Debunking the January 1st Myth: Gentle Planning for a New Year

In this episode of Doing Business Gently, we're tackling the pressure of having everything planned out by January 1st.

The push and the rush to end the year strong AND start the new year running, undermines the joy of the holiday season. I want to invite you to consider a different way, a gentler approach to business planning.

We are going to look at how to start the year out from a place of rest and intention.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:25 Debunking the January 1st Myth 01:26 The Pressure of Year-End Planning 05:15 The Cost of Toxic Hustle 06:50 Planning from Rest 09:45 Introducing January Planuary 14:10 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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You don’t need another planner, you need permission to pause. January Planuary is a peaceful, gentle planning experience designed to help Christian women entrepreneurs start their year with clarity, confidence, and alignment, without the pressure to hustle or rush. Because your best year begins with rest. Save your spot at https://SelahStudios.co/januaryplanuary

In this episode, we're talking about the heart behind The Gentle Business Rebellion. We'll dive into why it exists, who it’s for, and how it helps midlife women entrepreneurs rediscover clarity, alignment, and a life-first way of doing business. If you’ve been feeling stuck, stretched thin, or unsure of what’s next… this is your invitation to begin your own gentle rebellion.

• Why gentleness is actually a strength, not weakness

• What it means to start an internal business pivot

• How rest becomes the starting point for clarity and direction

• Why so many women 50+ are craving a new way of doing business

• The three pillars of a Gentle Business Rebellion

00:00 – What Is a Gentle Business Rebellion? Why this idea surfaced during a challenging caregiving season and why it resonates with midlife women entrepreneurs.

02:30 – Gentle Does Not Mean Weak How lived experience, empathy, and introversion create a strong, quiet form of leadership.

04:30 – When the Shoulds Stop Working Why traditional online business advice often leads to misalignment, overwhelm, and stuckness.

07:00 – The Internal Business Pivot Understanding how identity shifts influence the next chapter of your business and why your definition of success evolves.

10:00 – It Starts With Rest A phrase received on a morning walk that reframed the entire rebellion — and why rest is the foundation of clarity.

12:30 – Doing Business Gently Letting go of noisy marketing, embracing intentional action, and finding ways to show up that match your personality and season.

14:30 – The Three Pillars: Community, Conversation, Coaching Why you can’t (and shouldn’t) do this work alone — and how supportive spaces accelerate clarity and confidence.

• Episode 93: "Line in the Sand Moments"

Ever feel like your business, and life, are tangled up in endless “shoulds” you can’t possibly keep up with? What if the real success comes from breaking those rules, setting boundaries, and choosing what truly fits your season of life?

This episode, I'm getting real about stepping back after a tough stretch of extreme caregiving, letting go of business guilt, and emerging with a new idea I'm excited about: the "Gentle Business Rebellion". I'm talking about how prioritizing family, health, and rest can lead you to a more impactful (and sustainable) business, and why that rebellious act might be exactly what you need.

If you’ve ever wished for permission to do business differently, and gently, this one’s for you.

1:05 – Why “shoulds” sabotage your business (and sanity)

4:51 – What is a Gentle Business Rebellion, really?

8:00 – Why putting family first is sometimes the bravest business move

10:39 – How to create boundaries and still serve clients well

12:28 – Signs you’re ready for a business pivot (and how to gently make one) Another episode you might enjoy:

Why You Feel Stuck in Your Business (& Why It’s Not Your Fault)

Are you waking up feeling like your business is wearing you instead of the other way around? In this episode, I share why many women entrepreneurs outgrow their businesses without realizing it. I explain the difference between temporary stuckness and when you need a full reset. Plus, I introduce my Rediscover, Redefine, Realign™ framework that can help you move forward again.

What you'll learn:

• The two types of "stuckness" and how to tell them apart
• Why feeling stuck is often a sign of growth, not failure
• Common mistakes we make when trying to fix our misaligned businesses
• How to recognize when you've outgrown your business model

Important Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Introduction and my personal experience
• 00:02:19 "What got you here won't get you there"
• 00:02:40 Two types of stuckness explained
• 00:05:55 Common misdiagnoses of business problems
• 00:09:51 Understanding the alignment gap
• 00:12:20 Signs you've outgrown your business
• 00:15:40 Introduction to the Rediscover, Redefine, Realign framework
• 00:19:54 Invitation to connect

Links & Resources:

• Connect with me on Instagram: https://Instagram.com/martagoerzen
• Visit my website: https://SelahStudios.co/
• Blog Post & Transcript: https://SelahStudios.co/92

Have you been doing self-care all wrong? Buckle up for a game-changing conversation about what truly caring for yourself looks like.

