The Self Made Life Podcast

Ashley Wyatt
  • 3.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Entrepreneurship comes with a lot of ups and downs. I‘m here to share my journey of pivoting, running and scaling a successful creative business from the ground up. I‘ll also share inspiring stories from my branding clients in different industries, and of course share my favourite tips of everything branding, productivity and mindset to leave you feeling inspired and not alone on this rollercoaster of a journey that entrepreneurship can be.

  1. 2d ago

    EP 89: The Placeholder Brand & Why It's Keeping You Stuck

    You're good at what you do. You've been doing it long enough to prove it. But your calendar is full of the wrong people, and you keep saying yes because the alternative is scary. In this episode, I want to talk about something I see constantly with established service providers: the placeholder brand. The brand that got you here, that said "I'm a real business" just enough that people didn't think you were a scam. The one that's past its expiration date, but hasn't been replaced yet. I'm pulling from a real discovery call I had recently (with all the details changed, of course) to walk through exactly what this looks like, why it happens, and most importantly, what it actually takes to fix it. We talk about: What a placeholder brand is and how to know if you have one The gap between knowing who you're not for and being able to say who you are for Why a prettier website without strategy underneath it is just a prettier placeholder The order of operations that actually works: brand strategy → visual identity → website → SEO and content What SEO really means when it's built in properly (not just a box you check) The magic wand question I ask at the end of every discovery call — and what it reveals This episode is for you if you love your work most of the time, but that other 20% is slowly draining you. 🎧 Listen, share it with the friend whose website is also past its expiration date, and come find me on Instagram @monarchdesignco. Ready to figure out your next steps? Book a discovery call at themonarchdesign.co/contact and let's chat about whats possible

    29 min

  2. Jun 23

    EP 88: You're Wasting Hours on Content That Isn't Working and Here's Why with Rebecca Stanisic

    You're not behind. You're just creating content without a clear direction and that's the thing that's burning you out. In this episode of the Self Made Life Podcast, I'm talking with content strategist Rebecca Stanisic about what it actually means to show up online with intention rather than just pressure. Rebecca has been in the content space since 2009 and has spent years helping small business owners cut through the noise, stop chasing vanity metrics, and build a content approach that works in real life not just on a good week. We get into the real mistakes that make content feel so exhausting (hint: you're probably creating way more than you need to), why long-form content like blogs and podcasts are anchor pieces that keep working long after you publish, and how to plan your content in a way that actually connects back to your goals. Rebecca also shares her 3-1-1 planning method — quarterly, monthly, weekly — and why knowing your messaging first makes everything else click. If you've been feeling stuck, scattered, or just over it when it comes to content, this episode will help you reset. Connect with Rebecca at rebeccastanisic.com or @bitofmomsense on Instagram — and book her free 20-minute call if you want to figure out your next content move.

    38 min

  3. Jun 16

    EP 87: I Run a Business With Two Kids Under Two. Here's the Only System That's Actually Working.

    If you've ever felt like there's just not enough hours in the day—you're not behind. You're just building a business in a season that doesn't look like the highlight reel productivity gurus are selling. In this episode, I'm sharing the habit stacking system that's completely changed how I run Monarch Design Co. as a mom of two under two. No 5 a.m. wake-ups required. We talk about: What habit stacking actually is (and why it works better than trying to build brand-new routines from scratch) The brain dump method I use with AI to get out of my own head and create a realistic plan for the day Real examples from my actual life — nursing and meditating, car commutes, nap time CEO work, and evening resets Why your business has to support your life — not the other way around Three takeaways you can start using today, even if your pockets of time are tiny This one is for every business owner mom who's wondering how to keep the momentum going when the workday happens in 60–90 minute windows. 🎧 Listen, share with a friend who needs it, and tag me on Instagram @monarchdesignco so I can see you listening. And if your brand and website no longer reflect where your business is headed? That's exactly the work we do at Monarch Design Co. → themonarchdesign.co

    27 min

  4. Jun 9

    EP 86: From Canva Logo to $25K Project: How a Rebrand Changed Everything with Shannon Littlehale of Make Space Organizing

    Shannon Littlehale built Make Space Organizing from a dream she'd been sitting on since college—and almost walked away from it entirely in 2023. After years of showing up with branding she knew didn't reflect her skill set, she made the decision to go all in. Weeks after her rebrand launched, she sent a $25,000 proposal to a client she'd never met — and got the deposit before she finished weeding her garden. In this episode, Shannon gets honest about the moment she nearly quit, how perfectionism and anxiety create executive dysfunction (and what she's doing about it), and why a slow Q1 turned into one of her most strategic quarters yet. We also talk about what it actually looks like to stop following the industry playbook and start building the business you actually want  including her expansion into commercial and small business spaces. If you're building intentionally and wondering when it's going to start feeling like it's working, this one's for you. 🔗 Book a call with Shannon — $99 for Self-Made Life listeners (reg. $150): makespacenj.com 📲 Follow along: @makespaceNJ Shannon went from a Canva logo she couldn't explain to booking a $25,000 project just weeks after her rebrand launched. That's what the right brand foundation can do. If you're ready for that kind of shift, I'd love to work with you. Visit themonarchdesign.co to book a discovery call.

    48 min

  5. Jun 2

    EP 85: The Rebrand and The Business Reset: What's New at Monarch Design Co.

