THE PODCAST with Annelise Worn

Annelise Worn
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The Podcast — for powerhouse women who want both freedom and profit. This is your space to design a business that fuels your life, not one that consumes it. A world where ambition, motherhood, and wellbeing don’t compete, but coexist. Join Annelise Worn — Agency Founder, Scale Strategist, TEDx speaker, and homeschooling, world travelling mum of four, as she shares the real strategies, systems, and stories behind building a business that runs with fire and flow.

  1. 4D AGO

    Boundaries in Sales - Ep. 269

    If your clients only want YOU, you have a problem.  If your clients “only want you”… you trained them that way. In this episode, we’re talking about the sales conversation that protects your boundaries - and stops you from becoming the bottleneck in your own business. Because if every client insists on dealing with you, you have a scale problem. Tune in as we unpack: • Why founders accidentally make themselves the product • The five decisions that form your North Star • How to stop selling your hours and start selling outcomes • The subtle language shift from “I” to “we” • Why hourly pricing keeps you small • How to structure a sales call so you lead - not people-please Here’s the uncomfortable truth: If clients believe anything less than you is second best… you sold it that way. And if you want a Freedom-First business, you cannot be the hero in every scene. Your team has to become the celebrities. That shift starts before onboarding. It starts in the sales conversation. This episode will shift how you see sales entirely. Because you’re not going for a job interview. You’re building a company. And the way you sell determines whether you stay the product - or become the CEO. Press play. Want More? DM "CEO" on Instagram: @anneliseworn Download the 6-Figure Freelancer Guide: https://a.anneliseworn.com/6ff Book a Free Strategy Call: anneliseworn.com/consult

    19 min

  2. FEB 18

    Leading with Follow-Up as Service - Ep. 268

    Not following up because you don’t want to be annoying?  In this episode, I unpack the uncomfortable truth about why most business owners avoid follow-up… and how that single habit is quietly capping their income. If sales feels awkward, desperate, or “not your thing,” this is going to challenge you. Because what if the problem isn’t confidence? What if it’s leadership? In this episode we talk about: • The subtle lie that keeps you from following up • Why “If they wanted it, they would buy” is dangerous thinking • The difference between service and desperation • The used car salesman mistake (and how not to be that person) • The two components every follow-up system must include • Why silence doesn’t mean no • How avoidance creates feast-and-famine cycles A question for you: If someone walked into a Michelin Star restaurant and the waiter never came back because they didn’t want to be annoying… would that be good service? Or neglect? That reframe changes everything. Follow-up isn’t chasing. It’s guiding. It’s holding the frame. It’s setting expectations. It’s leadership. And without it, you are handing control of your cash flow to other people’s inboxes. If you’ve ever: • Sent one email and hoped for the best • Avoided following up because it felt uncomfortable • Wondered why sales feel inconsistent • Hit an income ceiling you can’t seem to break This episode is for you.  Press play. Want More? DM "CEO" on Instagram: @anneliseworn Download the 6-Figure Freelancer Guide: https://a.anneliseworn.com/6ff Book a Free Strategy Call: anneliseworn.com/consult

    16 min

  3. JAN 21

    How to Stop Relying on Referrals and Take Control of Your Pipeline - Ep. 267

    I had a realisation a few years ago that stopped me in my tracks. I was spending my entire week growing my clients’ businesses. And mine was staying exactly the same. No leads. No pipeline. No sales that weren’t referrals. I was delivering my best to my clients … Pushing my own marketing block back to deliver client projects. Saying yes to inconvenient, disruptive meeting times, Pretzeling my calendar around everyone else’s priorities. I called it being professional. Having integrity. But truthfully, it was more than that. It was people-pleasing.  And if I’m honest — enjoying feeling needed. But it cost me. I was exhausted. Snappy. Constantly stressed about money, despite being “busy.” And then one day it hit me: No one was coming, and nothing was going to change if I didn’t change it. If my business was going to grow, I had to lead it. Your clients will always need you. Your team will always need you. But your agency needs you too — not just as the doer, but as the CEO. That realisation changed everything. I started implementing boundaries around my systems. I restructured our offers. Our team. Our marketing. If you’re honest, you probably know what you should be doing for your business. But client work feels louder. More urgent. More justified. So marketing gets postponed - not because it’s unimportant, but because it’s invisible… until it’s a problem. That’s exactly what I talk about in the latest episode. If this feels familiar, this one’s for you. Want More? DM "CEO" on Instagram: @anneliseworn Download the 6-Figure Freelancer Guide: https://a.anneliseworn.com/6ff Book a Free Strategy Call: anneliseworn.com/consult

