How to Scale Your Business Without Burning Yourself Out

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 if the reason you’re struggling to scale your business isn’t that you need more time, but that you’re operating without enough capacity?

In this episode, I’m sitting down with my podcast client, Ericka Nicole from the Clocked Out podcast for a real conversation about burnout, time management, sustainable business growth, and what it actually takes to scale your business without running yourself into the ground.

We talk about what it looks like to build a business while balancing a 9-to-5, why traditional time management advice doesn’t always work, and how understanding your energy—not just your time—can completely change the way you run your business.

We also get into some of my favorite business lessons around simplifying your to-do list, identifying the 3–5 activities that actually drive revenue, niching down, and turning your podcast into a real business asset.

In this episode, we talk about:

•  Why burnout isn't always a time-management problem 
•  The difference between having time and actually having capacity
•  How to do an energy audit and work with your natural energy 
•  Why being busy doesn't necessarily mean you're being productive 
•  How to identify the 3–5 things that actually make you money
•  Why you don't need to be on every social media platform 
•  How niching down can help you attract more of your ideal clients 
•  How to use your podcast as part of your sales funnel
•  Creating systems and rhythms that allow you to grow without constant hustle 
•  Why sustainable consistency beats operating at 100% 
•  The biggest business lessons we’ve learned from burnout 
•  How to scale your business while still having a life 

My biggest takeaway from this conversation? You don't need to do more. You need to get really fucking clear on what actually moves your business forward—and build a business that you can actually sustain. 

Want to connect with Ericka?

• Listen to her podcast Clocked Out if you are a 9 to 5 founder building a business. 
• Follow her on Instagram: @theerickanicole

 burnout, time management, scale your business, business lessons, business growth, entrepreneurship, sustainable business growth, productivity, podcast marketing, ideal client

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Transcript

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SPEAKER_01 0:00

I'm assuming that if you're listening to this podcast, you are a business owner, a very busy business owner, and you are trying to scale your business. Therefore, I'm assuming also you are very much burnt the fuck out. So today we're gonna learn about how fixing burnout is actually not just a time management problem. There may be a different solution. Let's get into it. Hey y'all, welcome to Your Girl, the podcast for six to seven figure business owners just like you, who are ready to scale their business and hit their dream numbers. I'm your host, Marie. I am the founder of Your Girl Media. Essentially, I have a boutique podcast agency, and I have a badass networking group called Cocktails and Clothes, where I'm helping scale people just like you to your dream numbers. And today we have on my very first client, my most long-standing podcast client, Erica from the Clocked Out Podcast. And she's a dear friend of mine, on top of like it just being an incredible client and just someone who inspires the fuck out of me. This girl should be the definition of burnout. She has two jobs, two businesses. She's a wife, she has time to hang out with friends, and she somehow has time for some church. So yeah, this girl knows about a busy schedule. And so today, Erica's gonna come on to talk about her four-step capacity ladder, about how to create more capacity in your life and how it's actually not just a time management problem. So, enough of me. Let's get into the episode. So to start, I know last time you came on, we asked about what your favorite cocktail was. Are you spicy or are you just skinny margarita?

SPEAKER_02 1:33

I'm like regular marg, like skinny marg. Okay. But because we've done a whole rebrand, my cocktail of choice to describe my brand has actually changed. Okay, tell us. Okay, so I would consider us a lychee martinerita. Now you might be asking, what is a martinerita? I'm so glad you asked. I should probably trademark this before I say this publicly. So I love E lyche martini, but I think vodka is the nastiest alcohol that was ever created. So it's just Eliche Martina with tequila. Okay. Martinerita.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

Now, how does Elyche Martini have to do with your brand? And say your name and your brand too, because people don't know you. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:12

My name is Erica Nicole. I'm host of the Clocked Out podcast, Clocked Out Collective. So, okay, so the brand really served the nine to five founder, meaning the woman who works a job full-time and she's also building her business. So our brand is very corporate party girl. So I feel like lychee martini just gives like we have a little bit of class, but you know, still taking that ass off hours, you know?

SPEAKER_01 2:34

Yes, yeah. It's like we're polished between those hours of nine to five, and then we're slowly unraveling throughout the night.

SPEAKER_02 2:40

Quickly unraveling, actually, because come five o'clock, it's time to go.

SPEAKER_01 2:45

Five o'clock on a Friday. Okay, what are we doing? As business owners, I don't think there's the same release as like when you work a job you don't love. And I'm not saying you don't love your job, but I think when people don't love their job, that release, that happy hour release is insane. Like that is the best feeling. At least for me, I worked in restaurants, so that post-drink after shift, like holy, like you're drunk.

SPEAKER_02 3:09

We're going in a thousand percent.

unknown 3:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:11

And it's like when you love your business and you're more regulated, like there's no craving, honestly, to like go binge drink and like go hard because you're like, I'm chilling.

SPEAKER_02 3:22

I do both and I still have a craving to go turn the fuck up after I finish working on my business. That's me on Saturdays because like Saturday mornings are my dedicated time to like really record, get some stuff done when I'm in more of a creative flow. But come like a 1 p.m., 2 p.m. brunch. Yeah. I'm throwing that ass in a circle. Okay. And it's perfect because I did all of my work. I already had my makeup done because I've like recorded, did content, all of this stuff in the morning. Let's go turn the fuck up. Yes. Work hard, play hard. That is my motto.

SPEAKER_01 3:53

I have a I have some really sad news I want to say out loud. Um, I'm not retiring party girl, but I I think I'm allergic now to liquor, which is my whole brand.

SPEAKER_02 4:04

Girl, I think it's me too. I feel like it's like a 30 crossover threshold because I literally had a glass of wine the other night and it was one glass of wine, and I was like, I feel like I'm drunk. Like, I feel like my body is like repulsing.

SPEAKER_01 4:19

I could feel it in my sitting in my stomach. So in Lisbon, I tried to party like I did two years ago, and we had a bender. We all took each maybe 13 to 15 shots, and they were all individually different shots. We even took like a tirabasu shot. Like, what the fuck is that? And so obviously after that night, I had a big wake-up call where I was like, I can't handle shots.

