In this week’s pep talk, I am sharing the origin story behind the business, the podcast, and the life-first philosophy that shaped everything, why it didn’t start polished or planned, and how small, aligned decisions built something sustainable over time.

In today’s episode, I share:

• 01:48 – Why it took 600 episodes to finally tell the origin story
• 03:36 – How the podcast became the anchor for the entire business
• 05:36 – The Jenny’s Ice Cream moment that changed how I thought about impact and work
• 07:15 – What the “bus stop dream” is and why it became the real metric for success
• 09:47 – Starting a business in the margins while working full-time and raising twins
• 12:01 – How the pandemic forced a life-first business model before it was trendy
• 14:10 – Why community beat courses and shaped the direction of the business
• 16:08 – Making the leap from corporate with clarity, support, and imperfect timing
• 18:56 – Building systems around energy, capacity, and real life
• 21:01 – Why SEO, relationships, and the podcast outperform constant visibility
• 24:15 – Hiring specialists instead of trying to do everything yourself
• 26:48 – Using AI as a support tool without losing voice or humanity
• 29:13 – Three prompts to define your own bus stop dream and non-negotiables

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:

👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek

🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com

📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes

🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

🔗 FREE RESOURCES:

https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme

What if “having it all” isn’t about balance at all—but about intention, seasonality, and letting different parts of yourself take the lead at different times?

In this special crossover episode, Stephanie from the Capture Your Confidence Podcast joins me alongside our guest Amanda Goetz, CEO of Girlboss. Together, we unpack ambition, identity, and the invisible pressure women carry to be everything to everyone—at the same time.

Amanda shares the frameworks behind her “life-first” philosophy, including why ambition doesn’t have to be one-dimensional, how to move between roles without burnout, and the mindset shifts that helped her redefine success across motherhood, leadership, partnership, and personal fulfillment. This conversation is equal parts validating, practical, and permission-giving—for anyone navigating growth without wanting to lose themselves in the process.

If you’ve ever felt torn between who you are at work and who you are at home—or wondered why rest still feels so hard to claim—this episode will help you see your life through a more compassionate, sustainable lens.

Today you’ll hear:

• 03:43 – What a true life-first business looks like in this season of Amanda’s life
• 07:49 – The moment she realized her version of success no longer fit—and needed to change
• 12:06 – Why ambition isn’t one-dimensional and how seasons determine what’s on the “front burner”
• 17:49 – How to create hierarchy between roles instead of trying to be everything at once
• 19:05 – The ART of Transition: awareness, ritual, and protecting your focus between roles
• 23:14 – Why “commute rituals” matter—especially when you work from home
• 27:20 – How Amanda protects joy, fun, and levity without abandoning ambition
• 33:06 – The concept of a “minimally viable day” and letting B-minus be enough
• 38:41 – Defining toxic grit and why hustle without intention leads to burnout
• 39:22 – The truth about rest, productivity, and what endurance has taught her about sustainability

Connect with Amanda:

Website - https://www.amandagoetz.com/

Life's a Game Newsletter - https://amandagoetz.kit.com/posts

Toxic Grit - https://amzn.to/4jEXk8A

Connect with Whitney & Stephanie:

Email: captureyourconfidencepodcast@gmail.com

Stephanie IG: @_stephanie_hanna_

The Other 85: https://theother85.net/

Whitney IG: @whitneyabraham

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:

👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek

🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com

📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes

🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

🔗 FREE RESOURCES:

https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme

In this week’s pep talk, I am sharing a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re actually prioritizing right now—why a slower start isn’t a setback, and how refining your focus, energy, and systems can lead to more aligned, sustainable growth. This episode is an invitation to stop forcing momentum and start building a business that works with your life, not against it.

In today’s episode, I share:

• 01:48 – Why a slow, messy start to the year can be exactly what you need
• 03:36 – What a “becoming year” really looks like when you stop setting rigid goals
• 05:36 – Why energy and health became the first non-negotiable investment
• 07:07 – The power of choosing one fun, life-giving focus instead of a long resolution list
• 09:13 – Why podcasting remains the anchor platform and center of the business
• 10:45 – How SEO and evergreen content support growth without constant visibility
• 12:06 – Building a human-first sales system rooted in relationships and follow-up
• 13:26 – Why community and micro-partnerships are replacing hustle-driven marketing
• 15:09 – How AI is being used as support, not a replacement, for creativity and voice
• 17:47 – Why hiring specialists (not doing everything yourself) protects your time and energy
• 19:29 – Letting branding, creativity, and travel be part of a sustainable business rhythm
• 22:15 – Three grounding questions to help you choose your anchor, background systems, and what to stop forcing

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:

👉 Take the FREE CEO Week Challenge → www.hollymariehaynes.com/ceoweek

🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com

📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes

🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

🔗 FREE RESOURCES:

https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme