In the last episode of the podcast, we talked about the power of pausing—not as a luxury, but as a leadership move. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, I encourage you to go back and check it out first. It really sets the tone for what we're talking about today, because once you've paused, then what do you do?

That's what we're going to talk about. We're going to talk about what it really means to move from survival mode into something that actually supports your energy, your time, and your goals.

Welcome to the Mind Your Time Podcast. I'm Shannon Baker, your coffee-loving host, business strategist, and systems expert. I guide consultants towards systems that protect their time and elevate their expertise. If you're ready to run a business that supports your life and not the other way around, you're in the right place. Each episode shares grounded strategies rooted in my POWER In Motion framework to help you lead your client experience with clarity and confidence. So grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage, and let's dive in.

Are you tired of trying to hold everything together and ready to make a change? If you're shaking your head yes—or even if you said that out loud—I am excited for you, and I'm glad that you tuned in today. That means you've paused long enough to notice that the way you've been operating is not sustainable, even if on the surface everything looks fine. And this is great. It lets me know you're not in a crisis, and I want to let you know that you are not failing.

So the real question we're going to answer today is: what comes after the pause? And it's important to talk about this because pausing is powerful, but it's only the first step. This is where a lot of small business owners get stuck. They pause, they feel a little bit of relief, and then old habits start to quietly creep back in. Before you know it, you're setting new goals, which come with new expectations, and a familiar urgency kicks in and says, "Okay, now I need you to hurry up and make something happen." If you're not intentional at this point, survival mode slips right back in—but it's dressed up as motivation.

What we're talking about today is how you can move forward without that urgency taking over again, and how to turn that pause and what you discover into sustainable success instead of another temporary reset that was never meant to last. Because here's something that matters more than most people realize: sustainable success doesn't come from doing more. It starts with clarity. Clarity about what actually matters right now. Clarity about what fits the season that your life is in. Clarity about what you are no longer willing to do that stretches you thin and makes you accommodate others.

Survival mode trains you to treat everything like it's equally important. And when everything feels important, you lose the ability to lead intentionally. But you also have to remember: sustainable success is not about staying slow forever. It's about staying grounded as you move forward. And this is the part that often catches people off guard. Coming out of survival mode is a little bit uncomfortable—sometimes even disorienting. Because when you've been operating in that urgent state for a long time, you can start to freak out when things are calm.

You may be thinking things like, "If I don't do more, I'm going to fall behind," or "If I don't respond to my clients right away, they're going to be disappointed." Maybe even, "If I don't keep moving fast, everything is going to fall apart." The problem is our brains have been trained to believe that speed equals safety and success. But leadership requires discernment. Sometimes it requires us to slow down, and we shouldn't always be in constant motion.

So instead of you trying to rebuild everything right now, I want to slow this part down even more. Because what comes after the pause is not a full overhaul. It's steady, thoughtful decision-making.

Here's a simple way that you can anchor yourself without creating more pressure. For this moment—just this moment right now—I want you to focus on three things. One boundary you're going to reinforce to protect yourself. One commitment—maybe an offer or expectation—you're going to adjust to protect your energy. And one system, structure, or form of support you're going to recommit to. That is it. No dashboards. No new tools. No big scary plans. And no pressure to get it all right. But these three things—these decisions—are how you begin shifting out of survival mode and into something that gives you a more sustainable pace.

This is where the definition of success starts to change, and you control it. Urgency creates motion, not direction. Alignment creates momentum, which is what you want. When your business reflects your values and respects your true capacity, it doesn't demand more of you than you can give. It supports you better. But that only happens if you decide how the space you created during the pause is going to be used—before your calendar fills back up and dictates that for you.

You don't need to earn space. You need to protect it. And protecting it doesn't mean doing less work. It means doing the right work at the right pace, for you, for the right reasons. This is how you shift from survival mode to sustainable success.

Now, before we wrap up today, I want to slow this down and recap what we've talked about. Coming out of survival mode is not about rushing into new goals or fixing everything all at one time. You have to start with clarity—clarity about what matters right now, what fits the season that your life is in, and what you're no longer willing to sacrifice your energy for.

We also talked about how urgency often sneaks back in after the pause, disguised as motivation. So when everything feels important, it's harder to lead intentionally—which is why we don't want that to happen. Sustainable success doesn't come from doing more. It comes from having space to make grounded decisions. You can reinforce one boundary, adjust at least one expectation, and recommit to one form of support that will help you right now. This is how the pause turns into progress. Not through pressure, but through alignment. Not through speed or going fast, but by being intentional and slowing down a bit.

Now I want to leave you with one grounding question—not something you're going to solve today, just something I want you to think about: What decision are you making right now out of urgency? The answer to that question alone can change how you move through your week because it invites you to pause before you react.

Awareness without action will keep you stuck. But awareness paired with one intentional decision? That creates real change. That's why pausing creates space. Then you get to choose how that space is used—not by rushing to fill it, not by proving anything to anyone but yourself, but by making decisions that actually support you today, this week, this month, and this season of your life.

I want you to honor your capacity. Let your choices serve you, not stretch you. And no matter what, remember—sustainable success is not built in survival mode. It's built when clarity leads and urgency steps aside.

Thank you for tuning in today. If this episode feels like a breath of fresh air, it's because you're already craving a business that supports your life, not one that steals your time. If you want help spotting what's quietly draining your time and energy, you can download the Back Office POWER Checklist at theshannonbaker.com/checklist.

And if this conversation resonated with you, make sure you're following the podcast on your favorite platform so you don't miss what's next. We'll keep breaking this down together, one intentional step at a time.

Until next time, keep calm and streamlined.

If you're already feeling behind this early in the year, like you need to move faster just to catch up with everyone else, I want you to pause for a moment and stay with me.

That pressure you're feeling right now, it's not random. And it doesn't mean that you're doing anything wrong.

So today we're going to talk about the power of pausing. And I'm not talking about taking time off. I'm not talking about slowing down for the sake of it, but pausing so you can lead your business with more clarity and be more intentional where you spend your time. And by the way, intentional is my word of the year.

And why now? Because this is one of the few moments where you can pause, make a change, and decide that you don't want to keep operating from this rushed place. If you don't want to feel that way for another year, stay tuned.

Welcome to the Mind Your Time Podcast. I'm Shannon Baker, your coffee-loving host, business strategist, and systems expert.

I guide consultants toward systems that protect their time and elevate their expertise. So if you're ready to run a business that supports your life and not the other way around, you're in the right place.

Each episode shares grounded strategies rooted in my POWER in Motion framework to help you lead your client experience with clarity and confidence. So grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage, and let's dive in.

If you're already feeling the pressure to move faster because you're behind everyone else, I want you to pause for just a moment.

And I know you don't need or want another reminder to slow down. But I want you to really understand that the way you're feeling right now, it's not random.

That's why I decided to start the year off on the podcast talking about the power of pause. Not as rest. Not as a luxury. But as an intentional decision.

Because the way you move forward in your business right now is either going to reinforce patterns that drain you, or it will create space for something more sustainable to take shape.

And at this moment in time, right now is one of the few times you can still influence how the rest of the year unfolds before that fast pace of life kicks back in, quietly takes over, and makes the decision for you.

Here’s something most people don’t realize.

When you don’t pause, your nervous system stays in a constant state of alert. Everything starts to feel urgent. Everything feels time sensitive, even when it really isn’t.

That’s when you start reacting instead of deciding. You’re accommodating instead of leading. You’re filling space instead of protecting it.

Over time, your calendar begins to reflect what everyone else wants and needs from you, rather than what actually supports you and your goals.

So if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, scattered, or like you’re always “on,” this isn’t a discipline issue. And it’s not because you’re doing something wrong.

It’s what I like to call a drift.

It happens quietly in the spaces you don’t protect. In the flexibility that slowly becomes expectation. In the small compromises that felt reasonable in the moment, but really weren’t.

Let me illustrate what I mean.

It’s like when a client sends you a text message or a Slack message on a Friday at 6:15 p.m. Even though you’re supposed to stop responding at the end of your office hours, which is 5:00 p.m., you say, “I’ll respond just this once.”

Then the next week, or even the next day, you get another message. It’s longer. And then it starts happening consistently. Almost daily. And a response is expected.

Notice I didn’t say you changed your policy. You didn’t.

But because you didn’t stick to that boundary around your schedule, you created a new policy dictated by that client because you felt it was, and I’ll say this in air quotes, “good customer service.”

Boundaries are invisible barriers that help define reasonable ways people can interact with you if they want your undivided attention.

They’re not just policies. They’re patterns. And those patterns train people how to treat you.

And the only people who get upset when you have boundaries and stick to them are usually the ones who benefited most from you not having them in the first place.

That’s why identifying drift is tricky. It often looks like you’re being productive. You’re handling things. You’re solving problems. You’re showing up.

But that’s the kind of drift that reshapes your boundaries without you realizing it. And that’s why small resets matter.

But you have to pause to notice them.

When you respond from survival mode, even your most responsible decisions can become costly. It doesn’t always happen right away, but over time it drains your energy, impacts your health, and erodes your confidence as a leader.

What I often see with consultants is this internal hope that things will eventually settle down.

After this busy season.
After this project wraps up.
After things feel more under control.

But waiting doesn’t create clarity. Waiting allows old patterns to take deeper root. What you thought was temporary becomes your new normal.

January has a deceptive calm to it. It feels open. Flexible. Forgiving.

But this is actually a small window of opportunity where you can still shape what’s coming next before expectations are set, availability is assumed, and your role becomes reactive again.