SPEAKER_02 4:39

But then even recently, I had two margaritas, our drink, up all night in the bathroom. Well, first off, 13 shots. You were trying to perish. Okay. You were trying to you were intentionally trying to end yourself.

SPEAKER_00 4:56

We all were collective suicide.

SPEAKER_01 4:59

Like, you guys, that's wild. That was without having three espresso martinis to start the night. It was easy.

SPEAKER_02 5:05

See, that was me in college though, because like in college, you have a reason to drink every day. Like we had what man crush Mondays, tequila Tuesdays, woman crush Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursdays, Freaky Fridays, sexy Saturdays, and then sober Sunday because we love the Lord. Um, like we need to pass our classes. So we must be sober at least one day. But like we drank so much, and I'm like, I never felt like deceased. But now like one glass of wine, and I feel like I'm like, whoa.

SPEAKER_01 5:33

Whoa, what is this? I mean, A, that's cheaper, but B, I think I'm gonna go like the stoner route. I think I'm gonna jump to the stoner side and see what that's about.

SPEAKER_02 5:44

I can't, I can't do that. I think. Did I tell you my story time of my one experience with it was an edible though? And I literally ended up ended up in the hospital with like a $2,000 emergency room. You're that bitch. So yes, I was like, oh no, I was tweaking the fuck out. I was like, this is not for me, not my ministry. Literally thought I was dying. I can't risk it. I literally, I thought the ambulance was trying to abduct me. I kid you not. I told the EMTs, I was like, I'm not going with you. You all are trying to kidnap me. And they're like, bitch, we're literally trying to save your life. Like you're doing the most. Like, God, you're like the fifth stone are we picked up tonight.

SPEAKER_00 6:20

Like you're not special. Literally. I'm like, oh, never again.

SPEAKER_01 6:24

Oh, oh my God. Yeah. Well, I just had to admit that in the podcast because, like, I know I'm like cocktails, cocktails, but I'm like, guys, don't shame me if you meet me out in like real life. And I'm like, I'll have a sparkling water.

SPEAKER_02 6:36

Well, now it's just cocktail. It's without the S. Maybe this is cocktail.

SPEAKER_01 6:39

Cocktail. Cocktail. Oh my God. Okay. So I have a question for you. Because this episode is about capacity burnout. And I want to know can you tell us, the audience, how the fuck you're doing it all? And I'm going to list everything I think you do. And I think I'm not even going to okay. So you are uh God fearing, so you go to church, you have friends, I'm assuming. Yes. You are a wife. People don't know that about you. Crazy. You have multiple businesses. You uh have multiple nine to fives. Um, and I'm sure you also do have a fitness routine, and you have time to watch the ultimatum. So how? Like, actually, how are you doing it all? Literally, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:24

Yeah, that's a great question. And the answer is I truly don't know. No, I think I've gone through so many seasons of like burnout and figuring things out and finding things that work for me. And when I hear people talk about them feeling burnt out, I think they think it's a time issue. Like they don't have enough time to do the things that they want to do. And when I'm talking to people who express that they feel burnt out, I'm like, babe, like it's not a time thing. And I always refer people back to what I call the capacity equation. So capacity equals time plus energy, right? And those two things have to be true in order for you to have capacity to do the things that you want to do. So I think the reason I'm able to do all the things that I do do is because one, I understand my capacity, and I also have created systems and rhythms that allow me to do things without feeling overwhelmed.

SPEAKER_01 8:18

Wow. Okay. Like the episode's done.

SPEAKER_02 8:21

We can unpack a lot of that because there's a lot, there's a lot there.

SPEAKER_01 8:24

That's kind of all I needed to hear. Okay. I think that one thing I think you said is systems. What do you mean by that? I mean, I think outsourcing is something you really specialize in, but like what kind of systems are you talking about where you can handle you, literally do your business while you're at your nine to five.

SPEAKER_02 8:40

Yeah. Okay, let's give context. So my day job, I'm an executive assistant. So I am currently, by the grace of God, dual employed. So I have two full-time jobs. One is completely hybrid, which I well, one is completely remote, excuse me, which is the best of the best. And then the other is hybrid. So I go into office about three times a week. Um, and I also think it's niche dependent because I'm very grateful to have opportunities that are that give me a lot of autonomy in how I operate. You know, I don't really have managers breathing down my neck. It's very much like just get it done. You know, and I've also built my reputation over the years as someone who just gets shit done. So no one has to like micromanage me, no one has to ask me a billion times where things are. They know that if I've given Erica this to oversee and to manage, it's going to get done. So those two things I think give me a lot of freedom to do all of the other things that I do. So like I can take my lunch break and host a workshop in my community, or I can, you know, clock out a little bit early to do a podcast recording or a guest or on someone's show. And again, it's really understanding what I call like my CEO hours are, which is like the hours where I have the capacity to do things, getting very clear on those things, and then having a rhythm that allows everything to work. I know people love to use the word systems, and I think systems have a time and place and to me refer more to like the systems I have in my business. But when it comes to my life, I've created just rhythms that make sense for me.

SPEAKER_01 10:03

Yeah. Also, I think something that I needed to do was I needed to have a time audit. And multiple people were telling me to do that. They're like, have you actually audited your time? Like, what are you doing throughout the day? And how long is it taking you? And if you haven't done that, like it'll shock you of like what you're wasting time on, or actually how long something might be taking you that you might be undercharging for.

SPEAKER_02 10:23

Yeah. And I mean, a time audit is cool, but have you audited your energy? Like, have you done an energy audit? You know, because again, it goes back to that capacity equation. People think burnout is time, time, time, but it's time plus energy. Two things have to be true in order for you to have capacity. So, perfect example. Mondays for me are a very meeting heavy day in my nine to five. So when I get home at five, technically do I have the time to work on my business from seven to eight: 30. Sure, like the time is there, but I don't have the mental energy, the emotional energy. I don't have the energy to actually be productive within those hours. So that means I don't have capacity to work on my business at that time. So I'm not gonna block my CEO hours on a Monday evening because I'm not gonna do shit.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:05

So why even play myself? You know?

