Plan Like A Boss | Planning, Productivity, and Strategy for Entrepreneurs

Tonya
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Entrepreneurship

Plan Like a Boss is your go-to podcast for mastering planning, productivity, and strategy as a solo or small business entrepreneur. Each week, you'll get practical tips and real-life insights to help you set smart goals, manage your time, and grow a business that actually fits your life.

  1. 1d ago

    From Burnout To A Boutique PR Business with Melinda Jackson

    Quitting a “dream job” can look reckless from the outside, but sometimes it’s the most responsible thing you can do for your health, your future, and your sense of self. We sit down with Melinda Jackson, owner of Melinda Jackson Public Relations, to talk about what happens when the glamour of LA entertainment PR collides with real burnout and you decide to start over anyway. Melinda shares the leap that shaped her: moving to Los Angeles with $500, no job, and zero connections, then hustling through internships and side gigs while learning how to build relationships that last. From there, we trace the pivot back to North Carolina, the moment she decides she can build a boutique PR agency on her own, and how she creates “safety scaffolding” with just enough freelance income to cover rent and calm the scarcity mindset. We also get practical about confidence and age. If you’re a woman over 40 rebuilding after a transition, the fear of being behind can get loud. Melinda breaks down how she uses intuition as a business superpower, how to tune out toxic voices, and why you don’t need to follow every trendy “female founder” playbook to succeed. Then we dig into shoestring budget PR: how to shape your pivot story into a clear hook, what to pitch, and why local media can compound into regional and national visibility. If you’re building a second act, this is your reminder that your story is an asset, not a liability. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s starting over, and leave a review if it helps. What’s one leap you’re considering right now? Connect with Melinda Jackson: https://www.melindajacksonpr.com Let's Connect: ✨ Get your free Idea to Income Workbook: https://thesecondactentrepreneur.com/business-idea-validation-workbook ✍️ Sign up for my newsletter: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/WZgVVwhJm3moIYAP6V5i 📸 Follow me on Insta and TikTok @dr.tonyalawson 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-lawson-64779739/

  2. 6d ago

    Stop Feeding The Algorithm Like A Tamagotchi with Jen Mcfarland

    Your marketing can’t be sustainable if it’s built on panic. Tonya sits down with Jen, a marketing strategist and founder of Women Conquer Business, to unpack what ethical, sustainable marketing actually looks like for solopreneurs and small teams who don’t have a full marketing department. We get honest about the shame spiral created by big-brand advice and influencer hype, and we replace it with a calmer approach that still drives real growth. Jen shares how a blunt ClickFunnels review unexpectedly turned into a long-term SEO asset and helped attract the right clients year after year, proving that slow marketing can outperform constant posting. We talk about creating deep, durable content, respecting longer buyer journeys, and using simple marketing metrics and customer conversations to decide what to keep, what to stop, and what to delegate. If you’ve ever felt like you “should” be everywhere, this will feel like a reset. We also dig into why service-based websites are like dating profiles: people are looking for fit, clarity, and proof you’re real, not just a list of services. With AI search accelerating and Google changing fast, we discuss how to build a visibility ecosystem that helps both humans and AI understand what you do, who you help, and why you’re the best match. Social media still matters, but we keep it in its place as one supporting channel, not the center of your whole plan. If you’re ready to grow without burning out or selling out, subscribe, share this with a business friend who’s overwhelmed, and leave a quick review so more people can find the slow marketing path. Connect with Jen: https://www.womenconquerbiz.com/90-day-marketing-plan/ Let's Connect: ✨ Get your free Idea to Income Workbook: https://thesecondactentrepreneur.com/business-idea-validation-workbook ✍️ Sign up for my newsletter: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/WZgVVwhJm3moIYAP6V5i 📸 Follow me on Insta and TikTok @dr.tonyalawson 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-lawson-64779739/

  3. Oct 26

    Save 10 Hours A Week With Systems That Stick

    Your business can look “successful” on paper and still feel like you’re one bad week away from the kitchen floor. Joe Casabona knows that reality firsthand. He shares how a panic attack during the pandemic forced him to rethink everything, and how building simple, reliable systems helped him save 10 to 15 hours a week so he could actually take time off without the business falling apart. We walk through the first moves Joe makes when a solopreneur feels buried: start with the beliefs that keep you stuck, then get honest about where your time goes by tracking a real week. From there, Joe breaks down a clear decision tree for automation vs delegation, including the kinds of tasks that are perfect for tools like Zapier or Make and the work that should stay human. If you’ve ever wondered what to automate, what to hand to a VA, or what only you can do, this framework makes the choice easier. We also get real about AI for solopreneurs. Joe lays out three warning signs of “AI brain rot,” explains why “AI is for tasks, not craft,” and shows how to use large language models without outsourcing your thinking. Expect practical examples for podcast workflows, scheduling, Notion-based planning, and time management, plus a simple “Daily Three” task journaling practice to protect your best hours and reduce overwhelm. If this helps, subscribe, share the episode with a fellow solopreneur, and leave a quick review. What’s the first task you’re going to automate or delegate this week? Connect with Joe: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/ Let's Connect: ✨ Get your free Idea to Income Workbook: https://thesecondactentrepreneur.com/business-idea-validation-workbook ✍️ Sign up for my newsletter: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/WZgVVwhJm3moIYAP6V5i 📸 Follow me on Insta and TikTok @dr.tonyalawson 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-lawson-64779739/