If you don’t intentionally pause now, your clients will choose the pace for you. And they won’t choose based on what’s happening in your life. They’ll choose what’s best for them.

That’s why this matters now. Momentum is forming. And once it sets in, you’re managing it instead of designing it.

Pausing doesn’t mean stopping. It doesn’t mean disengaging. And it doesn’t mean falling behind.

Pausing is interrupting reactive behavior long enough to choose differently.

I’m not talking about taking a vacation, creating a vision board, or waiting for a someday reset. Someday never happens.

I’m talking about small, intentional pauses that give you clarity.

Maybe that’s taking fifteen minutes to review your calendar and see if it reflects your real availability.

Maybe it’s adding a buffer between meetings so you can move, eat, or breathe.

Or maybe it’s a quiet check-in before your day begins, so you’re centered before everything starts pulling at you.

These aren’t lifestyle upgrades. They’re small resets.

Clarity doesn’t come from moving faster. It comes from removing friction. And friction usually lives in patterns we haven’t paused to identify.

Here’s where many thoughtful consultants get stuck.

They pause.
They reflect.
They recognize something feels off.

But nothing changes.

That’s because awareness without structure doesn’t change how your business runs. It just makes you more aware of what you’re tolerating.

You don’t need more insight. You need visibility.

Visibility into where boundaries are stretched. Where expectations have quietly expanded. Where capacity no longer matches commitments.

That’s why cycles repeat year after year, even when you’re doing everything “right.”

And that’s why I created the Boundary Reset Scorecard.

It’s not a mindset exercise. It’s not a personality quiz. It’s a grounded check-in you can complete in under five minutes.

It helps you see what’s working, what isn’t, and where your capacity is being stretched too far.

When you can name what’s not working, you can actually change it.

Using this tool now gives you options.

If you wait until you’re overwhelmed, you’re reacting.
If you wait until you’re burned out, you’re recovering.

Right now, you still have room to choose.

You don’t need to fix everything at once. You don’t need to burn your business down. You just need to interrupt the pattern.

If you’re thinking you don’t have time for this, that usually means your time is already being spent in ways you didn’t choose.

If you’re thinking you should be able to handle this on your own, you already have — but you haven’t fixed it. And it’s been costing you.

And if you feel like you just need to push a little longer, that’s survival mode. And we’re working to get you out of that.

Pausing isn’t about doing more. It’s about creating enough space to lead with clarity instead of urgency.

Before we wrap up, let’s recap.

Pausing isn’t just rest. It’s a leadership move that creates calm, clear decision-making.

Survival mode doesn’t always look chaotic. Often, it looks like you’re handling everything — until it starts to drain you.

And awareness alone won’t change how your business supports you. Change happens when you identify leaks and reset them intentionally with structure.

This moment matters not because you’re behind, but because you still have time to choose differently.

If this episode highlighted something you’ve known needed attention, that awareness is worth listening to.

The Boundary Reset Scorecard can help you take the next step with clarity, not pressure. The link is in the show notes.

All you need to do is pause. That’s a decision your future self will thank you for.

Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode, where we’ll talk about what comes after the pause and how to move into sustainable success without urgency running the show.

Until then, please honor your capacity. And thank you for being here.

What if I told you that you don't have to wait until January to feel in control of your business again? That can be your reality. So today we're going to talk about one small shift you can make right now so the chaos you're experiencing doesn’t follow you into the new year.

Welcome to the Mind Your Time Podcast. I'm Shannon Baker, your coffee loving host and business operations strategist. If you're a service provider who's great at what you do but stuck with misfit clients, messy onboarding, or draining workdays, this show is for you. Each week I share strategies and practical insights rooted in my POWER In Motion Framework to help you streamline your backend, protect your time, and lead your client experience with confidence. Because skills got you clients, but systems will take you further. So grab your cup of coffee or your favorite drink and let's dive in.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself because I've been in business for over two decades. One thing I've learned is that the end of the year has its own rhythm. Things slow down just enough for you to reflect, but not enough to stop the noise so you can calm the chaos.

For years I would sit down in December determined to plan for the next year. I'd pour a cup of coffee, open a fresh notebook, and start listing everything I wanted to fix, launch, or finally get right. But after a few hours that mean girl in my head would say, “You know you're behind, right? You should be further along than you are.”

One year I caught myself. I realized I wasn’t planning, I was reacting. I was dragging mind trash, messy folders, half finished projects, and unrealistic goals into a new year. Those lists weren’t strategy. They were survival tactics. The moment I realized that, everything changed.

I stopped making lists and instead of sprinting into January, I paused. I sat in silence with my coffee and took time to reflect. I looked back to see what was working, what wasn’t, and decided what I wanted my business to feel like. That shift, going from reacting to reflecting, changed how I plan and how I lead. I stopped chasing the perfect reset moment and started creating resets when I needed them, especially before the noise of the new year kicks in.

Trust me, you don’t have to wait until January or quote unquote the right time to reset. I stopped doing that years ago. In fact, September has been my January for years. I talk about that in another episode, so I’ll put a link to it in the show notes if you want to hear more.

But I want you to really shift your mindset about the right time. Your reset can start today, tomorrow, next week, or next month. You get to decide. What I know about this season is that it’s your built in opportunity to reflect, refine, and rebuild a business that doesn’t burn you out.

Over the past few episodes we’ve laid the foundation for this. We’ve talked about your goals, your operations, and the routines you need to support them. Today is the step that prevents you from sliding backward. It’s reflection. This is where you pause and take note of what used to work that still works now, and where you need to course correct before things break again.

Growth isn’t linear. Things evolve. We change. Our boundaries shift. Sustainable success comes from your ability to pause, adjust, and realign.

I know you're amazing at what you do, but your backend probably doesn’t show it. It’s hard to lead with confidence when your systems feel duct taped together and you’re working late nights just to stay afloat. You’ve been booked with clients, but every project creates new admin tasks. Your tools don’t talk to each other. You keep remaking documents you know you created somewhere but can’t find. You want to feel in demand, not on demand. You want clarity and workflows that match how professional you truly are.

That’s what this episode is about. Using reflection to shift from operating in chaos to creating space before the next season of your life begins. Because the chaos will not fix itself. If you don’t pause and reset it now, it will follow you into the new year.

There are three steps we’re going to walk through to help you reset and start building a business that works for you. Step one is to reflect before you plan. Most entrepreneurs skip this step because slowing down feels unproductive. But reflection is what gives your next move direction.

Ask yourself what worked this year and why. What drained you and how you can prevent that next time. Where your systems broke down. Boundaries are linked to every part of the POWER In Motion Framework, but they aren’t built in a moment. They strengthen through the systems that help you protect your time day after day.

Step two is simplifying what you keep. Simplification isn’t shrinking your goals. It’s freeing your capacity so you can grow with clarity. If your digital space feels like a pile of brilliant ideas mixed with too many tools, simplification is how you create room to breathe again. Then you can make strategic changes. When your backend stops leaking time, you stop leaking money. You gain capacity for better clients, better pricing, and better work.

Maybe you need to retire an offer that drains you. Maybe you need to fire a client who doesn’t respect your boundaries. Maybe you need to clean up your backend so you’re not always working harder than you should. When I simplified my scheduling system and limited when I was available for calls, clients started respecting my time because my system protected it. That one change gave me hours back each week.

Inside the Mind Your Time Society, that’s exactly what we do. We use the Systems and Sanity Suite Roadmap to simplify strategically and at your own pace. Think of it as your compass. It shows you the entire journey from your first login to running a business that operates without chaos. When you can see the whole path, it’s easier to choose the right next step without second guessing.

Once you clear the clutter and start breathing again, you can redesign how your business fits your life. That’s step three. Redesign your business to support your life. Your business should support you, not consume you. You don’t have to stay on the hamster wheel at full speed.

When you intentionally design your business to support your season of life, your structure becomes self care. This looks different for everyone, but it often means setting real office hours and honoring them, scheduling downtime between projects, or delegating the tasks that drain you.

I’ve seen how transformational a few small changes can be. When Emani joined the Mind Your Time Society she was booked out with clients but burnt out behind the scenes. Her boundaries weren’t holding because her systems weren’t supporting her. Once she used the Boundary Reset Scorecard everything shifted. She finally saw how to catch cracks before they became chaos. The Scorecard helped her see where her energy was leaking and gave her a simple way to stay aware of what was slipping. She used it regularly to realize when she was working too late or letting client tasks creep into time she blocked for something else.

Within a few weeks she wasn’t just more productive. She was more aligned. Her systems were supporting her instead of stressing her out. And once she strengthened her boundaries she gained more billable capacity and stopped ending each week exhausted. I’ll drop a link to my chat with Emani in the show notes so you can hear her story.

I want that for you too. The Boundary Reset Scorecard isn’t just another worksheet. It’s the moment you clearly see your patterns and decide what you want to change.

Here’s your quick win challenge. Before you start planning for next year, schedule thirty minutes to reflect. Pick one area of your business and look at what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to change. Download the Boundary Reset Scorecard and take ten focused minutes with it. Be honest with yourself. This is about awareness, not judgment. You can’t fix what you don’t see.

You’ll see where your systems support you and where they’re slipping. You’ll see where your time and energy are leaking and which boundaries need reinforcement before the new season begins. By the end you’ll feel lighter because you’ll have clarity. It will feel like closing a dozen open tabs in your mind. You’ll know exactly what deserves your focus next. That sense of calm clarity is your first reset in motion.

