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 who want to grow their businesses without sacrificing their values, creativity, or capacity. I’m Jacki Hayes: systems strategist, unapologetic smutty romantasy fan, and D&D geek. Around here, we get real about what it actually takes to build a business that fits your life. Every episode offers something to take with you — sometimes through conversations with values-driven founders, sometimes through solo episodes where I dig into the lessons I’m learning inside my own business. We explore the choices we’re testing, the questions that create clarity, the experiments that move us forward, and the systems that stay simple on purpose. If you value integrity, curiosity, 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. 3D AGO

    Intentional Engagement Experiment: The Halfway Mark

    Send a text Six weeks into the 90 day Intentional Engagement Experiment, I have a surprising update: Instagram is the hardest platform for me to consistently have real conversations on right now. Between ads, suggested content, and the “either I only see my favorites or I see Unstable Unicorns ads” problem, it is tougher to stay focused on the people I actually want to build relationships with. In this halfway mark check-in, I share what is working better (hi, LinkedIn and Threads), how I am defining a meaningful conversation for this experiment, and the simple tracking system I built in Airtable to keep the whole thing grounded in reality. Topics: What “intentional engagement” means in this experiment (and what doesn't count)Why Instagram has been the most difficult place to engage consistentlyWhy LinkedIn and Threads have been easier for actual conversationHow seasonality and real life impacted the experiment (and why that still counts)The Airtable Conversation Tracker system I am using to log interactions and follow upsThe next piece I am building: a weekly rhythm for engagement that does not rely on scrolling  Mentioned in the episode: Jessica Lackey, Deeper Foundations membership: DeeperfoundationsMembership | Deeper Foundations — Deeper Foundations The Intentional Engagement Experiment: Tracking Conversations That Grow Your Business  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

    10 min

  2. FEB 3

    The Image Title SEO Experiment: A Simple Tweak for Your Website

    Send us a text How much of your SEO is hiding in plain sight... inside your images? In this episode of Here’s What I Learned, I’m joined by SEO strategist Brittany Herzberg for a real-time experiment: what happens when you stop uploading “IMG4532” and start treating image titles like actual search signals. We get into how Google reads your image file names, what to name them (without turning into a keyword-stuffing goblin), and how to track whether the changes are working using Google Search Console. If you’re a creative service provider who’s sitting on a backlog of blog graphics, portfolio images, or content assets, this is one of those “small change, big ripple” conversations. In this episode, we cover: Why image titles matter for SEO (and why “IMG_4532” is not helping you)How one quick rename can get you showing up in Google Image resultsA simple way to decide what to name imagesKeyword research that does not require a 12-tab spiralA practical guideline for image naming length, plus why hyphens matterWhen to use location keywords (and why consistency matters)How long to run the experiment and what to track so you actually know if it workedI’m renaming image titles across my site using Brittany’s approach, then tracking results in Google Search Console for 1 to 2 months. I’ll add my baseline notes and updates after the fact.   You can find Brittany at: Website: brittanyherzberg.comInstagram: @brittany_herzbergThreads: @brittany_herzbergThe Basic B podcast  Mentioned in the episode: Google Search Console (and the “Insights” tab)Ubersuggest (free Chrome extension)Keysearch (use code KSDISC for 20% off)The Energetics & Intention Behind Your SEO Strategy podcast episode  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 friendThis podcast is powered by curiosity—and by listeners like you. Support future episodes at ko-fi.com/jackihayesFollow me on Instagram at @jackihayes_obm  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.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

    22 min

  3. JAN 27

    The Time Tracking Experiment: What Your Hourly Rate Really Is

    Send us a text In this episode, I’m joined by Jayci Trujillo, founder of Happy Girl Marketing, for a very practical experiment that sounds simple and gets uncomfortable fast… tracking time. Jayci is in a growth season. More clients, a growing team, bigger decisions. And like a lot of service business owners, she realized she was making those decisions without really knowing where her time was going or what her actual hourly rate looked like once everything was counted. So we designed an experiment. For at least two weeks, Jayci is tracking every part of her workday. Not just client work, but the context switching, the quick check-ins, the strategy time, the things that quietly eat up hours without showing a clear return. We talk about why most business owners underestimate how much they’re working, how tracking time can surface what is no longer worth your energy, and why this kind of data makes scaling decisions clearer instead of heavier. If you’ve ever felt busy without being sure what’s actually moving the needle, this episode gives you a grounded place to start noticing. Topics covered: Why tracking time is essential during growth and scaling seasonsWhat your real hourly rate reveals once everything is countedHow context switching impacts focus and decision-makingChoosing tools that make time tracking realistic, not rigidHow to use time data to decide what to automate, outsource, or let go You can find Jayci Trujillo at: Website: Happy Girl Marketing Co Instagram: InstagramLogin • Instagram 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 friendThis podcast is powered by curiosity—and by listeners like you. Support future episodes at ko-fi.com/jackihayesFollow me on Instagram at @jackihayes_obm  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.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