  4. Oct 22

    Curiosity Marketing That Pulls People In - With Emily Aborn

    Your best marketing might not need louder claims, daily reels, or a harder pitch. It might need one thing: curiosity. I’m joined by copywriter Emily Aborn to unpack how curiosity marketing works, why it feels so much more human than “convince and convert,” and how a small shift in what you say and how you say it can keep the right people reading, listening, and reaching out. We get practical about content strategy and social media marketing without the overwhelm. Emily shares how to find the sweet spot between too much information and not enough, why jargon quietly kills engagement, and how to use the exact words your clients use so your messaging lands. We also talk platform choice the smart way: define who you serve, then reverse engineer where they already are. If you’ve felt pressured to be everywhere, you’ll love the idea of three-month experiments and letting data, capacity, and real results guide the plan. From there, we dive into repurposing content and building content clusters so one strong idea can fuel a blog post, email newsletter, LinkedIn post, Instagram content, or a podcast promo without creating 27,000 new things. And because so many of us are building a second act business after a major life transition, we go deeper than tactics into courage, fear tolerance, and the value of grounding and self-soothing when you’re doing the work that matters most. If you’re ready for marketing that feels clear, honest, and effective, listen now, then subscribe, share this with a friend rebuilding her next chapter, and leave a review so more women can find the show. Connect with Emily: https://emilyaborn.com/ Let's Connect: ✨ Get your free Idea to Income Workbook: https://thesecondactentrepreneur.com/business-idea-validation-workbook ✍️ Sign up for my newsletter: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/WZgVVwhJm3moIYAP6V5i 📸 Follow me on Insta and TikTok @dr.tonyalawson 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-lawson-64779739/

  5. Oct 13

    When The Market Becomes Your Mentor with Ash Fox

    A marriage proposal lasts a few seconds, but the planning behind it can be a full blown production. We sit down with Ash Fox, a New York City based proposal planner who started as a freelance photographer and accidentally discovered a niche that kept knocking on her door. What began with photographing one proposal turned into a proposal planning business that helps thousands of couples create an unforgettable “yes” moment with locations, private venues, flowers, decor, musicians, photo and video, and a calm expert guiding every step. We get into the real mechanics of building a service business when there is no playbook. Ash explains how she used client feedback to shape her offers, why “the niche chose me” is more than a cute phrase, and how she thinks about value, quality, and repeatable results. We also talk about the parts people skip: burnout, the pressure of being the one woman show, and how COVID created a reset that made the old pace impossible to return to. You will hear exactly how she tested stepping back from being on site by training a lead, building systems, and creating pricing tiers that serve different budgets without sacrificing the look and feel of the experience. If you are a solopreneur trying to validate an idea, her practical advice is simple and sharp: pick a number like 10 customers, test it quickly, collect honest feedback, and iterate. Subscribe for more founder stories, share this with a friend building a business, and leave a review so more creatives can find the show. What idea are you ready to test on 10 customers? Let's Connect: ✨ Get your free Idea to Income Workbook: https://thesecondactentrepreneur.com/business-idea-validation-workbook ✍️ Sign up for my newsletter: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/WZgVVwhJm3moIYAP6V5i 📸 Follow me on Insta and TikTok @dr.tonyalawson 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-lawson-64779739/

  6. Oct 2

    If AI Can Copy Your Website, What Can’t It Copy About You?

    AI can crank out a website overnight, but it can’t manufacture trust, reputation, or the one thing that makes clients say, “I want to work with you.” That’s why we sit down with Kelly Shukneck, a marketing strategist and thought leadership expert, to get practical about personal branding that actually drives opportunities instead of just adding noise. Kelly shares her “Authority X Factor” approach for uncovering the unique mix of skills and experience you’ve probably been taking for granted. We talk about her journey from publishing to leading marketing for a fast-growing firm, then building Two Mile High Marketing after a layoff. Along the way, we dig into the real reason talented professionals stay “hidden,” and how to step into visibility without feeling fake, loud, or salesy. We also unpack Kelly’s three-pillar framework for building a strong thought leadership platform: visibility (show up where your audience already is), credibility (prove you can deliver with stories, results, and case studies), and consistency (create a cadence you can actually sustain). If you’re a solopreneur or service provider juggling client work, we cover planning tactics like overblocking your calendar, batching content, and building a buffer so life disruptions don’t wipe out your momentum. If you want a clearer message, a stronger LinkedIn and podcast presence, and a personal brand that differentiates you in a crowded market, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s trying to get seen, and leave a review so more professionals can find the show. Let's Connect: ✨ Get your free Idea to Income Workbook: https://thesecondactentrepreneur.com/business-idea-validation-workbook ✍️ Sign up for my newsletter: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/WZgVVwhJm3moIYAP6V5i 📸 Follow me on Insta and TikTok @dr.tonyalawson 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-lawson-64779739/