The Scorecard gives you clarity. The tools inside the Mind Your Time Society give you the plan and the support to follow through.

Let’s recap what we covered today. Reflection creates clarity. Simplification creates capacity. Realignment creates confidence. When your systems match the season you’re in you go from reactive to leading. From on demand to confidently in demand.

You’ve done enough surviving. Now it’s time to thrive. You don’t need to start over. You just need a clean starting point. Once you feel that clarity, you’ll have the confidence to lead your business instead of chasing it.

If you’re ready to feel calm, confident, and in control of your business without waiting for January, now is the time to join us inside the Mind Your Time Society. You’ll get a simple plan, the tools you need, and a community to support you every step of the way. Your business won’t feel like a constant emergency anymore.

You’ll start with the Welcome Checklist, follow the Systems and Sanity Suite Roadmap, and finally feel confident and in control of your backend. You won’t be guessing anymore. You’ll know exactly what to do next. Growth isn’t built by doing more. It’s built by doing what matters but doing it better.

And imagine shutting your laptop at 5 p.m. knowing everything is exactly where it should be. That’s what systems and boundaries make possible.

Thanks for tuning in today. If this episode hit home it’s because you already know you’re ready to stop patching problems and start running your business like the pro you are. But listening won’t fix the cracks. Action will. Your next step is to grab the Back Office POWER Checklist at theshannonbaker.com forward slash checklist. It will show you what’s working, what’s missing, and where your backend is slowing you down.

And if you want to go deeper, Founders Circle inside the Mind Your Time Society is where we fix it together. If you’re not quite ready, come say hi on Instagram at the underscore Shannon Baker. I’d love to hear what resonated with you. And if you’re loving the podcast, leave a quick review at ratethispodcast.com forward slash mindyourtime. It helps more service providers like you find the show.

Skills got you clients. Systems will help you keep them.

If your motivation's been up and down lately, this is your reminder that you don't have to wait until January or Monday even to get back on track. Because the truth is, consistency doesn't happen when everything calms down. It happens when you decide to establish your routine again.

So in this episode, I'm sharing how you can stay consistent when life gets messy, why structure not motivation creates momentum, and how you can reset your focus so you can finish the year or the week feeling calm, clear, and in control.

Welcome to the Mind Your Time Podcast. I'm Shannon Baker, your coffee loving host and business operations strategist. If you're a service provider who's great at what you do but stuck with misfit clients, messy onboarding or draining work days, this show is for you. Each week I share both strategies and practical insights rooted in my Power In Motion Framework to help you streamline your back end, protect your time, and lead your client experience with confidence. Because skills got you clients, but systems will take you further. So grab your cup of coffee or your favorite drink and let's dive in.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to fall out of your routine once things start moving fast in life? You end up spending so much time catching up and trying to keep clients happy that you're reacting to whatever's on your calendar, and self care and your systems end up buried in the background.

I get it, I've been there. There was a time when I'd start each week with the best intentions, but by Wednesday I was off track. I would blame my schedule or tell myself I’d just try again next week, but all that did was create more chaos. I wasn’t failing because I lacked discipline. I was struggling because I lacked consistency in my routine.

That realization was a game changer for me, and it's actually what led to the Power In Motion Framework that I use today.

Now, in the previous episode, I talked about step three of my Power In Motion Framework which is Work On The Plan. I shared how you can build structure around your goals and create a 90 day plan that gives you clarity. But structure alone is not enough. The next step in the framework is Execute Consistently, and this is where that structure turns into intentional actions that lead to progress.

And that is what we’re going to talk about today. How to actually execute your plan so your systems keep working for you even when things start to get messy in real life.

Now, if you've listened to my conversation with Imani Guy, you heard what it looks like when clarity and consistency finally come together in real life. Her story is the perfect example of what I'm talking about today. I’ll put a link to that in the show notes. It's called How To Go From Scrambling To Strategic, so you can check it out if you haven’t heard it.

But Imani’s journey started the way a lot of ours do. She was doing great work for her clients, but behind the scenes everything was scattered. She was missing systems and she lacked a routine, so she was constantly bouncing between client work and various projects. She could not keep up.

Once she joined the Mind Your Time Society, we started working through the Power In Motion Framework together. Step by step, she started building structure in her business that supported her goals. But the biggest transformation came when she reached step four, Execute Consistently, which is what we’re talking about today.

Instead of trying to overhaul everything in her business at once, Imani started showing up in small, consistent ways. She committed to her weekly reset, which I’ve talked about before. She blocked time for reflection and made adjustments along the way. And when she used the Boundary Reset Scorecard, it helped her stay aware of what was slipping that she didn’t notice.

Within a few weeks, she wasn’t just more productive. She was more aligned and more intentional with her time. Her systems started supporting her instead of stressing her out.

And that’s what consistency really looks like. It’s not about doing more. It’s about being aligned and being intentional with what you’re doing, focusing on the things that matter most. So let’s talk about how you can build that same consistency in your business.

I’ve got three lessons for you.

The first one is that consistency is built through structure, not motivation. Motivation will come and go. But when you have structure, that keeps things steady because you know what to do next. It eliminates the mental clutter that leads to burnout. That’s why systems matter. They create predictable rhythms and efficiency that save you from decision fatigue. Think of it like you’re setting the tempo for your business. You don’t have to hustle hard or work longer. You just have to stay on beat.

Lesson two is that reflection creates consistency. Most people skip this part. We plan and we start to execute, but we don’t pause to look back and see what is or isn’t working. That is why I teach every client and every member inside the MYT Society to establish a routine that includes a weekly reset.

At the beginning or end of each week, you take thirty minutes to ask yourself three questions. What worked. What did not. What needs to change to improve my results. This is not about judging yourself. It is about being aware. When you pause and reflect, you create space to make adjustments before chaos takes over.

That leads to lesson three. Boundaries protect your consistency. It is impossible to be consistent when you are overextended. Every time you say yes to something outside your boundaries that drains you, you take time and energy away from what keeps you grounded and moving forward.

This is where a lot of business owners get stuck. They build systems but forget to protect the time and space to let them work. The Boundary Reset Scorecard helps you notice those cracks before they become craters. Maybe you’ve been working late again. Maybe you’ve skipped review days for a few weeks. Or you’re letting client tasks spill over into what should be your CEO time.

Without pausing and reflecting, you will not notice it. And when you don’t notice it, your boundaries cannot protect you.

So I want you to take a minute and think about where you’ve been slipping. This isn’t for you to beat yourself up. It is to help you get the insight you need to make adjustments. What part of your routine needs attention right now to protect your time and energy.

That’s where this week’s Quick Win Challenge comes in. Remember, this is not about fixing everything at once. It is about choosing one thing that helps you feel a little more in control right now.

Take ten minutes and complete the Boundary Reset Scorecard. A link is in the show notes. Be honest about where your boundaries are slipping. Then choose one small reset that you can commit to this week. You do not have to make drastic changes. Pick something simple you can take action on immediately and stay consistent with. That could be logging off at a set time three days this week. Maybe a financial check in on Friday. Or clearing your inbox before the weekend so you can fully unplug.

The goal is never perfection. It is progress that protects your peace. Consistency is not about doing more. It is about being intentional with what you do and creating calm momentum.

So let’s recap what we covered today. Consistency is built through structure not motivation. Reflection creates a routine that keeps you aligned. Boundaries protect your consistency and your energy.

When clarity and consistency come together the way they did for Imani, you stop operating in survival mode and start leading your business with confidence.

So take a deep breath and acknowledge that you do not have to wait until January to reset. You can start today. And if you’re ready to find your rhythm again, grab the Boundary Reset Scorecard. Use it to check where your boundaries are slipping. Then join us inside the Mind Your Time Society to build the structure your business needs and get accountability that helps you stay consistent even when life gets messy.

You are just one reset away from steady progress, but you have to take the first step.

Thanks for tuning in today. If this episode hit home, it is because you already know you are ready to stop patching problems and start running your business like the pro you are. But listening will not fix the cracks. Action will.

Your next step is to grab the Back Office Power Checklist at theshannonbaker.com forward slash checklist. It will show you exactly what is working, what is missing, and where your back end is silently slowing you down. And if you are ready to go deeper, the Founders Circle inside the Mind Your Time Society is where we fix it together with the Systems and Sanity Suite. You will get the clarity you have been craving.

Not quite there yet. Come say hi to me on Instagram at the underscore Shannon Baker. I would love to hear what resonated with you the most. And if you are loving the podcast, please leave a quick review because it helps more service providers like you find the show. You can do that at ratethispodcast.com forward slash mindyourtime.

If you've been feeling stretched thin or stuck in cycles of busyness that don't actually move things forward in your business, this episode is going to help you reset. You're going to learn how to create a plan you can actually stick to, one that keeps you focused, calm, and in control so that your next 90 days feel clear instead of chaotic.

Welcome to the Mind Your Time Podcast. I'm Shannon Baker, your coffee loving host and business operations strategist. If you're a service provider who's great at what you do but stuck with misfit clients, messy onboarding, or draining workdays, this show is for you.

Each week I share strategies and practical insights rooted in my POWER In Motion framework to help you streamline your back end, protect your time, and lead your client experience with confidence because skills got you clients, but systems will take you further.

So grab your cup of coffee or your favorite drink and let's dive in.

Okay, I have a confession to make. Not to mention, I was missing a real roadmap that worked, one that gave me the structure that I needed to keep myself focused.

So inside the Systems and Sanity Suite within the Mind Your Time membership, the structure begins with you joining the membership because that's where you get access to the resources and the community that will help you stay grounded.