SPEAKER_01 11:08

Yeah, I like that like work where your energy is because I yeah, people might be doing what other people are doing, but they're like, well, everyone does CEO hours at this time and everything. It's like if you are like you're a night owl, so you thrive in that. I'm not. The other day it was like I have a lot of client work. And I was like, it would not make sense for me to do that right now at 9 p.m. Yeah. I will half-ass it, I'll get irritated, I'll fall asleep later. And I'd rather wake up early and just do it. So I actually understand that a lot more. Like, so what do you mean like by an energy audit? Like, how could someone do that?

SPEAKER_02 12:54

Yeah, so an energy audit is really understanding where do you feel like you have the most energy? So I I view energy in like two different ways. I feel like we have creative energy, and then I feel like we have administrative or operational energy. So, for example, I do all of my creative work on Saturday mornings because that's just when I feel creative. I wake up, I don't have to catch the train, I don't have to log in, I can dilly-dally and just like look out the window and have my matcha and do some doom scrolling in the morning. I just feel creative. So that's the perfect energy for me to operate in to create content and to record podcasts and to, I don't know, do anything creative. But then when it comes to operational energy, catch me on a Wednesday evening. Oh, babe, we're working. Posts are getting scheduled, emails are getting answered. Um, I'm checking my calendar, kind of prepping for my week. I'm I'm in a more operational zone. So understanding, yeah, energy is important, but like what kind of energy do you have at this time? And then matching that to the time openings that you have. And that's why when I say your CEO hours, it has to be in line with your capacity, or else it's just not going to work. And that's where I think a lot of people miss the mark and start to blame themselves actually. Cause it's like, oh, I have all this time after work to work on my business and it's just like not working. And it's like, yeah, babe, because you're not the you don't have the structure there.

SPEAKER_01 14:18

So it's like, yeah, more introspection and like honesty within yourself of like when when do you actually have time and energy for something? And also, again, what kind of energy do you have? Yeah. Because with creative energy, I feel like that comes in sparks, at least for me. I feel like I can't plan for creative energy. So, how can like if your energy isn't like, oh, every Saturday, I feel so creative. Like, what happens if you get it more in sparks? Like, how do you create that in your time blocks?

SPEAKER_02 14:44

Yeah, I feel that's where rhythms come into play, right? So, for example, do I have podcast topic ideas that I would love to discuss throughout the week? Sure. But I may not have the time to actually act on that. I can't just like whip out my camera and lighting system in my office and be like, okay, guys, this is what we're talking about today. You know, so what I might do is do a voice memo. I'll sit there and voice note all the things that I have to say, whoop-dee woot-dee-woot. And I will trans. Well, I love the voice memo app on iPhone. I don't know about y'all Android users, because yeah, I don't know about y'all. But at least in the voice memo on Apple, you can take the, you can pull a transcript from that voice memo so that when I do have like my creative session, it typically reinforces the creativity that I feel like I may not have in that moment because I'm basically capturing the spark and just saving it for a different time.

SPEAKER_01 15:31

Oh, I love that if that makes sense. Lara just did an episode on her podcast um about creating like an organized system for stuff like this. And she uses a sauna, but she was like, have it in one place because she's like a bunch of y'all, she's literally yelling at me, have shit all up in your notes app, and you'll never find that idea again. And then you have Google Drive, and then you have Notion, but then you also have a sauna and your ideas are everywhere. So she's like, How do you streamline those moments when, like, yeah, I can't record this podcast idea right now, but like I'm gonna do like a dump and put it somewhere, but it needs to be in the same place as where your other thoughts are. And I don't do that. I have so many notes at probably saying like social media idea, would I probably have 15 of those and I'll never find them. So I feel like also being organized about like where what happens with that voice note transcript and like having a system in that. If you don't want to use that word system, but yeah, having a system for that because you can't always just jump on that idea, but you should write it down, you know?

SPEAKER_03 16:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:28

And whatever your system or rhythm is, my biggest advice is that it has to be low resistance because there are some people who thrive in notion and asana. And granted, I've had a notion season, Marie. You know I'm a notion whore. Okay. But like right now, my life is so crazy. I'm like, we are so behind, well, at least I am. You're on top of it, not me. I'm so behind on updating our well somehow. Oh, yeah. I'm updating then our notion now. Yeah, you're updating our notion. So, and I because I just don't have space for that anymore. So, right now, my life does look like voice notes and transcripts in a Google Drive. It's not a pretty notion thing that everyone can follow. So, again, like your rhythms and systems are going to ebb and flow. So, but it has to be low resistance, or else you're not going to be consistent. Another great example, even with recording this podcast, remember, we've tried, you know, recording in studios and doing all of these things, but I realized for me to be consistent and actually show up in a way that feels good, I need to invest in a freaking camera that I like and a lighting system and have an at-home studio where I can pop up my setup in 10 minutes whenever I feel like recording. It has to be low resistance or else it's not going to work.

SPEAKER_01 17:35

Oh my god, that's with everything. Like, even with the gym, like we people put pay for these fancy gyms and they buy all the clothes and then I'll never go. Cause it's like there is too much resistance. I mean, like, I feel like in your business, like, do whatever works for you. Like, Andrea loves Honey Book. I did Honey Book, and I was like, I if I log in there, I get so lost and stressed. So it's like I'm a Google Sheet girl too. Like, I love Google Drive. It's simple, it works, but for someone else it doesn't. And like we have to listen to ourselves also and not get on this like hubbub about all these fancy new AI apps and stuff. It's like, what in the fuck? Just do what's working for you and like you get it done faster.

SPEAKER_02 18:12

Like and back to the gym thing. Like I go to the $10 a month budget budget gym that's five minutes from my house because I'm more likely to go versus the LA Fitness, which is like 20 minutes away. Oh girl, I let go of Orange Theory. Once I took that second job, my schedule did not allow me to Orange Theory. Capacity. So now we're at the budget gym. Why? Because I don't have to worry about booking a class, which is now it wasn't high resistance before because I had the time, but now that time is limited. That whole trying to book and rebook and $15 cancellation this bitch, don't do that. Yeah. So now we're at the budget gym because why? It's close and I can go whenever I want.

SPEAKER_01 18:51

What about the people out there, like the business owners who maybe low-key like being at capacity? They actually like being burnt out. Like that's where their nervous system is set. Like when there is a day off, they don't know what to do with it and they don't know how to relax.

SPEAKER_02 19:07

Well, my question to them would be like, okay, well, do you like feeling at capacity or do you like the false feeling of being productive?

