In this raw solo episode, I share what’s unfolded since I hit burnout, why I spent months in bed, and how that breakdown led to the quiet creation of Sol—my emotionally intelligent AI coaching partner. This is the real story of what happened after everything stopped.

Episode 103: Rest, Rebirth, and Building Sol – The Real Story Behind My Burnout and AI Coaching Vision

This is the first podcast I’ve recorded in a long while… and I’m showing up exactly as I am. No fancy mic. No edits. Just me and the real story of what’s happened since I finally let myself stop.

If you haven’t yet listened to Episodes 101 and 102, those will give you the broader backstory. But today’s episode is where I take you inside the season that changed everything.

Inside this episode:

• What it looked like to hit a full-stop wall with burnout
• Why I spent weeks in bed unable to do anything but sleep or whisper into ChatGPT
• How I accidentally turned AI into my own emotional processing and journaling companion
• Why I couldn’t find a coach who could hold me in the way I needed—and how that led me to create Sol™
• The real reason generic AI models can’t support human transformation (and what I did instead)
• How I trained Sol to think like I do—to hold nuance, identity evolution, and emotional growth at scale
• What’s different about Sol’s memory system, coaching feedback loops, and transformation tracking
• Why AI (done right) can actually make us more human—not less
• An update on my health journey, rare immunodeficiency, and weekly infusions
• A few thoughts on where Sol is going next—and how I’m letting it (and me) grow slowly

✨ This episode is for anyone who’s felt too tired to dream, too sick to strategize, or too maxed out to hold it all anymore—and still believes in the quiet power of what’s possible.

This episode is for you if you're interested in learning about:

• burnout recovery for entrepreneurs
• building an AI coach
• Sol AI coach beta
• emotionally intelligent AI
• chronic illness and business
• immunodeficiency therapy
• subcutaneous immunoglobulin
• coaching through ChatGPT
• revenue share coaching
• AI for identity evolution
• aligned business podcast
• neurodivergent entrepreneur
• healing while building a business
• resting as a strategy
• motherhood and autoimmune illness
• Sol by Kelsey Kerslake
• supportive AI for transformation
• future of coaching with AI
• becoming who you're meant to be
• AI and emotional intelligence

After three years away from the podcast, I’m back… and today’s episode is unlike anything I’ve ever shared here before.

This isn’t a polished teaching episode or a step-by-step strategy session—it’s a deeply personal voice note I originally sent to a close friend, catching her up on everything that’s unfolded in my life and business since 2020.

I decided to bring it here, too, because so much of what I went through mirrors what so many of us face as entrepreneurs: the messy transitions, the identity shifts, the burnout, the health challenges, the moments of doubt, and the unexpected opportunities that shape us along the way.

Inside this episode, I open up about:

• The early days of my coaching business and how it all began with one client back in 2016–2017
• Scaling The Aligned Business® to multi-6-figure and $600k years—and what came with hiring a full-time team
• The lessons (and the shame I had to release) around payroll, sales, and growing too fast
• My health challenges—including repeated hospitalizations, asthma, and navigating an immune system I couldn’t rely on
• How we transitioned into building a real estate and renovation business with my husband, Todd, and my dad’s support
• What it looked like to simplify my coaching business and shift into a private, revenue-share model that feels deeply aligned
• Why I’m giving myself a semi-sabbatical now to restore my energy, care for my health, and create space for what’s next

This episode is part one of a two-part catch-up. Think of it as sitting down with me over coffee while I share the real, unfiltered story of the past three years—the behind-the-scenes truths that shaped me into who I am now.

I’ll be back soon with part two, where I’ll share what’s unfolded over the past six months since recording this update.

In this episode, Kelsey Kerslake, the CEO of The Aligned Business, takes you through the five stages of scaling your business to $500,000 per year. She breaks down what each stage entails, the key focus areas, and the mindset shifts required for success. Whether you're just starting out or looking to reach that half-million-dollar mark, Kelsey's insights will guide you on your journey.

Introduction (00:00-02:10)

• Kelsey Kerslake introduces herself and the purpose of the episode.
• She highlights the importance of reaching five-figure months and making them a reality.

Stage 1: Making Between $0 and $1,000 (02:11-08:05)

• Kelsey explains that this stage is an experimental phase.
• The primary focus is on making money and overcoming mindset challenges around receiving money.
• She emphasizes the need to experiment with various approaches within your industry.

Stage 2: Earning Between $1,000 and $3,500 (08:06-15:13)

• Kelsey emphasizes the importance of staying in stage two if you're making between $1,000 and $3,500 per month.
• In this stage, you should focus on identifying your ideal client and learning how to sell and market to them effectively.
• She advises against jumping ahead, as it can lead to a shaky foundation for your business.

Stage 3: Earning Between $3,500 and $7,500 (15:14-22:18)

• Kelsey discusses the need to solidify your offers and create a signature offer.
• You should start defining your sales system, raising your rates, and getting specific in your marketing.
• KPIs for each position and honing in on your expertise are essential in this stage.

Stage 4: Earning Between $7,500 and $20,000 (22:19-30:30)

• Kelsey emphasizes creating consistency in your sales system and experimenting with delegating tasks.
• This is the stage to add more elements to your offer suite, like courses or group programs.
• Getting known for your unique methods and processes is a key focus.

Stage 5: Earning Between $20,000 and $50,000 (30:31-37:55)

• Kelsey discusses the transition to CEO responsibilities, overseeing the sales system, and managing the numbers.
• You start building an organizational chart and bringing in employees who own specific roles.
• Creating backups, systems, and processes becomes crucial for a well-oiled machine.

