninety-nine. I asked past guests (and I chime in, too): What’s one experiment you tried in your business that didn’t land the way you expected—and how did you respond? You’ll hear quick stories, what they noticed, and the next moves they made so you can translate the lessons to your own context.   Topics: Why energy and scope are part of quality controlKeeping the parts that worked and letting the rest goWhat to do with “failed” assets so they keep paying dividends  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.com Instagram: @racheltylee   Tracy Stanger is an anti-hustle business coach who believes we shouldn’t have to choose between meaningful work and feeling fully present for our own damn lives. You can find Tracy at: Website: tracystanger.com Instagram: @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 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.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Track Your Leads (Your Way) is a live workshop to build your customizable, human-centered lead tracker in Airtable. Thursday, Dec 4 @ 2pm CT | Live on Google Meet $97 USD | Includes Airtable template, workbook + replay access Ready to build a lead tracker that actually works for you? Register here.

    19 min

  5. 7 OCT

    Joyful Business, Aligned Marketing with M. Shannon Hernandez

    Send us a text What if you only marketed your business in ways that actually brought you joy? What if you could ditch the pressure to “be everywhere” and still build a thriving, values-aligned brand?  In this episode, I’m joined by M. Shannon Hernandez—founder of the Joyful Business Revolution and messaging strategist for purpose-driven entrepreneurs. Shannon brings a refreshing, radically human approach to marketing that centers joy, energy alignment, and sustainable growth.  We dive into why doing business your way isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a necessity. Shannon shares her signature “one platform, one email” strategy, explains how she built a business that honors seasonal rhythms, and makes a compelling case for ditching marketing “shoulds” once and for all.  If you’re craving more simplicity, capacity, and joy in how you show up for your business… this episode is your permission slip.   Topics: Why joyful marketing is more effective marketing (3:50)Her signature “content personality” framework (and how it supports email strategy) (8:27)How to define your business seasons—and work with them instead of against them (14:00)The real story behind the “M.” in M. Shannon Hernandez (28:28)How partial scholarships fuel equity in her business model (24:00)  You can find M. Shannon at: Website: joyfulbusinessrevolution.com LinkedIn: mshannonhernandez   Mentioned in the episode: Is Business Slow? We’ve Been There. Here’s What to Do About It. - Joyful Business Revolution   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_obmTell me what you loved about the episode at jackihayes.co/contact  Credits: Intro and Outro Music: Atomic by Alex-Productions |https://onsound.eu/ Music promoted byhttps://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Track Your Leads (Your Way) is a live workshop to build your customizable, human-centered lead tracker in Airtable. Thursday, Dec 4 @ 2pm CT | Live on Google Meet $97 USD | Includes Airtable template, workbook + replay access Ready to build a lead tracker that actually works for you? Register here.

    32 min

  6. 30 SEPT

    Do You Need a New Tool, or Does Your Process Need Care?

    Send us a text If leads are slipping and proposals stall, it’s tempting to blame the platform. In this solo episode, I explain why most “tool problems” are really process gaps—and how I use my CARE framework (Clarity, Align, Reduce, Ease) to make the tools you already have work better. I walk you through defining “done,” reducing decision fatigue, setting cues you’ll actually notice, and when it does make sense to pilot new software—without derailing client work.   Topics How I gut-check whether it’s a tool gap or a process gapMy CARE framework in plain language (Clarity, Align, Reduce, Ease)When I decide a new tool truly helps—and how I avoid platform churn  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.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Track Your Leads (Your Way) is a live workshop to build your customizable, human-centered lead tracker in Airtable. Thursday, Dec 4 @ 2pm CT | Live on Google Meet $97 USD | Includes Airtable template, workbook + replay access Ready to build a lead tracker that actually works for you? Register here.

    10 min

  7. 23 SEPT

    Why Empathy is Your Strongest Copywriting Strategy with Krista Walsh

    Send us a text What if your best marketing strategy isn’t a formula—but your ability to actually care? In this episode of Here’s What I Learned, website strategist and messaging expert Krista Walsh joins me to challenge the “best practices” baked into online business culture. From canine reactivity to content strategy, Krista shares how empathy—not exploitation—is the key to both personal breakthroughs and sustainable marketing. This is a must-listen for service providers who’ve ever felt icky about pain-point marketing, uncertain about their message, or trapped in someone else’s strategy.   Inside this episode: What reactive dogs can teach us about self-trust in businessWhat “doing business your way” really means—and why it mattersHow Krista defines empathy-led messaging How to write from compassion, not coercionUsing AI without losing your message’s soul What Krista would tell her earlier self about building a business  You can find Krista at: Website: kristawalshcopywriter.com LinkedIn: in/krista-walsh-copywriter   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_obmTell me what you loved about the episode at jackihayes.co/contact  Credits: Intro and Outro Music: Atomic by Alex-Productions |https://onsound.eu/ Music promoted byhttps://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Track Your Leads (Your Way) is a live workshop to build your customizable, human-centered lead tracker in Airtable. Thursday, Dec 4 @ 2pm CT | Live on Google Meet $97 USD | Includes Airtable template, workbook + replay access Ready to build a lead tracker that actually works for you? Register here.

    22 min

  8. 16 SEPT

    Building a Business That Includes You with Faith Clarke

    Send us a text When we talk about building businesses that work for us, what does that actually mean in practice? This week on Here’s What I Learned, I’m joined by Faith Clarke—organizational culture strategist and co-creator of Feminist Founders—for a deep, energizing conversation about values-led business, strategic collaboration, and how we unlearn the reflex to fix everything... especially when it’s uncomfortable. Faith shares what she’s actively practicing right now: noticing the pull to fix when discomfort arises, and instead pausing to ask, what does my body need right now? That question alone cracked open so much for me—and I think it will for you too. We also get into what it really looks like to build a business your way—including letting go of morning meetings, resisting hustle culture, and treating collaboration as co-creation... not another to-do list. This one is full of grounded wisdom, gentle challenges, and the kind of strategic insight that makes you rethink how you lead, spend, and show up.   Topics: The hidden cost of using your strategic brain to avoid discomfortWhat it looks like to design your business around your actual lifeHow Faith reframes collaboration as “holding the other corner of the sheet”What equity and liberation can look like inside your business (without the overwhelm)The weight of invisible labor—and what we can do about it, together  Whether you’re reimagining your business systems, craving more aligned partnerships, or just tired of putting yourself last… this episode is your invitation to do it differently.   You can find Faith at: Website: faithclarke.com Substack: faithwithlife   Mentioned in the episode: Feminist Founders on Substack    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.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Track Your Leads (Your Way) is a live workshop to build your customizable, human-centered lead tracker in Airtable. Thursday, Dec 4 @ 2pm CT | Live on Google Meet $97 USD | Includes Airtable template, workbook + replay access Ready to build a lead tracker that actually works for you? Register here.

    31 min
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 Welcome to Here's What I Learned, the podcast for progressive entrepreneurs ready to grow their businesses without sacrificing their values, creativity, or sanity. Hosted by me, Jacki Hayes—a systems strategist, unapologetic smutty romantasy fan, and D&D geek—this show is your go-to space for honest conversations about what it really takes to create a business and life you love. Each week, we dive into relatable stories and actionable lessons from values-driven leaders who’ve figured out how to scale sustainably while staying true to themselves. Whether you’re managing growth, navigating overwhelm, or rethinking hustle culture, this podcast is here to show you that success doesn’t have to mean burnout. If you value integrity, autonomy, and time freedom—and you’re looking for inspiration that’s as practical as it is empowering—you’ve found your people. Hit play, and let’s rewrite the rules together.

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