SPEAKER_01 19:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 19:14

Because you can be busy and not be getting shit done. Yeah. And then how sustainable is that? And I would say if your nervous system has gotten so used to being at this high state of functionality, I would ask you, well, how long do you want to be in this entrepreneurship game for? Because we all know that running a business, being an entrepreneur, it is a marathon. It is not a sprint. And if you are constantly operating at 100%, you are going to crash and burn at some point so hard and so bad that recovering is going to take time. And I always say that consistency and showing up in a rhythm that is sustainable is always going to outperform the person who's just like, Yeah, let's go. Jim, bro, we're gonna get this done. Like, no, babe, like, yeah, like, and this could be controversial, but like as a woman, I just don't feel like we're meant to operate in that state. Like, I know there's this big conversation online, like masculine energy versus feminine energy. But like, I think there's something so beautiful about having this level of femininity and softness and release that I think is actually women's superpower. Like, why do I want to stress myself out? Why do I want to be stressed every day? What about that is cute? No, I don't like that. I don't want that for me. You know, but there are seasons where it's grind time and like we're gonna go and do all the things, but then there's also time where it's like, babe, massage me, whine me, trip me, shaking ass, and abisa me. You know, like I just you can't you can't do it.

SPEAKER_01 20:48

Yeah, I probably would challenge you. I cannot, I cannot, with like Gary V and Alex Ramosy, these are smart people. I'm not saying they're not, but like their energy and how they communicate. I hear like the tone of it. I'm like, I can't listen to this with these people. It's so intense. They're like, if they if they were to do this podcast episode, they'd be like, three things you need to stop doing right now in your capacity. That's how this episode would sound. If two men like Gary V and Alex Mosey here in this episode, you'd be like, stress the fuck out. You'd be like, I have to end my burnout today.

SPEAKER_02 21:25

Heart palpitations all the way through.

SPEAKER_01 21:27

Like, I'm like, who wants that? Their energy level is so intense. And I feel like that's why I like to run myself around women, because it's just like we're chilling. Like we grind and we have fun. And I've noticed I've noticed the more I like don't give a fuck and like release in my business, and I'm like outside and I'm having fun, the more sales I make. Like, yeah, I'm chilling. And the more I grind and I'm like, And that's real. That that like, oh, I need bunny, I need this, like nothing comes to me at all, actually.

SPEAKER_02 21:57

I just feel like the more that you honor your capacity is the more that the is the more the right things find you. Yeah. Because like when you're constantly trying to like go out and grab and reach and grab and reach, there's a high chance that you're gonna grab and reach for the wrong thing.

SPEAKER_01 22:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:11

And that can actually do a lot more damage than just taking a step back and allowing the right thing to come to you.

SPEAKER_01 22:18

I also think it comes with like uh boundaries. And I'm not saying like boundaries in like such a harsh way, it's someone else that needs the boundaries set, but like even with yourself, like are you overextending yourself in so many ways when you need to sit your ass down and be like, you know what? I'm gonna say no to that. I'm gonna say more no's than yeses to things because you could be adding to your plate things that like again are not necessary, and people don't know your boundaries because you're not communicating to them. So they're adding to your plate too. I do think, I think the more like structure you have with saying no helps a lot too with capacity.

SPEAKER_02 22:50

And you know, that's why when we talk about how do we build capacity, you know, I've kind of breaking it down into the four-step framework of the capacity ladder. And the four steps are stabilize, simplify, systemize, sustain. And what you're talking about is the simplify portion of it all. You know, how many old commitments have you said yes to that you've outgrown and that no longer serve you? You know, that goes back to that energy audit piece, right? So if we're talking through the ladder at a higher level, you know, stabilize is find the leaks, you know, you're doing your time. Your energy audit, you're figuring out where you're leaking, and then simplify is cutting the dead weight. What are the things that are not serving me anymore? What are the things that I've said yes to that I should renege on at this point or at least scale back, you know? Um, and just like understanding like what those rhythms look like for me. I, you know, I love volunteering. I serve at my church, I volunteer for organizations that I really care about. But there was one point where every single weekend I had a volunteer opportunity, and I was like, whoa, this may have worked for Erica when she was in college and only working one job and had no business. But this version of Erica, mm-mm, we we gotta scale this back once a month, biweekly at most, and be okay with that, you know, and then systemize for the things that you're doing over and over again that you can really have an understanding of what that actually means. So part of systemizing, again, find your five non-negotiables. People need to take the time to understand what are the five things that move your business forward every single week and what and take those five things and put them into your CEO hours so that you have that system and you have that rhythm and knowing that your business is moving forward every single time. And then sustain is really just building that protection plan because life is going to life, and there are gonna come times where life is going to knock you on your butt, and you need to understand how to get back up quicker and faster so that you can get back into that rhythm, you know?

SPEAKER_01 24:34

Oh my god, 100%. Also, like how I said five things and not 15 things, because I think we we'll just add more and more and more to our to-do list, and then suddenly you're back in spare one. Like, no, like what are like the three to five things that absolutely will make you money, like that are going to drive revenue. Um, and it's it might not be posting on social media. It might not be that. And you might can actually nix that out. Like just like look at it and be like, hmm, what's actually making me money right now? Like, I could go on LinkedIn, I could add that to my to-do list, but I'm making money on threads, so I don't need to add more to my to-do list, you know. What has been like your most expensive burnout lesson? Like, has there been what's like been the crash and burn for you?

SPEAKER_02 25:16

Hmm. The crash and burn for me, and that it's always been for me, is when my relationships start to suffer. You know, like whether that be my partner, my friends, my my parents, like when when my relationships start to suffer because I'm doing all these other things and deprioritizing the things that in the grand scheme of things are the only things that really actually matter. I know that I have hit a season where it's like, babe, let's take a step back and we need to reassess. Um, because like when you're burnt out, you're just not your best self. You know, not only are things probably going crappy in your business, but you're also probably not a nice person because like everything around you just feels so trash, you know? So I think it really comes to like putting things into perspective. And I think everyone needs to have that one identifiable trigger when it's like when this thing happens or this situation is what it is. I know that I've gone too far and we need to course correct. For some people, it's like their skin conditions. Like I have some friends who get eczema flare-ups when they're extremely stressed, or they end up having like gut issues or like other bodily issues that are communicating to them, like, oh no, babe, like we're we're doing too much, you know. So, like you have to find your thing, find your trigger, find your wake-up call. And I think it'll always help you course correct a lot faster than if you don't have one.