    19 min

  4. JAN 14

    Offer Math That Most Agencies Skip (And How It Costs You) - Ep. 266

    It might just be simple math that’s stopping you from scaling… If your agency looks busy on paper but still feels financially tight…If money comes in and disappears just as fast…If hiring feels risky, stressful, or just not possible yet… This episode is for you. Because most problems come down to your offer, and your pricing. In this episode, I break down the simple math mistake that keeps smart, capable agency owners stuck on the treadmill: working harder, saying yes to everything, and still not getting ahead. In this episode, we talk about: Why “busy but broke” is almost always a pricing issue The treadmill trap that keeps agencies stuck in undercharging cycles Why hourly thinking quietly caps your growth (even if your rate seems “good”) The difference between revenue that looks healthy and margins that actually scale Why fear around hiring is often a math problem, and a mindset one I also unpack: How agencies accidentally price themselves into burnout Why doubling your old salary rate isn’t a strategy The shift from task-based pricing to outcome-led thinking What scalable agencies do structurally differently (it’s not talent) This episode is especially for you if: you feel stretched thin but underpaid you’re scared to hire because the numbers don’t feel safe you’ve raised prices before but still feel stuck or you know something isn’t adding up - you just haven’t sat down to look at the math properly Free resource: I’ve linked the Cost & Margin Template in the show notes - the same framework we use inside our agency and teach inside Agency Academy. DM me on Instagram with ‘266’ to get the link.  If you want to build an agency that actually scales - this is where it starts. A. Want More? DM "CEO" on Instagram: @anneliseworn Download the 6-Figure Freelancer Guide: https://a.anneliseworn.com/6ff Book a Free Strategy Call: anneliseworn.com/consult

    21 min

  5. JAN 7

    The 7 Calendar Blocks Every Agency Owner Needs - Ep. 265

    If you constantly feel overwhelmed, short on time, and like you’re always working but rarely working on the business … you’re not alone. And if you’re honest, you might not even be totally sure what “working on the business” is supposed to look like anymore now that you have a team. In this episode, I walk through how I think about designing a week on purpose, to create space for everything you want and need to do as CEO, no matter what level your business is at (from side hustle to full team) In this episode, we explore how to … Design Your Week Like a CEO: Why overwhelm is often a design issue, not a discipline issue How most weeks quietly become reactive without you realising What “working on the business” actually means in practice Why certain activities must be scheduled or they disappear How intentional structure creates more freedom, not less I also share personal insights around: energy, focus, and decision fatigue why busyness can feel productive while keeping you stuck and how small shifts in your week can change everything This episode is for you if: your days feel full but unsatisfying you’re constantly context-switching or you know you need to change how your time works — you just haven’t stepped back to redesign it Free resource: For the Free CEO Schedule Template, go to https://a.anneliseworn.com/ceoschedule Your time is your most valuable asset. This episode will help you start treating it that way. A x Want More? DM "CEO" on Instagram: @anneliseworn Download the 6-Figure Freelancer Guide: https://a.anneliseworn.com/6ff Book a Free Strategy Call: anneliseworn.com/consult