    11 min

  4. JAN 20

    The Group Onboarding Experiment: What Happens When You Scale Past 1:1

    Send a text Onboarding one client is one thing. Onboarding a group is an entirely different experiment.  In this episode, I’m joined again by Bridget Baker to unpack what really happens when you try to onboard a group program in a way that feels inclusive, clear, and genuinely supportive without turning yourself into a full-time concierge.  Bridget shares what she learned from running her virtual writing retreat, including where things broke down, what surprised her, and how her expectations shifted around tools, timelines, and participant behavior. We talk honestly about Slack resistance, missed emails, manual workarounds, and why “just doing what works for you” often falls apart at scale.  This conversation is about letting go of perfection, designing for real humans with different preferences, and treating your business like a series of experiments instead of a fixed system you have to get right the first time. Topics covered: Why group onboarding requires a fundamentally different approach than 1:1 onboardingThe hidden risks of manual processes when managing multiple participantsDesigning onboarding that works across different tools, learning styles, and comfort levelsManaging expectations without forcing everyone into the same containerHow small onboarding gaps compound in short-term programsTreating every launch as an experiment you can learn from and refine  You can find Bridget at: Website: bridgetbakerbranding Instagram: @bridgetbakerbranding   Mentioned in the episode: Running a Location Independent Business with Bridget Baker     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 friendThis podcast is powered by curiosity—and by listeners like you. Support future episodes at ko-fi.com/jackihayesFollow me on Instagram at @jackihayes_obm  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.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

    20 min
  5. The Intentional Engagement Experiment: Tracking Conversations That Grow Your Business

    JAN 13

    The Intentional Engagement Experiment: Tracking Conversations That Grow Your Business

    Send us a text What happens when you stop letting good conversations get buried in your DMs and actually start paying attention to them? In this episode, I’m joined by Jayci Trujillo of Happy Girl Marketing to kick off Season 10’s first experiment: intentional engagement. We’re talking about tracking conversations on purpose, not to be salesy or weird, but to understand what’s actually helping your business grow. We dig into why being strategic about conversations doesn’t cancel out being human, how tracking helps you stop losing connections you genuinely care about, and why relying on memory or the algorithm is a losing game. I also share why this experiment hits one of my biggest avoidance patterns and what I’m hoping to learn by committing to it for 90 days.  If you want more clarity around where leads, collaborations, and opportunities actually come from, this experiment is for you.   What We Covered: What intentional engagement actually looks like in a real businessWhy tracking conversations doesn’t have to feel transactionalWhich conversations are worth tracking, even when they start casuallyHow tracking helps you see patterns in leads and opportunitiesWhat I’m testing in my 90-day intentional engagement experiment  Jayci Trujillo is the founder of Happy Girl Marketing, a boutique social media agency helping business owners reconnect with social media in a way that feels fun, human, and sustainable.  You can find Jayci at: Website: happygirlmarketingco.com Instagram: @happygirlmarketingco   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 friendThis podcast is powered by curiosity—and by listeners like you. Support future episodes at ko-fi.com/jackihayes  Say hi! Follow me on Instagram at @jackihayes_obm  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.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

    19 min
  6. Every Launch Is an Experiment: What I Learned From a Zero-Signup Workshop

    JAN 6

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

    Send us a text This 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 About Why 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 matters What I’m Testing Next I’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 Resonated I’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.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

    9 min

  7. TRAILER

    Season 10 Trailer

    Send us a text Welcome 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.

    1 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    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 through collaboration and care.   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)

    23 min
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Welcome to Here’s What I Learned — the podcast for progressive entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses without sacrificing their values, creativity, or capacity. I’m Jacki Hayes: systems strategist, unapologetic smutty romantasy fan, and D&D geek. Around here, we get real about what it actually takes to build a business that fits your life. Every episode offers something to take with you — sometimes through conversations with values-driven founders, sometimes through solo episodes where I dig into the lessons I’m learning inside my own business. We explore the choices we’re testing, the questions that create clarity, the experiments that move us forward, and the systems that stay simple on purpose. If you value integrity, curiosity, 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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