SPEAKER_01 26:31

Oh, yeah. For me, it's actually my hair. Like my skin doesn't react like that, but like I can tell when I'm not happy, my hair is really flat and like dry. And when I'm like really happy, it's like voluptuous. It's so crazy. Like, my hair will tell me. And if yeah, if you're affecting other people around you, you're not even a pleasure to be around. Like, again, that is the most important thing. I think we get so caught up in our businesses, and it's like, whoa, this is not this should not be your everything. Like, yeah, it shouldn't. But then I think it's it's so hard because I feel like a business is like a kid in a way, like you have to like constantly nurture it. So it can't be like you get you get lost in the sauce a lot.

SPEAKER_02 27:09

Um, yeah. But I think that goes back to why it's important to understand what are the three to five things that move your business forward. Because most people, most business owners that at least that I've spoken to, cannot tell you. So they're like, Oh, like I need to post on social media, but I also need to do outreach to clients, but I also need to, you know, work on my offers, but I also need to, and it's like, okay, yeah, like all that's cute. And yes, those are things that need to happen. But if I were to ask you, what are the three things in your business that make you money? Like, what would you say?

SPEAKER_01 27:40

I personally would say threads, Instagram DMs, and Instagram stories. So that's where you put all your energy. What are your like three to five things?

SPEAKER_02 27:51

Three things, yeah. So ooh, um, one, my my funnels guy, my funnel ads guy. So like my funnels and my ads, those are like the heartbeat of the business. Then I have my podcast, which is basically all the organic things that come in through there. And it's so funny because I have tracking set up on like our call to actions on the podcast, and we actually get really, really good click-throughs to like that part of the funnel. So that's actually really good to know. Yeah. And then the fourth thing that I would say is threads. So like threads. I love me some threads.

SPEAKER_01 28:22

I'm like, how do I like? I feel like in my on my podcast, I just mentioned threads, Michelle, and Glenn, every single episode. They're like so fucking annoyed. They're like, shut up.

SPEAKER_02 28:31

Threads, I always tell people threads is the platform for people who like to read and write. I'm so sorry. Like, if you don't like threads, that means that you don't read.

SPEAKER_01 28:38

Like, also, it's like the cool kids table. It's like everyone's just like hanging out. Like you can, like my friend tried to post something yesterday and it was so LinkedIn coded. It was like, I helped my client get her transformations. And I was like, give me the phone. And I changed the thread to be from I give my client transformations. Now it said, hey, y'all, everybody clap for my client who now can speak on camera. Bitch, you better work. And that's what the thing is. And I was and I that's it.

SPEAKER_02 29:07

That's it. I made a threads post telling New Yorkers to shower during the heat wave, like, don't forget your deodorant. And it popped off. I'm like, I'm so glad we're all on the same page here. We're not having a stinky summer.

SPEAKER_00 29:18

Stinky summer. Ew, that's so funny.

SPEAKER_01 29:23

No, I think I mean threads was like a game changer, a game changer in my business. But um, speaking of the podcast, I would love to hear your experience. Obviously, you are my longest client, my longest standing client. She gets the award at the class of that.

SPEAKER_02 29:39

Adopt you so to like work with you. So I would hope that it stands.

SPEAKER_01 29:43

Just crazy because I was not easy to, I don't think I like advertised. So that was it. Wasn't that hard? I just I think most of my clients I worked with have been just pure fate. Like it's just yeah, we were naturally supposed to meet in some capacity. And like that was crazy how you found me. Um yeah. But we've had a long journey with your podcast. We've been, we've done three rebrands because we have just like kind of we started off more like self-care and skincare, and then we had a burnout podcast, and now you are talking very directly to the nine to find founder wanting to transition from corporate into business. And I guess my question would be like, what has it been like now with really knowing like your ICA with your podcast and like making money with it? And like when you just when we just didn't really know what was going on with your podcast before.

SPEAKER_02 30:30

Yeah, I feel like the advice that you've given me has always stood the test of time. Like the more niche we've been, the more successful we've been. And I think people hear the word niche and they're like, oh my goodness, I'm talking to no one. But it's true. Like, I'd rather have a thousand people that listen to the podcast and are my ideal ICA and that just eat up whatever it is that I may talk about, offer them, um, and serve them at the end of the day. Because we don't create offers just to make money, we create offers to serve. Um, and I think the more clear I've gotten, the more, the the deeper of the relationships that I've been able to build with my audience. And it's served me so well in the community building aspect as well as the business aspect. Because now that we have this collective, like we're literally curating a community of women who are in this same season of two identities, you know, building a business and working nine to five, and just seeing the growth and the breakthroughs and you know, the conversation that he've that even happened outside of me is just been such a great thing to build and witness and have a part of. Um, so yeah, when it comes to making money with the podcast, it's like being knowing who you're talking to will serve you way further. You don't always get it right in the beginning, and it's okay to grow and evolve as well. And I think that's been like the biggest takeaway.

SPEAKER_01 31:43

Well, I want to jump into cocktail hour. Can you tell everyone? Well, first of all, is there anything else you want to say about burnout and capacity before we move into cocktail hour? And into that. No.

unknown 31:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 31:56

You got it, guys. Take the advice and run. Yeah. Okay. Well, can you tell us where we can follow you? How we can connect, especially if there's someone who is running a business and still has their nine to five. Like they need to hear more from you.

SPEAKER_02 32:11

Yeah, so you can follow me on social media at the Erica Nicole. My stories are always filled with my day-to-day antics of working and building the business. So great place to clock in with me there. Uh, I'm also host of the clocked out podcast. And yeah, we are all about helping nine to five founders who are also building a business. It's living this dual identity is not for the weak of heart. So if you are looking for the community, the resources, the courses, all the things, you need to go check us out there. Um, and we also have the clocked out collective, and that is the community membership that goes along with the podcast. And we be having a time up in there.