Then you can take action immediately in Step Two, which is pick one goal and organize your operations. This is where you start cleaning up one area of your back office and start building your foundation.

I've already talked about both of these steps in detail in the previous episode, so I'm just going to put a link to that in the show notes so you can go check it out if you haven’t already listened to it.

So today we're talking about Step Three of the POWER In Motion framework where you work on the plan. Now, this is actually in Phase One of the Clarity to Confidence Journey where you start to establish your systems. Because systems help you take back control of your time and your business by putting real structure in place that supports your goals.

Now, this realization for me is something that I found most entrepreneurs miss. Even the best strategy will not work without structure and intentional action. That realization became the foundation for what's now the 90 day roadmap that I use and teach inside of the Mind Your Time Society.

Because I found that working in focused 90 day cycles really turned my chaos into clarity. It gave me structure that felt like freedom. I stopped waking up in panic mode and I started ending my days knowing exactly what I was doing the next day.

And that's what I want for you. That's how I want your next 90 days to feel clear, calm, and aligned.

Because honestly, most entrepreneurs don't struggle with motivation. They struggle because their goals don't have the systems needed to support them. You cannot get clarity while you’re working in chaos, and you cannot be consistent when you have a structure that doesn't fit.

When you intentionally create systems and habits that keep you grounded and focused, your business finally starts working for you instead of against you.

So let me tell you about one of my clients who learned the power of working on the plan. She was onboarding multiple clients every month, but every step lived in her head. That meant every new client caused her to reinvent the wheel. Over time, she was exhausted by this process, or should I say, lack of a process. She told me she was so tired that her success didn't even feel good.

When we started working together, we used the Back Office POWER Checklist to identify the gaps in her back office. Then we took those results and used the 90 day roadmap to build a plan that she could follow.

Month one was all about getting clear on what was working and what wasn’t working in her business. Month two was when we started building her structure. We automated her intake form, established dedicated days for calls, and created message templates for routine responses. Then in month three, we refined what was working in her onboarding process so that it could run without her.

By the end of those 90 days, she was onboarding new clients faster, her sleep was better, and she was closing her laptop by six without guilt. She stopped ending her days feeling anxious and stressed out and started ending them feeling productive and accomplished.

That’s what happens when you work on the plan instead of chasing it or operating by the seat of your pants. You stop reacting and you start leading.

When I say work on the plan, I mean you’re actually building the structure that makes execution easier later. It’s not just about creating a plan, but setting yourself up to actually follow through.

On the Systems and Sanity Suite roadmap, this is Step Three, the point where you start building real momentum by putting your systems in place.

And if you've ever said, “I’m really not a good planner,” I want you to hear me clearly. That’s not a discipline problem. It’s a systems problem.

This is exactly why I created the 90 day roadmap, which is available exclusively inside the Mind Your Time Society. It’s not another to do list. It’s a simple guided process that walks you through Phase One of the Clarity to Confidence Journey and points you to what comes next.

So let’s talk about these phases a little more. Phase One is where you establish your systems. This is the foundation you’re hearing about in today’s episode. There are three baseline systems that give you time back and help you take control. That’s your digital filing system, your time management system, and your communication system which includes client management.

In Phase Two, you begin to build the business because your foundation is in place. You strengthen your business by creating your money management system, your sales and marketing system, and your backup systems.

Once that’s done, you move to Phase Three where you start to scale your business. This is where you move from growth to scaling with ease. You develop a digital product or signature offer, streamline your client delivery, and put an emergency preparedness plan in place.

So take a moment and picture this because that’s the full roadmap. These three phases mirror the Systems and Sanity Suite roadmap. This is the framework that helps you take back control of your time and your business one system at a time.

And if you're not inside the membership yet, that’s okay. This episode is still going to help you start working on your plan so you can create momentum and clarity before you even join.

Now, if you've been trying to do everything yourself and wondering when you’re finally going to have space to breathe, then go ahead and join us inside. Go to theshannonbaker.com forward slash membership. When you join, grab the 90 day roadmap because it will help you turn your clarity into repeatable structure with tools that make it easy to apply what you already know in a way that fits your life right now.

Because I know you're great at what you do, but you’re exhausted because you're holding it all together. It’s time to shift the way you operate.

Once you start working on your plan, keeping your rhythm doesn’t have to feel hard. That’s what I love about the weekly reset. It’s a simple 30 minute check in you can do to keep your week aligned. You can do it at the beginning or the end of your week, but you need to ask yourself these three questions. What worked. What didn’t. And what needs to change to improve your results.

For one client, that meant setting and sticking to office hours. No more replying to messages at midnight or on weekends. For another client, it meant cleaning up her digital workspace before she checked out on Friday so she could unplug for the weekend.

Those small, steady resets build long term calm, and that’s how you work on the plan without burning out.

Then, once you’ve worked on the plan, meaning you’ve built some systems and created a stronger structure, the next step comes into play. You execute with rhythm and consistency. But that’s a conversation we’re going to save for another episode.

Before we wrap up today, I want to leave you with a simple challenge for the week. Pick one goal you can focus on for the next 90 days. Yes, just one. Then spend a few minutes looking at the systems that support it. Think about what’s working, what’s missing, and what could be simplified.

And if you’re ready to build a clear plan with structure that fits your life, join us inside the Mind Your Time Society. That’s where you get access to the 90 day roadmap along with the tools and support you need to put your systems in place.

Because when you have clarity, you create structure. When you have structure, you create freedom. And when you work on the plan with support, you finally start to see real progress.

Your next 90 days don’t have to feel scattered. They can feel steady, focused, and aligned with you taking one step at a time.

So let’s recap what we covered today. First, strategy does not work without structure. Your next level isn't about doing more. It’s about organizing what you already have. Second, we talked about the three foundational phases of your journey. Establishing your systems, building your business, then scaling your business. And finally, we talked about keeping your rhythm with a weekly reset. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s consistency and calm.

When you combine structure with focus and a good rhythm or routine, your business starts working with you instead of against you. That, in essence, is what it means to work on your plan.

Take a deep breath. Your next 90 days do not have to feel scattered. They can feel steady, focused, and aligned.

If you're ready to stop spinning your wheels, the 90 day roadmap inside the Mind Your Time Society will help you map out your next 90 days with clarity and confidence. You can learn more and join us at theshannonbaker.com forward slash membership. I’ll drop a link in the show notes so you can join us when you're ready.

And that’s it for today’s chat, my friend. Remember, clarity doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from doing what matters with intention.

Thanks for tuning in. If this episode hit home, it’s because you already know you’re ready to stop patching up problems and start running your business like the pro you are. But listening won’t fix the cracks. Action will.

Your next step is to grab the Back Office POWER Checklist at theshannonbaker.com forward slash checklist. It will show you exactly what’s working, what’s missing, and where your back end is slowing you down.

And if you’re ready to go deeper, Founders Circle inside the Mind Your Time Society is where we can fix it together with the Systems and Sanity Suite, so you can finally get the clarity you’ve been craving.

Not quite there yet? Come say hi to me on Instagram at the underscore Shannon Baker. I would love to hear what resonated with you the most.

And if you’re loving the podcast, please leave a quick review because it goes a long way in helping more service providers like you find the show. You can do that at ratethispodcast.com forward slash mindyourtime.

Skills got you clients. Systems help you keep them.

Are your tech tools actually helping you run the day-to-day operations of your business? Or are they just giving you more to manage?

If things are still feeling messy behind the scenes, even with all your apps and automations, then it's time for you to simplify. So today I'm sharing how you can get your daily operations organized so that your business finally feels calm, clear, and in control and supports you the way you want it to.

Welcome to the Mind Your Time Podcast. I'm Shannon Baker, your coffee-loving host and business operations strategist. If you're a service provider who's great at what you do but stuck with misfit clients, messy onboarding, or draining workdays, this show is for you.

Each week I share both strategies and practical insights rooted in my POWER In Motion framework to help you streamline your back end, protect your time, and lead your client experience with confidence. Because skills got you clients, but systems will take you further. So grab your cup of coffee or your favorite drink and let's dive in.

Have you ever started planning a simple family getaway only to be completely overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list? Well, that was me a few years ago. I had reached a point in my business where things were finally taking off, and instead of celebrating, I was drowning in tasks—emails, scheduling, client follow-ups—all while working a day job.

I was so busy trying to keep up that I couldn't even enjoy the success I had worked so hard for. Then one day, I missed a client deadline because their email was buried in my inbox. That's when I knew something had to change. I was done letting my business run me instead of the other way around.

So I sat down and started thinking about how I could make things work for me. There’s so much advice out there about how to start your business and how to get clients, but no one tells you about the importance of systems—or how to set them up so that your business doesn't take over your life.

I quickly realized I needed something else to give me back my time—or at least control of my time—while keeping things running efficiently. Especially when I was working during the day or completely unavailable because I was spending time with my family.

Guess what it was? That’s when I discovered the power of documented processes and the importance of tech tools for automation. Those two things combined didn’t just save my sanity—they gave me space to focus on what mattered: my family, my clients, and my goals. They allowed me to step into the driver’s seat and create a business that worked for me.

Does any of that sound familiar to you? Are you constantly juggling tasks, feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Maybe you’re chasing money instead of creating the business you dreamed of—one that runs efficiently without you and grows sustainably.

If that’s the case, it’s time for you to take a step back and start with the first step of my POWER In Motion framework: pick one goal. And if this is you, you’re not alone—but I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to stay this way.