    Ashley's back with a brand new season and a lot has changed. In this season premiere of the Self Made Life Podcast, she's getting real about the past couple of years: her second baby, a complete business rebrand, financial challenges, and the shift that changed how she sees her work entirely. She opens up about how Monarch Design Co. went from taking on almost anything to becoming a strategic brand and website studio, why she stopped hiding behind her expertise, and what this season of the podcast is going to sound like — honest, practical, and anything but a highlight reel. If your business has started to feel a little stale, a little stagnant, or just like it doesn't fit who you are anymore, this episode is your permission slip to let it evolve. Topics this season: brand strategy, websites that convert, SEO, AI visibility, systems, pricing, motherhood, and building a business that supports your actual life. See the new Monarch Website: www.themonarchdesign.co Connect with me: Instagram @monarchdesignco   Linked In: Ashley Wyatt

    16 min

  6. Mar 17

    EP 84: You Don’t Owe Your Past Self: Letting Go, Evolving & Growing Your Business

    What happens when the version of your business that got you here is no longer the one meant to take you forward? In this final episode of the 7 Lessons in 7 Years series, Ashley Wyatt shares a powerful reflection on growth, identity, and giving yourself permission to let go of what no longer fits. This conversation is for the entrepreneur who feels pulled toward change but is wrestling with guilt, fear, or the pressure to stay loyal to an old version of success. Ashley opens up about her own path from calligraphy, Etsy, and wedding stationery to branding, web design, and building a business that better supports her life, family, and future. She talks about outgrowing offers, releasing old identities, moving through resistance, and choosing support over struggle. If you’ve been feeling the nudge to pivot, simplify, refine your offers, or step into a new season in business, this episode will remind you that you are not starting over. You are building from experience. In this episode, Ashley shares: why outgrowing parts of your business is a sign of growth how to release old offers, roles, and expectations the mindset shift that changed how she built her business why getting support can increase your capacity and impact encouragement for entrepreneurs stepping into a new chapter This episode is a must-listen for creative entrepreneurs, small business owners, moms in business, and service providers who want to build a business that feels aligned with the life they actually want. If this episode speaks to you, share it with a fellow business owner and explore working with Ashley at themonarchdesign.co.

    14 min

  7. Feb 24

    EP 83: Community Over Competition with Puja Malhotra: How Two Brand Designers Support Each Other And Why You Should Too

    What does ambition really look like when life gets full? This week, I'm sitting down with Puja Malhotra—founder and creative director of Roop Creative Agency, for one of the most honest conversations I've had on the show. Puja is a brand strategist and website designer (yes, she does exactly what I do), and instead of keeping our cards close, we put everything on the table. We're talking about redefining what success looks like after motherhood, building a business around your life instead of the other way around, and how Puja's Indo-Canadian identity has shaped the way she shows up as a creative and a leader. And because Puja and I are in the same lane? We're also getting real about community over competition, why it matters, what it's looked like for us as two designers who could easily see each other as threats, and why we believe there's enough out there for everyone. In this episode we talk about: Letting go of the version of ambition that no longer fits Why Puja doesn't believe in balance—and what she does instead How cultural identity can be your biggest business asset What happened when she stopped treating people in her industry as competition The one shift that brought more clarity than any strategy ever did Why community is the thing that changes everything for mom entrepreneurs If you're a creative entrepreneur, photographer, wedding pro, or small business owner trying to build something real without burning out — this one's for you. Puja Malhotra — Roop Creative Agency Website: roopcreativeagency.com Instagram (Business): @ROOPCreativeAgency Instagram (Personal): @ThePujaMalhotra Threads: @ThePujaMalhotra Ashley Wyatt — Monarch Design Co. Website: themonarchdesign.co Instagram: @monarchdesignco Showit Website Templates: themonarchdesign.co/showit-template-shop Mentioned in This Episode This Mother Means Business (community mentioned by Ashley + Puja): thismothermeansbusiness.com

    43 min

  8. Feb 17

    EP 82: Lesson 6 - Visibility vs. Alignment: Why Your Marketing Isn’t Converting

    Have you ever shown up everywhere online and still felt invisible? In this episode of The Self-Made Life Podcast, I’m sharing Lesson 6 in my 7 Lessons in 7 Years of Business series — and this one changed everything for me. For years, I thought more visibility was the answer. More posts. More platforms. More consistency. More noise. But what I discovered the hard way is this: Visibility without alignment doesn’t build confidence. It builds pressure. In this episode, I’m sharing: Why more content isn’t always the solution How misaligned messaging attracts the wrong inquiries The shift that helped me move from performing online to communicating clearly Why referrals and relationships are still powerful growth drivers A simple question to ask before you post this week If your marketing feels heavy, exhausting, or disconnected from the business you actually want — this episode is for you. Links & Resources Work with me at Monarch Design Co. https://themonarchdesign.co Explore the Showit Website Template Shop https://themonarchdesign.co/showit-template-shop Connect with Ashley: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarchdesign Website: https://themonarchdesign.co

    13 min
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About

Entrepreneurship comes with a lot of ups and downs. I‘m here to share my journey of pivoting, running and scaling a successful creative business from the ground up. I‘ll also share inspiring stories from my branding clients in different industries, and of course share my favourite tips of everything branding, productivity and mindset to leave you feeling inspired and not alone on this rollercoaster of a journey that entrepreneurship can be.

Information

  • Creator
    Ashley Wyatt
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    89
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019 - 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Self Made Life Podcast

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