SPEAKER_01 32:41

So and as the editor of the podcast, I'd say it's fucking badass. Like the music, the feeling, like the advice.

SPEAKER_02 32:50

When you sent me the music, I was gagging. Like my partner was looking at me like, what the fuck is wrong with you? I'm like, you know, I had my headphones in, so he just sees me like going crazy. And he's like, What are we supposed to do?

SPEAKER_01 33:01

I found a royalty free song about I want to quit my job and like twerk, pretty much is what the song is something.

SPEAKER_02 33:08

Literally, story of my life. I need to put that on a t-shirt, quit my job and twerk.

SPEAKER_01 33:13

Okay, cocktail hour. I haven't done a cocktail hour in a while, so I'm excited. Um okay, let me ooh.

SPEAKER_02 33:20

I thought you were gonna talk about about the ultimatum because I'm like, Oh, I mean, I'm no, because you can't ask spoilers and like okay, yeah, no, no.

SPEAKER_01 33:27

But yeah, I will say I told Erica to drop her show Married at First Sight, which I'm sure is great. But I told her to watch season four. The ultimate you stopped watching it. Like guys, I stopped watching it because I realized I got too hyper. Like, I get too hyper with reality TV because I think my subconscious thinks it's like real drama. So like I get adrenaline because I'm like, fuck that guy, fuck that girl, like they suck. And then I can't calm down after. I watch an episode every other day.

SPEAKER_02 33:57

That's like the Riz of reality TV. I don't even know if I'm using that word right. I heard my goddaughter use it. I don't even know if I'm using Riz properly.

SPEAKER_01 34:03

But that's like like so, anyways, uh, we watched the ultimatum. Erica actually finished the show and did her homework, so I'm catching up. But like we can talk about the ultimatum in general because what? Like, if you are at that point in your relationship that you need to go and date other people for three weeks and take that risk, and then hopefully they propose to you at the end, like you need to break up.

SPEAKER_02 34:29

I believe if you go on any of these reality relationship shows, like like the ultimatum, what uh temptation island. Like, if you go on any of these shows or my partner tries to bring in any of these shows, just tell me you don't like me. Just tell me you don't like me, and we can just like shake hands and call it a day. Like that's like an easier way to break up. Yeah, like we were not doing all of this. And I was reading some articles, they don't even get paid a lot of money. So I used to think that oh, people go on these reality shows because they pay, get they get paid good money. Some of them are only making like $500 a week. So I like did the calculation like these shows are like six weeks. So if you're getting $500 to a thousand dollars a week, that's like not a lot of money. There's no way I'm selling my soul for that.

SPEAKER_01 35:16

I guess like they expect to become influencers afterwards, like if they get big enough, which does happen, but like but also we forget about most of you guys. So you just yeah, you just like probably like lost your job for this and and embarrassed yourself on TV. And maybe you could become Chinookie.

SPEAKER_02 35:34

Maybe and depending on your edit, if they decide to give you a villain edit and everyone hates you.

SPEAKER_03 35:41

Oh, what a villain.

SPEAKER_02 35:42

Why would I do that to my mental health? I feel like you would need the villain edit. I probably would.

SPEAKER_01 35:48

I think because And you know what?

SPEAKER_02 35:50

I'd be okay with it because I didn't I don't like y'all anyway. Like literally, as an only child, I don't need friends.

SPEAKER_01 35:59

I will say the only show I would like to go on is Love is Blind if I didn't have to get married. No because I think it's interesting the concept.

SPEAKER_02 36:08

Have you not heard about okay, like like so understanding the network that owns all of these shows is called kinetic, and Chris Colleen is like the EP for all of these shows. The amount of lawsuits and allegations that they have of like sexual assault and like all of these things on these shows, to me, it just goes so under the radar and not not enough people are talking about it for me. But psychologically, it makes sense because if we're on Love is Blind and we're now living together and we're trying to get married, yeah. I can see how some weirdos prey on women and feel like, okay, well, I'm gonna manipulate you into like being intimate with me because like we're technically married or we're about to be married, you know? So it's like there's a lot of predatory allegations, like they are under fire.

SPEAKER_01 36:49

Really? I know they didn't feed them the first season, so and then the rest of the seasons there was like an insane amount of food everywhere. Yeah. Like, but they were just kind of like keeping them drunk and starved, so they wouldn't like make silly decisions.

SPEAKER_02 37:01

Decisions, yeah. But it's like also it's like what you sign up for. Like, I always I always wonder when people sign up for reality TV what their expectations are. I think I told you I was invited to be on a reality show and I ended up not going. What? I think I told you that. Why didn't you do that? I went through casting and everything. I actually got selected. They wanted me to fly out to LA and like I backed out. I'm so pissed at you right now. Girl, no, I I just got I was so gun ho to do it, but then you know how creeping people are. I literally had a dream and I was just like, no, I can't do this.

SPEAKER_01 37:33

I love a dream.

SPEAKER_02 37:34

Yeah, no, it was just like this is not gonna work out well. Like just something in me was just like tarnished your reputation. Yeah, like again, like when you go on these reality shows, like you never know the edit that you're gonna get, and you never know the situation that they're gonna put you in. And because I'm still in the like very fragile beginnings of building my personal brand, and then I was fundraising at the time, I was like, this can either go really, really good or really, really bad. And would I be okay if it went really, really bad? And the answer was no. And then you have to do damage control, and I have to go on all these other podcasts and try and tell your side of the story. And I'm not good at that because I'm like not explaining anything. I'm always like, believe the narrative you want to believe. I'm not clearing anything up, but then it's like there's something like that. It's like, damn, now I gotta explain myself, you know.

SPEAKER_01 38:15

But like in an alternate reality, like you went on that television show.

SPEAKER_02 38:19

Like having like I think now, if I were to do it, if we do, if it was now and not two years ago, I probably would consider doing it now. I should probably reach out to that producer. Um, but it was also it was a business reality show, it's a well-known show. I I'll tell you offline. I can't become an NDA with Donald Trump. No, ew, no, no, no. It's actually a show that I had seen the show when they had told me the name and I was like, okay, like I'm open to it, but it can't again, like really good or really bad. I can't say it publicly because of NDA, but I will Oh my god, Erica.