Today we’re going to talk about how you can reclaim your time, build a business that supports your desired lifestyle, and start using the right tech tools to create space for what matters most to you. Specifically, we’ll dive into the first steps of my POWER In Motion framework. We’ll break down each and talk about how it can transform the way you run your business.

Step one: pick one goal. I’ve talked about this before, but yes, we’re going to talk about it again. This is all about narrowing your focus. One clear, measurable goal for the next 90 days can totally transform your approach and improve your results.

For example, when I was planning to leave my day job, instead of saying I just wanted to grow my business, I focused on a very specific outcome. Bottom line—clarity leads to real progress.

Now let’s talk about the second step: you have to organize your operations.

I know the tech tools can feel overwhelming, especially when this isn’t your strong suit. Technology is not your friend, especially when you’re already stressed out and don’t know where to start. Maybe you’ve tried a tool or two—or more—and got stuck. You thought, “You know what, this just isn’t worth it.”

Or maybe you’ve got tools just sitting there collecting dust because you’re not sure how to use them and don’t have time to figure it out.

Well guess what, my friend? You’re not the problem. The problem is that you’re trying to force tools to fit your business without first figuring out what you actually need them to do.

That’s why the “organize your operations” step in the POWER In Motion framework is so critical. This is where taking time to evaluate your tech tools before you sign up becomes essential. Tech tools are powerful—but only when they’re chosen intentionally and used effectively.

Let’s cut through the noise and get clear on how you can pick the right tools and make sure they work for you. Because newsflash—tech tools should help you do three things: save time, streamline your business, and free you up to focus on what really matters.

First, how do they save you time? Tech tools are like having an assistant who never sleeps. Imagine cutting out endless back-and-forth emails to schedule meetings or having follow-up emails sent automatically after someone submits their contact information through your website. That’s time you get to spend on something that actually grows your business—or even just enjoying a quiet cup of coffee.

Time is your most valuable resource, my friend, and tools help you maximize it. They’re worth their weight in gold.

Second, tech tools make your business run more efficiently. Think of them as quiet partners working in the background. They reduce errors, automate repetitive tasks, and keep your business functioning even when you’re not working.

And when you are working, you can focus on what truly requires your attention—not the little details. Tools like online schedulers, automated workflows, or project management systems can create processes that don’t need you to micromanage them.

Third—and most importantly—tech tools free you up to focus on what really matters. Whether that’s nurturing your clients, creating new offers, or spending uninterrupted time with your family, the right systems give you back control.

Think about how much time you’ve spent doing things that feel urgent but aren’t actually important. Tech tools allow you to shift your energy toward the things that align with your bigger goals.

That’s the kind of freedom they create when they’re working for you. And here’s a bonus—they also improve communication in your business. Whether you’re managing clients or working with a team, tech tools help everyone stay connected and on the same page.

Take Monday.com, for example. It’s not just about tracking tasks or managing deadlines—it’s about creating a centralized hub where updates happen in real time.

Now let’s be real. Using tech tools isn’t always smooth sailing. There are challenges, but none of them are deal breakers.

First, there’s always a learning curve. Yes, it can feel frustrating at first, but in the long run, it’s worth it. That’s why I create how-to videos for my clients after we set up a process. They’re step-by-step guides that help you hit the ground running without spending hours searching Google or YouTube.

The second challenge is tool overload. There are so many options that it’s easy to fall into the trap of subscribing to tools you don’t need.

If you’re like me, you’ve signed up for a free trial that expired before you even used it—and maybe forgot to cancel. Now you’re paying for something you don’t need.

Avoid this by determining what’s essential for you. Ask: What outcome do I need? Will this tool grow with my business? What features are must-haves versus nice-to-haves?

Third, consider the cost—not just in money, but in time. Will learning this tool save you time or make you money later? Will you need help setting it up or training your team? These questions are key before committing.

Here’s an example. One of my clients was using Monday.com to manage their team but wasn’t maximizing its features. They decided to switch to a more expensive tool with a steep learning curve. Meanwhile, one of their key processes was still completely manual and wasting hours every week.

Once we reviewed their workflows and implemented automations that were already built into Monday.com, several processes started running on their own. No more manual data entry. Things became faster, more efficient, and more accurate—and they were finally free to focus on growth.

So let’s recap, because this is where transformation really happens.

First, start by picking one goal. That focus creates momentum and lays the groundwork for everything else.

Next, remember that tech tools save time by automating repetitive tasks and giving you back your most valuable resource. Imagine waking up to find that your follow-ups, scheduling, and client communication are already handled—that’s freedom.

Then, use tools to make your business run efficiently. Systems should work even when you’re not. No more fires to put out, no more wondering if something slipped through the cracks.

And most importantly, use them to create space for what truly matters.

So let me ask you this: What would it look like if your business worked for you instead of the other way around? What if you had time to focus on the big picture instead of getting lost in the weeds?

Your business should work for you, not against you.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or stuck trying to keep it all together, now’s the time to make a change. The right systems and tools aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential.

If you’re ready to take charge and organize your business, grab the Back Office POWER Checklist. It’ll show you where the cracks are so you can stop spinning your wheels and fix what really matters first.

Go to theshannonbaker.com/checklist or click the link in the show notes. Once you complete it, choose one actionable step to improve your operations—whether that’s setting up a tool, automating something, or mapping a process.

Small wins build momentum, and you’ll be amazed at how much clarity and confidence one step can bring.

When you’re ready for deeper support, join us inside the Founders Circle in the Mind Your Time Society. You’ll get access to the full Systems and Sanity Suite—tools, templates, maps, and pacing plans to help you build a business one system at a time, at your pace, without doing it alone.

You’re ready for that next level of support, and I’m here to help you build it with confidence. So let’s get started.

Thanks for tuning in today. If this episode hit home, it’s because you already know you’re ready to stop patching problems and start running your business like the pro you are.

But listening won’t fix the cracks—action will. Your next step? Grab the Back Office POWER Checklist at theshannonbaker.com/checklist. It’ll show you exactly what’s working, what’s missing, and where your back end is silently slowing you down.

And if you’re ready to go deeper, the Founders Circle inside the Mind Your Time Society is where we can fix it together with the Systems and Sanity Suite. You’ll finally get the clarity you’ve been craving.

Not quite there yet? Come say hi on Instagram at @the_shannonbaker. I’d love to hear what resonated with you.

And if you’re loving the podcast, please leave a quick review—it helps more service providers like you find the show. You can do that right now at ratethispodcast.com/mindyourtime.

Skills got you clients. Systems and your expertise will help you keep them. Until next time, keep calm and streamline.

If you’ve been following along with the Systems Reset series, you’ve heard me talk about why being great at what you do isn’t enough, why onboarding shouldn’t be a guessing game, and how your calendar can either protect or break your boundaries. But today I want you to hear from someone who has lived through all of this and came out stronger on the other side.

I’m going to be talking to a client, colleague, and friend who’s also a member of the Mind Your Time Society. Her story is such a powerful example of how getting clarity, setting boundaries, and putting systems in place can completely transform your business and your life.

Welcome to the Mind Your Time Podcast. I’m Shannon Baker, your coffee-loving host and business operations strategist. If you’re a service provider who’s great at what you do but stuck with misfit clients, messy onboarding, or draining workdays, this show is for you. Each week I share both strategies and practical insights rooted in my POWER In Motion Framework to help you streamline your back end, protect your time, and lead your client experience with confidence. Skills got you clients, but systems will take you further. So grab your cup of coffee or your favorite drink, and let’s dive in.

Let me start by saying if you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you’ve probably noticed that I haven’t had a guest episode in years. One reason I made that decision is simple: it’s my podcast and I can do what I want. But more importantly, I didn’t want to bring guests on “just because.” My goal is for every episode to provide real value.

Today’s chat is with Imani Guy, the CEO and founder of Made New Marketing. I consider her a friend and trusted colleague, and she’s also my content manager and a member of the Mind Your Time Society. Before I turn it over to Imani to tell her story, I want to give you a little background on how we met, because it really emphasizes the power of collaboration.
I have a client who’s been with me practically since I started my business. She’s an event producer, and I manage her business and provide logistical on-site support at her events. In 2023 she produced a conference, and Imani was on that client’s team. We hit it off immediately and kept in touch after the event.

A few months later, I was hired by that client to clean up their back office, and Imani and I got to work together more closely. When I launched my membership, Imani was one of the first people to join. At that time, her business wasn’t quite ready to fully benefit from the resources inside. But that would soon change.

First, I want to say thank you, Shannon, for having me on this podcast. This has been a long time coming with us working together and a long time coming with me being here. Hello everyone. Like Shannon said, I’m Imani Guy, founder and CEO of Made New Marketing.

I started my business back in October of 2023. I had been working freelance in the marketing industry with a client Shannon and I shared. At the time, I thought, maybe I could be an entrepreneur—but I wasn’t ready to take that leap of faith. I loved the stability of my nine-to-five.

But in September of 2023, right before flying out for our client’s conference, I got an email saying I was losing my job. Suddenly, I had a decision to make. Would I try to find another marketing job, or step into entrepreneurship for real? Finding a job was hard, so I took a leap of faith and started my business. Now, I’m celebrating two years in business and entering my third year—a real testament to taking the leap and not looking back.

I remember that first year. You had all the pieces you needed to start your business. You were good at your work, your skills were developing, but one thing you told me was that your lack of systems was holding you back.