    24 min

  6. 12/16/2025

    Proximity as a Growth Strategy for your Agency - Ep. 264

    Most agency owners think growth comes from more leads, better funnels and great teams.  That’s true, but one of the most underestimated growth levers in business has nothing to do with marketing at all. It’s proximity. In this episode, I unpack why who you surround yourself with both professionally and personally shapes your decisions, your standards, and ultimately, your results as an agency owner. In this episode, we explore: Why agency ownership is a niche within a niche - and why that matters The invisible weight agency owners carry (and why most people don’t see it) How being around the wrong people can slow you down without you realising Why “small fish in a big pond” accelerates growth How proximity changes the level of conversations you’re having We also talk about: How proximity helps raise your standards, without pressure or burnout Why timelines collapse when higher-level decisions are normalised The difference between tactical noise and executive-level thinking How to think about relationships through collaboration, referrals, and clients Why proximity isn’t slimy or salesy, it’s strategic This episode is for agency owners who: feel like they’re carrying big responsibility alone know they’ve outgrown some rooms but aren’t sure what’s next want to grow faster without grinding harder value freedom, scale, and long-term thinking We’re in a time where human proximity matters more than ever. Tune in for a conversation on how to best leverage this.  A x Want More? DM "CEO" on Instagram: @anneliseworn Download the 6-Figure Freelancer Guide: https://a.anneliseworn.com/6ff Book a Free Strategy Call: anneliseworn.com/consult

    19 min

  7. 12/09/2025

    Why You Want A Boring Tech Stack for a Self-Led Agency - Ep. 263

    I know, I know … “tech stack” is not a sexy topic. But it is one of the biggest reasons agencies feel overwhelmed, scattered, and harder to run than they need to be. In this episode, I’m breaking down how we think about tech inside our agency - and why we deliberately choose a boring, low-tech, low-noise stack, even as we scale. This isn’t a list of tools you should copy.It’s a way of thinking about tech that reduces chaos instead of adding to it. In this episode, we talk about: Why more tools usually create more friction, not efficiency The trade-offs we intentionally make to keep things simple The rules we use to decide what stays and what goes Why systems matter more than software The hidden cost of over-engineering your agency I also share: How we separate communication from task execution The non-negotiable rules we run our tools by How we avoid double-handling work What actually needs to be automated — and what doesn’t Why boring tech creates more freedom, not less This episode is for agency owners who: feel like their tools are running them want fewer subscriptions, fewer logins, fewer decisions are ready to simplify without dumbing things down If you’ve been adding tools hoping things would feel easier, this episode will help you pause, reassess, and design a tech stack that actually supports your business (and your life). If you want to talk through simplifying your systems or tightening your operations, you can book a free consult with me and walk away with a clear next step. Want More? DM "CEO" on Instagram: @anneliseworn Download the 6-Figure Freelancer Guide: https://a.anneliseworn.com/6ff Book a Free Strategy Call: anneliseworn.com/consult

    19 min

  8. 12/02/2025

    What Agency Owners Need to Understand About AI in 2026 - Ep. 262

    Depending on who you listen to, AI is either the end of agencies as we know it… or the shortcut to infinite growth. As with most things, the truth usually sits somewhere in the middle. This episode is the grounded, strategic conversation you’ve probably been missing. I’m breaking down what AI really means for marketers, freelancers, and agency owners — where it strengthens your position, where it exposes weaknesses, and how to use it without losing the thing that makes your work valuable. To keep this practical and balanced, I’ve gone old school and used a SWOT framework to cut through the noise and give you real clarity on how to approach AI inside your agency. We cover: Strengths: what AI can’t replace Weaknesses: where marketers become vulnerable Opportunities: where smart agencies win Threats: what’s actually at risk I also go into: What we’re teaching inside Agency Academy How we’re actually using AI in our agency When not to use AI And my predictions on what’s coming next in the AI landscape I can’t wait for you to listen — and I’d love to chat with you on Instagram about your thoughts and how you’re applying this in your own agency. Want More? DM "CEO" on Instagram: @anneliseworn Download the 6-Figure Freelancer Guide: Book a Free Strategy Call: anneliseworn.com/consult

    36 min
See All (268)

About

Welcome to The Podcast — for powerhouse women who want both freedom and profit. This is your space to design a business that fuels your life, not one that consumes it. A world where ambition, motherhood, and wellbeing don’t compete, but coexist. Join Annelise Worn — Agency Founder, Scale Strategist, TEDx speaker, and homeschooling, world travelling mum of four, as she shares the real strategies, systems, and stories behind building a business that runs with fire and flow.

Information