  7. Sep 25

    The Influencer Marketing Strategy Small Brands Are MissingUntitled Episode

    Think influencer marketing is only for big brands with massive marketing budgets? Think again. In this episode of Plan Like a Boss, Tonya Lawson sits down with Sherri Lambert, founder of BabbleBoxx, to talk about how influencer marketing has evolved—and why small businesses and solopreneurs have more opportunities than ever to tap into the power of creators. Sherri was working in traditional marketing when she recognized the potential of bloggers and digital creators long before “influencer marketing” became the industry it is today. That insight eventually led her to build BabbleBoxx, an influencer marketing agency that helps brands connect with consumers through authentic creator partnerships. In this conversation, Sherri shares practical advice for businesses that want to experiment with influencer marketing without spending thousands of dollars. She explains why smaller creators can sometimes be more valuable than influencers with massive audiences, how to find potential partners among the people who already love your brand, and the red flags businesses should watch for when working with creators. They also dive into the changing relationship between influencers, affiliate marketing, AI, and brand partnerships—and why Sherri believes the future of influencer marketing isn't simply about getting someone to post about your product. It's about using creator content strategically across your entire business. In this episode, you'll learn: • How influencer marketing evolved from the early blogging era • Why small businesses don't need huge budgets to work with creators • How to find influencers who are already fans of your brand • Why micro and nano influencers can have incredibly valuable audiences • Red flags to watch for when choosing influencer partnerships • How affiliate relationships can help businesses test influencer marketing • Ways to repurpose creator content across social media, email, sales, and more • How AI can help creators evaluate and negotiate brand partnerships • Where Sherri believes influencer marketing is headed next Whether you're a business owner wondering if influencer marketing is worth testing or a creator looking for more brand opportunities, this conversation will help you understand how to build partnerships that make sense for both sides. Subscribe to Plan Like a Boss for more conversations about entrepreneurship, marketing, business growth, and building a business on your own terms. Connect with Sherri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherri-langburt/ Let's Connect: ✨ Get your free Idea to Income Workbook: https://thesecondactentrepreneur.com/business-idea-validation-workbook ✍️ Sign up for my newsletter: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/WZgVVwhJm3moIYAP6V5i 📸 Follow me on Insta and TikTok @dr.tonyalawson 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-lawson-64779739/

  8. Sep 10

    Your Business Can’t Grow If You Do Everything Yourself

    Resumes don’t tell you who someone is when the pressure hits, and that’s where most hiring advice falls apart. We sit down with Renee Hastings, president and CEO of Executive Help Now, to talk about what actually makes a virtual assistant relationship work: values alignment, clear communication, and the courage to delegate before you burn out. Renee shares her journey from being raised in an Amish community in Wisconsin with an uncompromising work ethic, to supporting C-suite leaders at Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, to building a virtual assistant agency that helps busy founders get their lives back. We dig into the real reasons delegation feels terrifying, fear of losing control, perfectionism, and the worry that mistakes will reflect on you. Then we get practical: what to delegate first (email, calendar, recurring client needs), how to stop expecting your assistant to be a mind reader, and how to onboard well by sharing context, priorities, and introductions to key stakeholders. If you’re a solopreneur who thinks you can’t afford help, we break down fractional back office support and why even 20 hours a month can create leverage. You’ll leave with a simple reset plan: breathe, do a quick time analysis, write a “never again” list, and use it to start a clear conversation about budget and support. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s drowning in admin work, and leave a review with the one task you’re finally ready to hand off. More About Renee: https://executivehelpnow.aflip.in/whatcanavadoforyou.html Let's Connect: ✨ Get your free Idea to Income Workbook: https://thesecondactentrepreneur.com/business-idea-validation-workbook ✍️ Sign up for my newsletter: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/WZgVVwhJm3moIYAP6V5i 📸 Follow me on Insta and TikTok @dr.tonyalawson 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-lawson-64779739/

See All (62)

Trailer

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Plan Like a Boss is your go-to podcast for mastering planning, productivity, and strategy as a solo or small business entrepreneur. Each week, you'll get practical tips and real-life insights to help you set smart goals, manage your time, and grow a business that actually fits your life.

Information