SPEAKER_01 38:47

I'm sorry. I just like I want this for you because like I you're just so mint for TV, like or just like you know, think so. Yes. Like, I think I could just see you like breaking into all of that. Like, I would love to see it. And then I'd be the producer, but like, move the fuck out of her way.

SPEAKER_02 39:03

I'm her producer. I'd have to hire you to bring you on set. I need you like around all the time, but like I don't know anything. And like whatever she said, that's it. That's it. She's so useless. When they ask you a question, it's like, well, what did my producer say?

SPEAKER_00 39:19

Like, what did Erica say? These bitches are useless together.

SPEAKER_02 39:25

Dumb.

SPEAKER_00 39:28

Oh my god. I would, I would love this. I could just see you doing it. I could see you doing it.

SPEAKER_02 39:33

I don't know. I don't, I think I've just gotten used to like hearing and seeing myself on screen. Like, I didn't start listening to my podcast episodes until maybe a year ago. What? Yeah, I never listened to them because I was just like, this is so cringe. But now I'm like my biggest fan.

SPEAKER_00 39:49

I'm like, wow, the New York downloads are crazy.

SPEAKER_01 39:53

It's just Erica. She's like morning walk, afternoon walk myself. Didn't want it.

SPEAKER_02 39:58

Repeat. I'm like, girl, you sound so good. You look so good. You look so good.

SPEAKER_01 40:04

I'm so I think I listen to podcast episodes of myself because like I think these are time capsules. Like this moment right now is a time capsule of our friendship. And I love going back like even like a year ago to our even our old one. And I'm like, oh my God. Like that was like our time capsule. And I was telling my friend Alexis this and she's listening. She was like, I want to do a podcast with my sister. And I was like, if anything, you need to do a podcast with your sister because that's a time capsule of your sisterhood. Like you're gonna want that when you're eaty. Like, yeah, think about that. You get to go back and listen to your friends, you and your friends.

SPEAKER_02 40:41

Speaking of podcasts, we were supposed to start Big Booties in Business with Laura and Dev and Lex. And I actually don't know what happened. The follow-through is extremely poor. It's called capacity.

SPEAKER_00 40:54

We all were like, yes, and we're all like no. I mean, I think like even like a monthly one, would that be so fun? Like, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 41:05

I yeah. It's a time, it's a time capsule. Cause again, like, think about how much growth we've all experienced since our trip in what February, March?

SPEAKER_01 41:12

Yeah, we all went to crazy. We all went to Greece, guys. And I was thinking I kind of want that to be an annual thing.

SPEAKER_02 41:18

It should be like go to France to get it. That's why we need to start the big booties uh incorporated so that we can expense all this shit. Or we can go to the Bahamas, or we said Jamaica next time. Anywhere. I'm I'm down to go anywhere. Oh, and for context, our group chat for France was called Big Booti in France. So it's not we didn't pull big booties out of nowhere, even though we all do have big booties, but that's that's the vibe.

SPEAKER_01 41:41

All of us had big booties and went to France. Yeah. Um, I'm gonna say, I guess if I ask you like one of these cocktail questions. Okay, my last question to you is oh, we gotta end on this. Let's tell the girlies, let's end on what is the skincare secret that we need to know about. You have a business also with silken, your skincare. Yeah, and like what not like the stuff like we all know. Like use retinol. Like, I wanted to hear like some shit. Skincare secret.

SPEAKER_02 42:09

My my big so yes, I have a skincare brand, anti-pollution skincare. It's called Silken. Um, and my biggest things when it comes to skincare, number one, keep it simple. You only need three products you need a cleanser, you need a moisturizer, and you need a sunscreen. Okay. Three non-negotiables. You don't need to rest of that, you don't need to rest of that. Number two, I think microbiome skin health is completely underrated. We all understand the gut microbiome and that balance of good back good and bad bacteria in our bodies. Guys, the skin is the biggest organ, so it also applies to us. Your skin has a microbiome. Use products that are microbiome friendly.

SPEAKER_01 42:48

Um microbiome friendly.

SPEAKER_02 42:51

Microbiome-friendly. So again, your skin has a microbiome. Your microbiome is literally the balance of good and bad bacteria on your skin. And you have products that can disrupt your skin microbiome. So think of it as kind of like throwing off your pH balance. I feel like that's like the best equivalent that I can give that I can give to it. So you're using products that disturb this balance of bacteria on your skin, and that can cause inflammation. So think acne, eczema, dermatitis, um, redness, sensitivity, all of those things. So I think that's extremely important. And then the last is understanding your skin type, which is where I also think people go wrong. You can have dry skin, you can have oily skin, you can have combination skin, and you should be using products in accordance to your skin type. So I think those are like the three little nuggets I will drop. Understanding um, yeah, like balancing your microbiome. Your skin microbiome is huge. Um, you need a very simple routine. Don't overcomplicate it. I love that and know your skin type.

SPEAKER_01 43:49

I love to hear that because I get so overwhelmed with all these fucking people selling me shit. And I'm like, I just I feel fine. I feel best when I use my African, what's it called? African black soap that I've been using for yeah, for years. And I when I use that, and then I have my moisturizer, and then I do I use pumpkin oil as my oil. Oh, and it's really good for preventing wrinkles and really good for hair growth. Um that's what I do, and I feel great. And anytime I add something, my skin's like, the fuck is this? Like, get it out of here. So I I keep it simple. Oh, I do have one more question. Sorry. What do you think about Botox?

SPEAKER_02 44:29

I'm so tired of the young girlies getting Botox. Truly, because I feel like we're in this age where everyone's getting Botox, everyone's getting filler, everyone's getting all of these things at such young ages, and like your body hasn't been fully developed yet. And it's crazy because this is the first generation that's doing all of these things so young. So we actually don't know yet scientifically how all of these things are going to age. Same thing goes with breast augmentations and BBLs and all of these things. This is the youngest demographic or generation that has done all of these things so young. So we have no historical data on how this is going to age. And I am speculating that it's not aging well because I see some of these 20 year old girlies looking like 40, 50, and I'd be like, damn, you know? And it's like no shade, no tea. No shade, no T but couldn't be me. And granted, yes, I'm black and black don't crack, but it's also like, babe, you're doing too much and we don't have to do all that. So I would moral of the story say Botox until when you're older and you actually need it. Because you're training your you're literally training the muscles in your face not to work. That's what Botox does. It basically freezes your muscles. So it's like, imagine if your muscles froze when you were like four or five. Like you won't, you wouldn't know how to have strength. You wouldn't build muscle memory. You wouldn't know how to hold itself up. So you're getting all this Botox in your face. Your face is not learning how to like hold up your skin so that when you stop getting Botox, you look saggy AF and it's like you're not even 30.