In this episode, I'm getting real about self-care—and why our Pinterest-perfect ideas might be totally missing the point. If you're a woman entrepreneur who's tired of feeling burnt out, this episode is your roadmap to a gentler way of taking care of yourself.

• Why self-care isn't another item on your to-do list
• Simple ways to listen to what your body really needs
• How paying attention can prevent entrepreneurial burnout
• Practical, no-fuss strategies for nurturing yourself

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:02:29 What self-care really means
• 00:05:13 Why self-care is a necessity, not a luxury
• 00:08:39 Redefining self-care in practical terms
• 00:14:38 Simple ways to practice self-care

• Dr. Sandra Dalton Smith's work on seven types of rest: Rest Quiz - https://www.restquiz.com/quiz/rest-quiz-test/
• Blog Post & Transcript: https://SelahStudios.co/91

• Website: https://SelahStudios.co
• Instagram: https://Instargram.com/martagoertzen

Ready to transform how you think about self-care? Listen now and give yourself permission to breathe.

Do you find personal branding overwhelming? In this episode, I share my approach to personal branding for gentle businesses. I explain why personal branding doesn't have to feel heavy or complicated. Instead, it can be an authentic way to connect with your audience.

You'll learn my four-part framework for creating a personal brand that aligns with who you are and the gentle business you want to build. I also reveal the biggest mistake most entrepreneurs and graphic designers make when it comes to branding (hint: it's about where they start the process).

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why understanding your core identity is the first step to authentic branding
• How to connect with your audience by understanding their journey
• Ways to communicate that feel natural to you
• Why visuals should support, not lead, your brand strategy

00:00:00 What personal branding truly means for gentle businesses

00:02:51 The four key components of a personal brand

00:03:47 Step 1: Core Identity - Understanding who you are

00:06:22 Step 2: Audience Identity - Understanding who you serve

00:08:58 Step 3: Connection Identity - How you naturally communicate

00:12:44 Step 4: Visual Identity - Supporting your brand story

00:15:53 Recap of the four steps

00:16:42 Business personality quiz offer

• Business Personality Quiz: https://SelahStudios.co/quiz
• Simon Sinek's "Start with Why" book: https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447
• Blog & Transcript: https://SelahStudios.co/90

Ever feel like your business is too noisy? Learn how to "hush" it just like you would a cluttered room.

In this episode, we explore the concept of "business hushing" - a simple but powerful way to deal with recurring overwhelm in your business. Just like decluttering a room can bring peace to your home, quieting different aspects of your business can help you regain clarity and calm. I'll walk you through practical steps you can take today to start reducing the noise in your business life.

What You'll Learn:

• How to identify and reduce sources of "noise" in your business
• Simple steps to evaluate what's really necessary in your business
• Ways to prevent overwhelm from coming back
• How to create a more peaceful work environment

Resources Mentioned:

• Weekly Reset Routine Mini Workshop: https://SelahStudios.co/weeklyreset
• Myquillin Smith's - "House Hushing And Why You Need It"
• Blog Post & Transcript: https://SelahStudios.co/89

Connect With Me:

- Instagram: https://instagram.com/martagoertzen

- Website: https://SelahStudios.co

Key Timestamps:

00:00:21 Introduction to business hushing concept

00:07:30 Why occasional overwhelm isn't the real problem

00:09:11 Step 1: Reducing digital noise through unsubscribe mission

00:11:43 Step 2: Evaluating your business finances and subscriptions

00:13:47 Step 3: Reviewing your client list

00:16:46 Optional steps for dealing with chronic overwhelm

Feeling stuck and overwhelmed in your business? You're not alone.

In this episode, we tackle the common problem of feeling overwhelmed as a business owner. Many entrepreneurs struggle with too many tasks, endless to-do lists, and the pressure to keep all the plates spinning. I’m sharing four simple, practical ways to handle overwhelm when it hits - AND... these techniques take just minutes to use.

**What You'll Learn:**

- How to spot the early warning signs of overwhelm before it takes over

- A simple breathing technique that can calm your mind in seconds

- Why pen-and-paper brain dumps work better than digital lists

- How to break free from overwhelm using small, manageable steps

**Links & Resources Mentioned:**

- Weekly Reset Routine Mini Workshop: https://SelahStudios.co/weeklyreset

- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/martagoertzen

- Blog Post: https://SelahStudios.co/88

**Key Timestamps:**

00:00:00 Introduction and common signs of overwhelm

00:06:04 Step 1: Taking care of yourself through breathing and breaks

00:09:58 Step 2: How to do an effective brain dump

00:12:48 Step 3: Starting with small, manageable tasks

00:13:36 Step 4: Celebrating progress and evaluating triggers

00:16:58 Information about the Weekly Reset Routine Workshop