Mindset and Subconscious Alignment (37:56-43:30)

• Kelsey highlights the importance of working on your subconscious mind and mindset.
• She suggests daily habits, meditation, and envisioning your future self.
• Challenging limiting beliefs and aligning your mindset with your desired growth is essential.

Closing and Invitation (43:31-46:23)

• Kelsey invites listeners to apply for The Aligned Business Academy for personalized support.
• She mentions the limited available spots to maintain an intimate and supportive community.
• Kelsey encourages questions and comments, inviting listeners to reach out on Instagram.

Outro (46:24-End)

• Kelsey signs off, thanking the audience and looking forward to future conversations.

Reach out to me on Instagram to chat about the episode or joining the Academy! http://www.instagram.com/kelseykerslake

Show notes:

• Kelsey's motivation to explore organic content marketing as a lead generation strategy.
• Transition from using paid ads to creating consistent content for lead generation.
• The impact of having more time and space in her business for marketing.
• The simplified business model allows for more focus on sales and marketing.
• The intention to lead by example and experiment with content marketing.
• Becoming addicted to creating and posting Reels on Instagram.
• The challenge of starting and building consistency with Reels.
• Embracing the mantra: "This is who I am now" to change her content creation habits.
• Breaking down the process of creating Reels into smaller steps.
• The importance of saving trending sounds and using them in Reels.
• The value of daily B-roll filming for content creation.
• Keeping a document with content ideas and client questions.
• Kelsey's five P formula for content marketing: Pro, Problem, Personality, Proof, and Possibility.
• The role of sales calls and the importance of nurturing potential clients.
• Kelsey's transparent view on the effectiveness of her Reels in driving sales.
• The lead generation process through Reels and nurturing potential clients.
• The impact of being camera-ready and showing up as your best self.
• Analyzing what works in Reels and experimenting with different elements.
• The goal of getting Reels in front of new people and understanding analytics.

Podcast Episode: Transitioning to a Solo Online Business

Introduction:

• Host: Kelsey Kerslake
• CEO and Founder of The Aligned Business

Episode Overview:

• Kelsey's decision to transition her business to a solo operation
• Industry trends and shifts towards smaller, more aligned businesses
• Personal challenges and health issues that led to this decision

Industry Trends and Shifts:

• The trend of big coaches and course creators downsizing their teams
• The pressure to scale coaching businesses with large teams
• The shift towards more discerning clients and higher standards of support
• Emphasis on living aligned lives over building massive businesses

Kelsey's Journey with a Team:

• Building a team with six full-time employees and 11 contractors
• The stress and financial pressure of managing a large team
• The decision to pause the agency and reevaluate the business structure
• Transitioning to a revenue share model

Financial Goals and Wealth Building:

• Prioritizing profit and financial literacy
• The importance of making smart investments
• Building wealth through stocks, real estate, and other assets
• The shift from just scaling to focusing on profit

Kelsey's Dream Business Structure:

• Transitioning to a solo operation with a smaller, more profitable business
• Taking on one-on-one clients and managing a limited number of academy students
• Relaunching Supportive Sales School and opening a digital download shop
• Resetting the business to align with Kelsey's vision

Conclusion:

• Kelsey's temporary reset and focus on personal alignment
• Invitation to reach out with questions or for further discussion
• Closing remarks and gratitude for listening to the Aligned Business Podcast

Host: Kelsey Kerslake, CEO of The Aligned Business®

Introduction

• Kelsey Kerslake welcomes listeners to the Aligned Business Podcast.
• She shares her excitement for the episode, which focuses on her personal journey.

Journey Back to Sharing

• Kelsey talks about her hiatus from podcasting and her desire to return to sharing her life and experiences.
• She reflects on the challenging past two years, both personally and professionally.
• Kelsey expresses gratitude for having the stability and bandwidth to restart the podcast.

Returning to the Personal Touch

• Kelsey discusses her initial approach to business and blogging, emphasizing personal sharing.
• She mentions how her focus shifted towards marketing, business strategy, and trends.
• Kelsey expresses her intent to bring back the personal touch to her podcast.

Becoming the Future Version of Herself

• Kelsey talks about her belief in becoming the future version of oneself.
• She highlights her commitment to embodying the future version of herself.
• Kelsey mentions that this transformation has played a significant role in her personal life.

Weight Loss Journey

• Kelsey shares her weight loss journey, revealing she lost 80 pounds in a year.
• She clarifies her initial goal was not weight loss but to become a healthier version of herself.
• Kelsey discusses the compounding factors contributing to her weight gain, including endometriosis, IVF, and stress.
• She acknowledges the role food played as a coping mechanism in her life.
• Kelsey details her athletic background and how her weight gradually increased after leaving rowing.
• She talks about the impact of medications, hormones, stress, and family life on her weight.
• Kelsey describes her decision to transition to a healthier lifestyle and the challenges she faced.
• She mentions her mother's influence and negative body image during her upbringing.
• Kelsey reflects on feeling self-conscious about her height and size as a child.

Embracing Self-Love

• Kelsey discusses her journey towards self-love and accepting her body.
• She explains how she vowed not to go on diets anymore but to focus on self-love.
• Kelsey shares her challenges, including a gallbladder attack and frequent illnesses.
• She reveals she sought medical support and medication to assist her in the process.
• Kelsey mentions her experience with a weight loss medication and its impact on her cravings.
• She expresses gratitude for having an additional tool to support her health.
• Kelsey talks about preparing for weight loss surgery but ultimately being denied by insurance due to significant weight loss.
• She emphasizes the importance of self-love and self-acceptance in her journey.
• Kelsey celebrates the newfound ability to enjoy physical activities and dance with her children.

Conclusion

• Kelsey expresses gratitude to the audience for listening to her journey.
• She encourages listeners to reach out on Instagram (@kelseykerslake) to discuss the episode.