SPEAKER_01 45:54

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_02 45:56

So like wait, we don't do that.

SPEAKER_01 45:57

Okay, I'm not gonna lie, I don't want to get it. Like, I feel like there's don't always I feel like there's always a natural way to do something. Like I just think nature has everything, and I'm not even like a big hippie, just I just don't I don't see how injecting something in my skin is a good idea.

SPEAKER_02 46:14

It's literally a toxin, botulitum toxin. That's literally what Botox is abbreviated for. You're literally injecting toxins into your body. And granted, I know some people do it for medical reasons. Like I know some women who have um like they sweat a lot, so they'll get Botox under their arms or things like that, which you know, everyone different strokes, different folks. Um, but I'm just not a fan of it. And I maybe it's because I have a very natural approach to things, but it is not for me. And like, who doesn't want their face to be expressive? They're like, oh my gosh, like when I smile or when I shrug my forehead creases. Yes, that that's actually what it's supposed to do. That would look fucking weird if it didn't. Yeah, like women who can't even smile or like can't show emotion, they just look surprised all the time. Like my face right there. They always look so shocked.

SPEAKER_01 47:06

That is also just like guys, like this is life. Like, we're supposed to just enjoy and not like try to fix everything all the fucking time. I don't know. Yeah, I just I just want to keep things natural. So I'm so glad I got that out of the way because I was like, oh fuck, what if you're like, no, you need to get Botox? Like, god damn, and I have to do it because Erica said no.

SPEAKER_02 47:24

Don't where were you thinking about getting Botox? No, but it's just like everywhere. Like, everywhere. No, no, no. I'm like, wow, you have way more money than I thought.

SPEAKER_01 47:38

Oh my god, our next podcast recording, I'm like, my face is just stuck. I'm like, is your freedom scrozen? No, is your screen like I was gonna say, no, I just see it's just everywhere. And like it's like I don't even want this kind of fucking content. It just happens because everyone's doing it. And so then I'm like, am I missing out? And then I'm like, no, like no.

SPEAKER_02 48:02

Where were you considering on getting Botox? Like you're doing ahead. So that means you don't need it. Okay, you were literally trying to force it into a situation.

SPEAKER_01 48:11

Like, I don't know where I would get it either. So I'm just like, uh, okay, well, problem solved. That can be great. There you go. Um, okay, well, y'all go listen to Erica's podcast and uh don't get Botox. Or do more of the story.

unknown 48:26

Do your thing.

SPEAKER_01 48:30

Oh my gosh, that was just such a freaking fun episode with Erica. I just I'm so lucky. Like, I'm sorry, I had to brag. I'm so lucky that like I love my clients. Like, not only are they just so fun to work with, but we're all genuinely friends, like me, Erica, Lara, Andrea, like a lot of my clients. We all went to France this summer and we just had so much fun. I just feel very, very blessed about that. And I realize that's kind of a big value in my business, is that like I actually want to be friends with my clients. And I love that my job is like also making my friends money. Like, that's my job is to make my friends and my clients money and elevate their life. So she has a podcast called Clocked Out, and essentially it's helping nine to five founders scale their business. So if you are actually have a nine to five listening to this, I hate to tell you, but you should jump over there. Like, this podcast is definitely about scaling your business. But if you are like trying to manage having a nine to five and run a business, you need you need clocked out. It's such a freaking good podcast. I'm really proud of it. Can't lie. Um, also, if you haven't noticed, my mic is back. Oh my god. Yes, I'm so glad to be back with my mic. I've been traveling for three months and I had to record just off Zoom with no mic, and it was rough and also embarrassing as a podcast producer recording with no mic. Not great. Not a great look. I won't get into it too much, but I will say that I am recording this at my own desk in my own apartment in freaking Los Angeles, California. I'm officially not a nomad, guys. I pay rent and bills just like you. I'm officially a citizen again. I'm so excited. I can't lie. I've been nomadic for three years and it's been so fun, but like I missed having a home. I literally had the best freaking time going to Joshua treat my friends this past weekend. I have like plans out the wazoo. I've just I live so close to the beach. Like, I'm just so fucking happy. I'm gonna have to do a whole episode about like that whole transformation. Just starting my business from like completely nothing and having home with my break into my old house to now having a home in one of the most expensive parts of LA from my business. I'm literally so happy to be back in California. This is my home. I'm so happy. I can't lie. Okay. Well, what other things about the update you on? Oh, by the way, we are hosting a networking speed date event. So if you don't know, I have a community called Cocktails and Clothes, and it's for founders just like you who are scaling together, growing together, hiring each other, referring each other. It's a fucking badass community, and there are no more free trials. You can't get access to the community anymore since we are now on a wait list. But here's the thing I am offering monthly networking speed dates. That is the only open event where you can hang out with the girls in the community, meet other founders who are not in the community just yet, and have a speed date networking event with them. And this is where you can meet your next business bestie, referral, or even potentially client. And it's so fun. And this is gonna be happening September 24th at 11 a.m. Pacific time. And I will have the link in the show notes. And the event is completely free. This is just a chance for you to connect with other founders and also meet the girls in the community if you are curious about what the vibe is like in the community. So I will have that link in the show notes below. I hope to see you there because I would love to actually meet you guys. Like, I don't even know who's listening to this for real. I like to see your cities that are listening. I'd actually love to meet your face, and I would love for you to meet all the fucking badass women in my community. So yeah, it is going to be September 24th at 11 a.m. Pacific time 2026, and it's gonna be a fucking vibe. So, all right, I will see you guys next episode. Y'all are gonna actually love the next episode. I know y'all love a sales episode, and that we have on my client Alyssa, who is all about closing sales and the DMs and not on sales calls. Y'all are going to eat up that next episode. So, but until then, as always, you're a bad bitch, and I will see you next time.