Yes. I remember when I first met Shannon—it was right after I lost my job. I was frantic. You look up how to start a business and all you find is “get your EIN, form your LLC, set up your business bank account.” Some may give you tools, but no one really shows you how to structure it in a way that works not just for you, but for your clients.
I had the skills and talent, but I didn’t know how to build a business that was scalable. Boundaries and systems were the two biggest missing pieces. I barely slept. I was answering client calls at 10 and 11 p.m. I had no real foundation, and it showed.

One of the things I remember from that first year is that the overwhelm started affecting your health. Yes. I was experiencing extreme burnout. I was in and out of doctor’s appointments for weeks with chest inflammation caused by stress. I was only 24 or 25 at the time. I’d be trying to work from bed, squeezing in calls on the way to appointments. It was like something out of those scenes in movies where someone’s pushing through work while their body breaks down.

That experience taught me how important boundaries are. As entrepreneurs, we often believe that saying no will make clients leave. But if something happens to you, they’ll just find someone else. You have to prioritize your health. I didn’t truly start implementing Shannon’s advice until early this year when I finally hit a wall.

I also remember another big shift you made—getting clear on your messaging and services. Once you had that clarity, how did things change?
Tremendously. When we first sat down together in March, you asked me about my vision and mission. At that point, I was just focused on getting clients and rebuilding my income. I was trying to serve everyone, which isn’t sustainable. That conversation forced me to look ahead and think about what I wanted my business to become in the future.
That was when I started to pivot. I realized if I wanted a five-year vision to happen, I couldn’t keep operating with no structure. I needed systems and a solid back office. That conversation was the turning point.

And that’s just the beginning.

This is the final episode of the Systems Reset Series, and today we’re going to bring it all together. Over the last three weeks, you’ve learned why your skills alone aren’t enough, why onboarding is actually leadership, and how your calendar can either protect your energy or drain your time. But the truth is, knowing these things isn’t enough. Action is what sparks change in your business.

So today, we’re pulling it all together and talking about the next step you need to take to move from scrambling to strategic. You’ll also get a sneak peek into a conversation I had with one of the Mind Your Time Society members, a service provider who turned her business around with the exact resets we’ve been discussing these past few weeks.

Welcome to the Mind Your Time Podcast. I’m Shannon Baker, your coffee-loving host and business operations strategist. If you’re a service provider who’s great at what you do but stuck with misfit clients, messy onboarding, or draining workdays, this show is for you. Each week, I share strategies and practical insights rooted in my POWER In Motion framework to help you streamline your back end, protect your time, and lead your client experience with confidence. Skills got you clients, but systems will take you further. So grab your cup of coffee or your favorite drink and let’s dive in.

Over the last three episodes of the Systems Reset Series, we’ve looked at the cracks in your business that are silently holding you back and talked about how to reset them. Today, we’re going to pull it all together so you can see the big picture and, most importantly, know the next step you need to take to move forward—from scrambling to strategic. And this isn’t just a recap of what we’ve talked about. This is your consultant’s reset, your chance to connect the dots and decide what you’re going to do differently starting this week.

I’m not just going to tell you; you’ll also hear from Imani, a client, colleague, and member of the Mind Your Time Society. Her story is living proof that when you take the next step to reset your systems, your entire business shifts.

So let’s go back to the beginning. In episode one, we talked about this: you can be great at what you do, land clients, and even get referrals—but still feel like you’re drowning. That’s because your skills alone aren’t enough to carry your business forward if your back end is duct-taped together.

Imagine this: you wrap up a smooth discovery call. The client is excited. You’re excited. They sign your contract, and everything seems perfect. But then the headaches start. You request files, they send them late. They text you at 10 o’clock at night, and suddenly you’re pulling an all-nighter just to start the project off right. It’s not because you don’t know how to deliver; it’s because your backend isn’t built to protect your time or set clear expectations.

And I want you to hear this from someone who lived through that experience—but fixed it.

“I had the skills, the talent, the gift—all the things,” Imani said. “But I didn’t really know how to structure a business that was scalable. The biggest pieces I was missing were boundaries and systems. Without them, I burned out. I barely slept, answered calls late at night, and ran my business on a rocky foundation. And it showed.”

Did you catch that? Imani didn’t struggle because she lacked talent. She struggled because her systems weren’t protecting her, and that led her to burnout and even health issues. That’s the first step to move from scrambling to strategic: realizing that brilliance and skill alone won’t build a sustainable business. Systems are what give your skills staying power.

In episode two, we dug into the client onboarding process because many consultants treat onboarding like it’s just a bunch of paperwork—signing contracts, sending invoices, getting paid, and jumping straight into the work. But onboarding is your first opportunity to lead. Without it, clients will make up their own rules. They’ll send files randomly, text you at all hours, and expect you to keep up. Once that tone is set, it’s tough to change it later.

I remember a Saturday morning when a client called me out of the blue, panicking about something we’d already discussed multiple times in email. Instead of reinforcing my boundaries, I scrambled to fix it and make them happy. That moment made me realize the client wasn’t the problem—I was, because I hadn’t set the tone.

Imani experienced similar struggles until she reset her onboarding process.

“Airtable was a game changer,” she said. “Before that, I didn’t have a true onboarding system. I had calls, but no clear checklist. Now clients know exactly what’s required before we start. If I don’t get what I need, their start date moves. It’s that simple—and that’s helped me stay in control instead of chasing clients.”

It wasn’t really about Airtable, though. It was about finally having a process that worked—for her and for her clients. She created a reusable template that made onboarding smooth and client-friendly. She leads the process now instead of chasing it.

That’s the power of treating onboarding as leadership. And that’s your next step—build an onboarding process that sets the tone for how you work with clients, not how they decide to work with you.

Then, in episode three, we shifted to your calendar. A messy calendar doesn’t just waste time; it drains your energy and confidence. It blurs the line between work and life until you feel like you’re always on call. I’ve been there too—saying yes to everything, squeezing in calls between family time, and answering emails after dinner. Eventually, I burned out. The turning point came when I set boundaries: office hours, an autoresponder, and blocked-off time for family and self-care.

Imani had to make that same shift.

“When it came to my calendar,” she said, “I used to take meetings every day of the week, all day long. I didn’t even have a separate work phone, so I answered messages at any hour. But that taught my clients to expect that from me. Now, I only take meetings Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Tuesdays are for admin, Fridays are for rest. And it’s changed everything.”

That right there is freedom. Imani stopped being available five days a week for anyone who wanted her time. She created space to rest, work on her business, and actually live her life.

The difference between struggling and thriving is the difference between being on demand and being in demand. When your calendar reflects your boundaries, you protect your energy instead of draining it.

So let’s zoom out and connect the dots. Being great at what you do isn’t enough—you need systems. Onboarding isn’t busywork—it’s leadership. And your calendar isn’t just a schedule—it’s a boundary system that protects your energy. These simple resets are connected, and together, they create a business that finally supports you instead of draining you.

Your next step is to put them into action so you can finally move from scrambling to strategic.

This week’s quick win challenge is simple: grab the free Boundary Reset Scorecard from the show notes. It’s not just another checklist to file away—it’s a two-minute tool that shows you where your time is leaking. If you’ve ever ended the week exhausted but unsure what you actually accomplished, the scorecard will show you why and what to fix first. That’s how you start moving from scrambling to strategic, one step at a time.

Before I wrap up, I want to leave you with this: this series was the spark to help you get started, but your next step is where the real change happens. If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it—it’s time for a consultant’s reset. The Back Office POWER Checklist, the Starter Stack, and the 90-Day Roadmap inside the Mind Your Time Society are the exact tools that helped Imani go from scrambling to strategic.

I’d love to take that next step with you. You don’t have to figure this out alone or keep running on fumes. Join us inside the Mind Your Time Society and let’s reset your systems together so you can lead your business with confidence instead of letting it run you.

Remember—skills got you clients, but systems and your ability to lead with them are what will help you keep them. And now, it’s your time to take the next step.

Thanks for tuning in today. If this episode hit home, it’s because you already know you’re ready to stop patching problems and start running your business like the pro you are. But listening won’t fix the cracks—action will.

Your next step? Grab the Back Office POWER Checklist at theshannonbaker.com/checklist. It’ll show you what’s working, what’s missing, and where your backend is silently slowing you down. And when you’re ready to go deeper, Founders Circle inside the Mind Your Time Society is where we can fix it together with the Systems & Sanity Suite and give you the clarity you’ve been craving.

Not quite there yet? Come say hi on Instagram at @the_shannonbaker. I’d love to hear what resonated with you most. And if you’re loving the podcast, please leave a quick review—it helps more service providers like you find the show.

Skills got you clients. Systems and your expertise will help you keep them. Until next time—keep calm and streamline.

For week three of our Systems Reset Series, we’re going to talk about your calendar and why poor scheduling doesn’t just cost you time—it costs you the right clients. Let’s get into what you need to know to reset your scheduling system and, more importantly, how to design a calendar that protects your energy and supports your life instead of working against it.

Welcome to the Mind Your Time Podcast. I’m Shannon Baker, your coffee-loving host and business operations strategist. If you’re a service provider who’s great at what you do but stuck with misfit clients, messy onboarding, or draining workdays, this show is for you. Each week, I share bold strategies and practical insights rooted in my POWER In Motion framework to help you streamline your backend, protect your time, and lead your client experience with confidence. Skills got you clients, but systems will take you further. So grab your cup of coffee—or your favorite drink—and let’s dive in.

Have you ever been in the middle of cooking dinner and your phone rings? It’s a client who missed a deadline and now wants you to save the day again. They say, “I’m sorry, I’m just getting to your email. Is it too late for you to take care of this for me, even though I missed the deadline?”

