• Episode 74: Finding Your Middle Ground: Social Media Strategy, Seasons of Life & The 5 C’s with Ruthie Sterrett
    2025/12/09

    Are you stuck between the girl boss hustle and the soft life era, wondering how you’re supposed to show up online while also raising tiny humans and running a real business?

    In this episode, Ashley sits down with social media strategist and host of The Consistency Corner, Ruthie Sterrett, for part two of their conversation on content, consistency, and marketing in the messy middle of motherhood and entrepreneurship.

    They talk about late school drop-offs, babies who need emergency baths before recordings, and the pressure to “should” all over your marketing… and then shift into a grounded plan for building a social media strategy that actually supports your business goals without burning you out.

    You’ll hear about:

    • Why social media alone is not a strategy (and what to focus on instead)

    • How to define the job of your social platforms so you can ignore the noise

    • Ruthie’s 5 C’s framework for consistent marketing in busy seasons

    • Top, middle, and bottom of funnel content (and where Instagram fits)

    • How to measure success beyond likes and viral moments

    • What to outsource when you’re tired of doing it all yourself

    This conversation is especially for founders who serve moms, creative entrepreneurs, and anyone tired of trying to keep up with every trend while juggling real life.

    🎧 Start with part one over on The Consistency Corner, then pop back here for part two. Find + Connect with Ruthie: www.theconsistencycorner.com https://www.instagram.com/theconsistencycorner/ https://www.instagram.com/ruthie.sterrett/ Networking for Founders serving moms in business

    Our Website:

    www.themonarchdesign.co

    The Monarch Experience

    VIP Days

    Freebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva Templates

    Instagram:

    @monarchdesignco

    @selfmadelifepodcast

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    36 分
  • Episode 73: How I Stopped Undercharging and Started Running a Real Business Lesson 3 of 7
    2025/12/02

    Struggling with your pricing? Feeling stretched thin but still worried about raising your rates? This episode is going to hit home.

    In part three of my 7 Lessons in Seven Years series, I’m opening up about the money patterns that held me back in business—and the ones that helped me finally build something sustainable. I’m talking pricing fears, undercharging, shifting into profit-focused offers, the tax surprises that knocked me flat during maternity leave, and how I rebuilt my financial systems so I could support my family without drowning in stress.

    If you’ve ever wondered: • “Who am I to charge more?” • “What if raising my rates scares people off?” • “How do I plan for taxes as a self-employed creative?” • “How do I make sure my offers actually make money?”

    …this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air.

    I’m breaking down what changed for me, what I wish I learned sooner, and the pricing and money shifts that helped me serve clients better and pay myself properly.

    Hit play for an honest conversation that’ll help you rethink the way you charge, save, and grow—without the financial fog. Our Website: www.themonarchdesign.co The Monarch Experience VIP Days Freebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva Templates Instagram: @monarchdesignco @selfmadelifepodcast

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    20 分
  • Episode 72: The Power of Pivoting. Your First Offer Isn’t Your Forever Offer.
    2025/11/25

    If you’ve been feeling the pull to shift your business—or you’re already mid-pivot and questioning everything—you’re not alone. In this episode, Ashley opens up about the twists, turns, and reinventions that shaped her seven-year journey from calligraphy and wedding stationery to brand design, web design, VIP Days, and now mentoring other creatives.

    She shares the real behind-the-scenes of closing her Etsy shop, walking away from offers that looked successful on paper, building a business through a pandemic, moving to a new city, and navigating two maternity leaves while growing into a creative director role.

    You’ll hear: • Why your first offer isn’t meant to be your forever offer • How to recognize when something no longer feels like you • What shame and fear can teach you about alignment • How to update your messaging when you're shifting direction • Why thoughtful pivots often lead to your strongest season yet

    If your business feels “off,” this conversation will help you trust your intuition, create space for what’s next, and make aligned moves without second-guessing yourself.

    Feeling ready for clarity or support as you navigate your own shift? Explore Ashley’s 1:1 mentorship sessions for creative entrepreneurs who want more direction, confidence, and alignment in their next season.

    Our Website: www.themonarchdesign.co 1:1 Mentorship Calls to support your next chapter The Monarch Experience VIP Days Freebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva Templates Instagram: @monarchdesignco @selfmadelifepodcast

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    13 分
  • Episode 71: Start Before You’re Ready - Lesson 1 of 7 Years in Business
    2025/11/18

    What really happens when you build a business from scratch while juggling life, moves, motherhood, burnout, and the kind of growth you only understand in hindsight?

    In this episode of The Self Made Life Podcast, Ashley shares the first lesson in her “7 Lessons in 7 Years” series: start before you’re ready.

    She walks through the early days of Monarch Design Co.—from learning calligraphy at her dining table to selling custom pieces on Etsy with zero systems, no website, and not a clue where it would lead. You’ll hear how messy first steps, one small project, and unexpected referrals quietly snowballed into a real business.

    If you’ve been waiting for the “right moment” to launch something, this episode is your sign to move— scared, unsure, curious… and still moving.

    Our Website: www.themonarchdesign.co The Monarch Experience VIP Days Freebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva Templates Instagram: @monarchdesignco @selfmadelifepodcast

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    11 分
  • Episode 70: Pinterest Isn’t Dead. The 2025 Strategy That Still Drives Traffic with Elaine Timms
    2025/11/11

    Pinterest has changed, but it’s far from dead. In this episode, Ashley chats with Pinterest strategist Elaine Timms about what’s working in 2025—keywords, pin styles, timelines, and smart systems that keep your evergreen content working while you live your life.

    You’ll hear:

    • Why keywords beat volume every time

    • Static vs. video vs. carousel pins (and what to ignore)

    • Tailwind in 2025: what to use, what to skip

    • How to repurpose IG/blog content for a cold search audience

    • A realistic traction timeline (hello, 6–9 months)

    • The 3 biggest mistakes that kill reach on Pinterest

    • A simple workflow to organize links, do keyword research, and batch pins

    Quick hits:

    • Best pin cadence: start with ~5/day if you can, but Pinterest SEO > pin count

    • Board names = keywords (skip the cutesy)

    • Write human-friendly board descriptions with secondary keywords

    • Avoid keyword stuffing; diversify pin titles and visuals

    Connect with Elaine: website, newsletter (Evergreen Impact), Instagram, LinkedIn. Our Website: www.themonarchdesign.co The Monarch Experience VIP Days Freebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva Templates Instagram: @monarchdesignco @selfmadelifepodcast

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    31 分
  • Episode 69 | Scaling a Business During Motherhood: What I Wish I Knew About Growing While Raising Babies
    2025/11/04

    What does it really look like to build and scale a business while raising babies?

    In this honest episode of The Self-Made Life Podcast, Ashley Wyatt — Creative Director of Monarch Design Co. — pulls back the curtain on the reality of growing a design studio through two maternity leaves in two years.

    Ashley shares the lessons, surprises, and emotional challenges of scaling during motherhood — from navigating nap-time work sessions to redefining success while balancing family and ambition.

    If you’re a service-based business owner or creative mom trying to grow sustainably while raising little ones, this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and inspired.

    You’ll learn:

    • How Ashley navigated two maternity leaves in two years

    • Why scaling looked totally different than she expected

    • The support gap for creative moms growing mid-stage businesses

    • The story behind her newest 1:1 mentorship offer

    It’s part business, part motherhood, and all heart — a reminder that you don’t have to do it all to do it well.

    Ready for clarity and direction? Book your 1:1 mentorship session at themonarchdesign.co/mentorship or DM “MENTOR” on Instagram @monarchdesignco.

    Our Website: www.themonarchdesign.co The Monarch Experience VIP Days Freebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva Templates Instagram: @monarchdesignco @selfmadelifepodcast

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    15 分
  • Episode 68 | Money Mindset, Cash Flow Confidence & Rich Girl Fall with Paula Wilimek
    2025/10/28

    In this powerful episode of The Self Made Life Podcast, host Ashley Wyatt sits down with financial advisor and money mindset coach Paula Wilimek to unpack the emotional and practical sides of money for creative entrepreneurs. Paula shares her 20+ years of experience helping women break through limiting beliefs, set empowering financial goals, and finally feel confident in their cash flow.

    We dive into:

    • Why money mindset matters more than math

    • How ancestral beliefs and family dynamics affect your income ceiling

    • Simple, non-intimidating ways to start tracking your business finances

    • How to create projections that actually feel achievable

    • What Paula means by having an “F-U account”

    • Behind the scenes of Ashley’s Rich Girl Summer experience (and the launch of Rich Girl Fall!)

    Whether you’re navigating feast-or-famine cycles, coming back from maternity leave, or just want to build wealth your way, this episode is a must-listen.

    🎧 Connect with Paula: @paula_wilimekfinancialadvisor 🌐 Learn more: wilimekfinancial.com 📝 Resources mentioned: Lucky Bitch app, Rich As F*ck, Thank and Grow Rich, Rich Girl Fall Coaching Our Website: www.themonarchdesign.co The Monarch Experience VIP Days Freebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva Templates Instagram: @monarchdesignco @selfmadelifepodcast

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    32 分
  • Episode 67 | 5 Tips to Make Your Website Your Best Salesperson
    2025/09/16

    Want your website to work harder than you do? In this episode of The Self Made Life Podcast, Ashley Wyatt shares 5 proven tips to turn your website into your best salesperson. Learn how to boost site speed, write clear and strategic copy, design a mobile-friendly experience, use intentional visuals, and build a strong SEO foundation so your dream clients can actually find you.

    Perfect for service providers, creatives, and small business owners ready to attract clients, increase conversions, and create a website that sells 24/7. Interested in AI visibility and SGE? Tune into this episode here. Our Website: www.themonarchdesign.co The Monarch Experience Showit Template Shop Freebie - 50 Instagram Prompts & 12 Canva Templates Instagram: @monarchdesignco @selfmadelifepodcast

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    11 分