If you’re a people pleaser like I used to be, thinking it would make your clients happy, you might say yes—even though inside you’re irritated because now you have to work late into the night to get it done. Suddenly, you’re in a bad mood, your family doesn’t have your full attention after dinner, but your client is happy again because they got what they wanted, even though they didn’t give you what you needed on time.

And guess what? This will keep happening unless you change how you operate.

That’s why the first step to taking control of your calendar is setting clear boundaries. You need to start by defining your office hours. And here’s a secret—office hours are not the same as working hours. Office hours are when you’re available for client communication, things like responding to emails or taking calls. Working hours are when you actually get stuff done.

As an entrepreneur, that can be any time or any day of the week—it’s up to you. For example, maybe your office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 to 4, but because of school drop-offs, you don’t start working until 10. That’s perfectly fine as long as you communicate it clearly. Personally, I don’t start responding to emails until after 9 a.m. because my morning routine takes about an hour, and I stop responding by 5 p.m.

The real game-changer for me was how I manage my inbox. I only check my emails three times a day. Any emails that require a response when I check one last time before shutting down my laptop are scheduled to go out the next business day during my office hours. This forces me to stick to my boundaries and reinforce them with others without them even knowing.

Now, if you’re thinking, “That sounds nice, but I can’t just stop checking emails,” here’s the thing—you don’t have to get it perfect overnight. I didn’t. I started by cutting back to four times a day—twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon—until I was comfortable with that. Then I scaled back to three. Remember, it’s about progress, not perfection, and reinforcing those boundaries with your time.

Here’s a tip you can use right away: set up an autoresponder that lets clients know you’ve received their message and that you’ll respond within 24 to 48 business hours. That way, they feel acknowledged, and you give yourself space to reply during your office hours instead of reacting the moment an email lands in your inbox.

Here’s the exact line you can put in that autoresponder today:
“Thanks for your message! I’ve received your email and will respond within 24–48 business hours during my office hours. If it’s urgent, please mark it as such in the subject line.”

That one sentence can give you back hours every week because you’re no longer chained to your inbox. But the truth is, the first person who has to change their mindset about this is you. Once you set new rules around your time, the real shift comes from sticking to them—even when it feels uncomfortable at first.

If you listened to Episode 2, you’ll remember that we talked about your onboarding process and how it’s really leadership in disguise. Your calendar is where the two connect because boundaries around your calendar actually start during onboarding.

When you set expectations upfront—in your welcome email, service agreement, and kickoff call—you’re not just telling clients when you’re available. You’re teaching them how to work with you. This is exactly the kind of reset I guide my members through step by step with the right tools to make it easier to stick to.

Once you’ve set and communicated those boundaries, the next step is to look at how your calendar functions day to day. Because even if you’ve told clients your hours, if your calendar is messy and always open, those boundaries won’t work. And believe me, you’ll have clients who test those limits. That’s why this reset is so important.

The first lesson is that a messy calendar costs you more than time. When your business and personal calendars aren’t synced, self-care and family time vanish, and your business consumes your life.

If you’re unsure how to sync them, here’s a quick place to start: pick one calendar—Google, iCal, whatever you use daily—and make sure every client call or meeting request flows there first. Then add your personal non-negotiables like school drop-offs, workouts, or family time. That way, you can see at a glance if you’re double-booking yourself. You don’t need a fancy system to start—just one calendar that reflects your real life.

And let’s talk about discovery calls. When they aren’t filtered through an intake form, wrong-fit clients waste your time and break your focus. When you’re overbooked, you can’t deliver your best work, and your confidence takes a hit. You’ve probably told yourself, “I’ll fix my calendar once I get more clients.” But more clients won’t fix a broken calendar—they’ll only magnify the cracks.

Every week you wait to fix this is another week your calendar runs you instead of the other way around. Think about it—how many hours did you lose this week going back and forth to schedule calls, sitting in wrong-fit discovery sessions, or handling late-night client emergencies? If that continues, how much time will you have left for your best work—or your life?

Not much. And that brings me to the next lesson: having a scheduling tool isn’t the same as having a scheduling system.

You might already use something like Acuity or Calendly, but if it’s not synced with your personal calendar or built around your real capacity, it’s just another open door to your time. And if you think you can just hire a VA to manage your schedule, you can’t delegate what you haven’t defined. If your calendar doesn’t reflect your real life, your VA can’t enforce your boundaries—and you’ll both stay stuck.

Inside the Mind Your Time Society, I walk members through building a true scheduling system step by step—no duct-taping tools together, no guessing. One member used to have her calendar wide open. Calls were scattered across every day, and she was burning out. After using the scheduling resources and the 90-Day Roadmap, she cut her discovery calls in half and started attracting only right-fit clients. That gave her back ten hours a week—hours she now spends serving her best clients and taking weekends off.

She told me she finally felt like she was leading her business again instead of her business leading her. And earlier this summer, she took a completely unplugged seven-day vacation for the first time since she started her business. How? Because she spent time building her systems.

If you’ve ever felt like your inbox or scheduler is running your life, that’s exactly where she was. And if she could reset and reclaim her time, so can you.

Now, I know you may be thinking, “I don’t need another membership—I’ll never use it.” I get it. I’ve been there. But that’s why the Mind Your Time Society is built around guided resets and a 90-Day Roadmap. You always know exactly what to focus on, so you never feel stuck or overwhelmed.

If you’re thinking, “This sounds like exactly what I need, but I don’t know where to start,” that’s where the Society helps. You’ll get access to the 90-Day Roadmap, the Starter Stack to help you build systems one at a time, and other resources like the Welcome Kit and Onboarding Process Workbook that make this reset doable. You don’t have to figure this out alone.

Now, let’s talk about today’s third lesson. When your calendar is structured, you create freedom. Discovery calls are filtered with pre-qualifying questions. Your personal and business calendars stop competing. And you know exactly how many clients you can take on without burning out.

This isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about elevating your role. A clear, protected calendar positions you as a leader. When this happens, you stop being on demand and start being in demand.

If you join us inside the membership, you’ll also get sample discovery call intake questions you can add to your scheduler to filter calls and set expectations before a client ever lands on your calendar.

And let’s address one last hesitation: “I don’t want to seem rigid or unhelpful to clients.” Boundaries aren’t restrictive—they’re professional. Clients respect you more when your business has structure because it shows you can lead their project with confidence. Stand firm, and before long, they’ll start setting boundaries in their own businesses too.

Over the last two episodes, you’ve already decluttered your onboarding steps and created a form to stop repeating yourself. This week, take that discovery and apply it to your calendar.

Here’s your quick win challenge: set up the autoresponder I gave you earlier. That one move will give you back hours every week. And to make it even easier, grab the free Boundary Reset Scorecard in the show notes. It takes under two minutes to fill out and shows you exactly where your time is slipping—unclear office hours, no response policy, or a calendar that’s not synced with your life.

If you see two or more X’s on that scorecard, you’re likely losing at least five hours every week—hours you could spend serving clients or actually resting.

If your score feels rough, don’t overthink it. Start with setting your office hours—it’s the fastest fix and sets the tone for everything else. Once you’ve got your score, I’ll walk you step by step through turning those X’s into check marks inside the Mind Your Time Society, with scripts, templates, and the 90-Day Roadmap to make it all stick.

Here are the three big lessons from today. A messy calendar costs you more than time—it drains your energy, steals your self-care, and leaves you overbooked with the wrong clients. Tools alone don’t fix capacity gaps—without boundaries, a scheduler is just an open door. And when your calendar is structured, you create freedom. You protect your energy, attract the right clients, and finally feel in control of your time.

If you want the shortcut—with the 90-Day Roadmap, Starter Stack, and ready-made intake questions—they’re waiting for you inside the Mind Your Time Society. That’s where you’ll get everything you need to stop letting your calendar control you and start building a business that supports your life.

That’s it for Episode 3 of the Systems Reset Series. In the final episode, we’ll bring it all together so you can see how these resets connect and what’s possible when your backend finally supports your growth.

Thanks for tuning in today. If this episode hit home, it’s because you already know you’re ready to stop patching problems and start running your business like the pro you are. But listening won’t fix the cracks—action will.

Your next step? Grab the Back Office POWER Checklist at theshannonbaker.com/checklist. It’ll show you what’s working, what’s missing, and where your backend is slowing you down.

If you’re ready to go deeper, the Founders Circle inside the Mind Your Time Society is where we can fix it together with the Systems & Sanity Suite. You’ll finally get the clarity you’ve been craving.

Not quite there yet? Come say hi on Instagram at @the_shannonbaker. I’d love to hear what resonated most. And if you’re loving the podcast, please leave a quick review—it helps more service providers like you find the show. You can do that right now at ratethispodcast.com/mindyourtime.

Skills got you clients. Systems—and your expertise—will help you keep them. Until next time, keep calm and streamline.

Last week, we kicked off the Systems Reset series and today, in episode two, we're gonna talk about client onboarding and how to turn it from a time suck into a strategic advantage that wows your clients. Welcome to the Mind your Time podcast. I'm Shannon Baker, your coffee-loving host and business operations strategist. If you're a service provider who's great at what you do, but stuck with misfit clients, messy onboarding or draining workdays, this show is for you.

Each week, I share bold strategies and practical insights rooted in my Power In Motion framework to help you streamline your backend, protect your time and lead your client experience with confidence, because skills got you clients, but systems will take you further. So grab a cup of coffee or your favorite drink and let's dive in. Have you ever signed a new client and quickly found yourself chasing details, answering texts at random hours or repeating the same instructions over and over again? If you're saying yes or nodding your head in agreement, it's probably because you don't have a system in place to do the heavy lifting on the front end for you. Now, last week, in episode one of this systems reset series, we talked about why being great at what you do isn't enough if your business is running on duct taped systems.

Now, if you haven't tuned in already, I highly suggest you go back and do so. The quick win challenge in that episode was for you to make a list of where chaos is quietly stealing your time. Now, if you did that, I want you to grab your list now because in this week's challenge we're going to take that list to the next step. But before we get to that, we're going to zero in on one of the biggest pressure points in your business, that's client onboarding. And that list that you made is going to help you spot exactly where the cracks are showing up in your business back end so that you can fix them. Because when there's no system in place, even when you land a dream, client onboarding can drain your energy. So today I'm going to share three lessons that I've learned through experience or from my clients and members of the Mind your Time Society that will help you reset your onboarding process, protect your time and start to lead your client experience with confidence.

Now I'll be the first to admit I used to treat onboarding like something I just had to get through. I would send the contract right away because I was excited. I would create and send the invoice, but it required a number of emails back and forth and, honestly, it was inconsistent. And I'll never forget when this finally exposed the cracks in my process, or I really should say lack of process. It was a Saturday morning and a client called me out of the blue. She was panicking about something that we had already talked about in a number of emails honestly, way too many emails but instead of me, one reminding her of my boundaries, about my business hours and unscheduled phone calls, I dropped whatever I was doing and I just scrambled to get the problem solved. The problem with that, it wasn't that she was a bad client, but the problem was actually that I didn't have a clear process in place that set expectations or protected my time at the beginning of this new relationship, and actually, as I sat on and thought about it, I noticed that this was a recurring issue, but just in different forms with each new client. That was the day I realized, when you don't have an onboarding system, you're not leading your clients, they're leading you, and now I'm a firm believer in training people to treat you the way you want to be treated. That teaches them to respect your time, teaches them to respect your time. So let's get into those three lessons.

Lesson number one let's talk about why new clients feel so messy. Let's be honest those first few weeks they can feel like a fire drill. You're probably chasing down files, waiting for them to send you the right documents, the photos you need, or just simply give you access to their accounts. So you're sending reminder emails, but they're unanswered. And then they dump everything on you at once and you start to scramble and you're off on the race. Now I know it's exciting to get a new client, but when this is happening, this process is also exhausting. So you end up spending hours on things that you can't bill for, and most of that is you just trying to get what you need to do your job. The worst part is that it leaves you feeling scattered and reactive and you haven't even started the real work yet.

So if your client onboarding feels this way, I want you to understand it's not because you're not capable of doing what you do, it's not because your clients don't value you, but it's because there wasn't or isn't a clear system controlling this process. So what happens? Well, when expectations aren't laid out clearly in advance, clients make up their own, and when your boundaries aren't clearly communicated. They default to what's convenient for them, and this is a big one for them. And this is a big one when your process is non-existent or it's inconsistent. You spend more energy putting out fires than you do delivering what they actually paid you to do. That's why things feel so messy with every new client and why they drain so much of your time and energy.

Without structure that relationship. It started on shaky ground and once that tone is set, it is incredibly hard to change it Now. In some cases things go so far off track that the client ends the contract early and they don't realize that the real issue was just a lack of structure in your business. But it leads to a bad experience for them and, from their point of view, they blame the quality of your work. So here's the lesson I want you to take from this If you don't set the tone from day one or I should say the right tone from day one your client is going to set it for you. I've seen this play out not just in my business, but with members inside the Mind your Time Society as well.

One member was completely overwhelmed by every new client onboarding experience by every new client onboarding experience. She would spend weeks chasing them down for photos and videos that she needed to do her job. She needed them to approve the content she created for them. Approvals dragged on or were never received because everything was scattered across spreadsheets and different Google Drive folders and, honestly, she said, she felt like she was nagging them all the time and her clients were frustrated as well. So her confidence took a hit and she really started to dread every new client experience because she knew it was going to be stressful.

But once she put a real onboarding system in place, everything shifted for the better. She started using message templates that set the expectations from day one. She created a project management template in Airtable that she could duplicate for every new client. She showed them how to use this on the kickoff call. She showed them how to use this on the kickoff call. Everything was centralized, so her clients knew exactly where to upload the files. They knew how to review the content drafts and the approval process became simple and they love it. The difference is night and day. She went from dreading every new client to feeling confident and in control. She also got her time back. Her clients were happier and now that relationship feels more professional and controlled instead of chaotic and frustrating. How does she do this? Well, one of the tools that she used is the Welcome Kit workbook inside the Mind your Time Society. It gave her back hours every week, and that's what happens when you lead with systems, and guess what? It's possible for you too.

So let's talk about lesson number two, which is about boundaries. You cannot hand them off. Now you might be thinking, ok, well, I'll just hire someone and they can take care of this for me. Well, my friend, you cannot outsource your boundaries. Yes, delegation is a smart move, but only when it's done strategically. If your back end is scattered right now, bringing in help is not going to solve the problem. It's going to expand it quickly.

Because, no matter how talented a VA is, they can't enforce boundaries that you haven't set. If you haven't decided how you're going to communicate with your clients, what turnaround times look like, what deadlines should look like clients, what turnaround times look like, what deadlines should look like, where information should be stored? The list goes on and on. Your VA is going to be stuck making it up as they go, and that doesn't set them up for success. It sets them up to fail. If your process isn't clear. Your VA is going to be chasing the same files, managing the same back and forth emails and juggling the same client issues and putting out fires which are draining you right now. They can't hold boundaries you haven't set and when that happens they end up frustrated, you end up disappointed, and then that relationship fails. And who gets the blame? Nine times out of 10, it's the VA. That's why preparation matters, and this includes preparing yourself and your business.

Leadership starts with you, and leadership in business doesn't mean just doing the work well. It means creating systems that protect your time, your energy and your relationships with your client, your VA and anyone else that you hire. And your boundaries can't come from your VA, your clients or anyone else. That's non-negotiable. They have to come from you. When you set clear boundaries, you make it easier for both yourself and other people that you work with to follow your lead.

And the good news you don't have to figure this out alone. That's exactly why, inside the Mind, your Time Society members use the Welcome Kitten Onboarding Workbook. It has plug and play templates, scripts and checklists that you can use to turn your boundaries into a professional process. So clients know upfront how to work with you and if you hire a VA, they can step into that system and, instead of trying to make it up as they go along, they just blend right in and when you're ready to put all those pieces into words inside the Mind, your Time. Society is also the MYT Welcome Kit Coach.

It's a custom GPT that has been trained using the exact approach that I teach. It's like having me in your back pocket while you built your welcome kit. It's calm, clear and aligned with the way you actually want to run your business. So here's some ways you can use it to draft your client welcome email, to create your call reminders, to clarify your office hours so many other things as well and when you combine this with that workbook, it gives you the structure that you need to communicate your boundaries clearly, set clear expectations for your clients and they'll never be left guessing how to work with you.

You can just enforce your boundaries. Remember boundaries, protect your business. If you don't set them, someone else will, but you probably won't like them. Someone else will, but you probably won't like them. Now here's lesson number three. Smooth onboarding is actually leadership, and this is the final piece of the puzzle today. Smooth onboarding isn't just about saving you time it's about influence. When your onboarding is clear and consistent, clients see you as a leader from day one and, instead of trying to manage you or bend your process in their direction, they naturally fall into the system that you've created. Now this is what that looks like: a kickoff process so you can set expectations right away, templates that you use to keep communication simple and consistent, and boundaries that are built into your workflow so clients follow your lead instead of pulling you into theirs. Now I will be real with you.

Some clients are not going to love your structure at first. They may be used to working in a looser way and at the beginning it can feel like it's just one more thing that they have to adapt to. But the truth is, structure is service. The very same clients who hesitate in the beginning or kind of push back, they often become your biggest fans later because your process, when you stick to it, makes their life so much easier. They don't have to dig through their inbox for instructions, they don't have to wonder what's coming next and they won't have to second guess how you work.

Instead, they are confident in you and your ability to keep your word and get them what they're paying you, for they feel cared for and, most importantly, they are relieved because they know you are on it. And here's the ripple effect when clients see you as a leader from day one, it changes how they engage with you. The entire time they work with you, they respect your boundaries, they trust your expertise and they stop treating you like an employee or just another service provider and they start seeing you as a trusted strategic partner. Take my word for it. I have been working with one of my clients for over 10 years because of having an onboarding process.

But this is also why the 90 day roadmap inside the Mind, your Time Society is so powerful, because you don't have to fix everything overnight. As a matter of fact, trying to do it all at once is what keeps so many service providers stuck, but that roadmap helps you jumpstart the process by breaking this into clear, doable steps. First, you focus on the system that will make the biggest difference for you right now in your business, and oftentimes that's onboarding or client communication. Then each week, you take a small, manageable step that builds on the last one.

So by the end of 90 days, not only have you plugged the biggest gaps in your back office and your client experience, but you've also created momentum that you can continue to build on. So, instead of spinning your wheels or wasting energy trying to fix everything at once, you always know what to do next and you can actually see progress, but you're not overwhelmed. That's how the roadmap helps you make the transition from being reactive and scattered to being calm, confident and proactive, so you can create one system at a time. So the lesson for you smooth onboarding is not just about being organized. It actually allows you to be a leader, and leadership is what elevates you and takes you from being on demand for tasks to being in demand for your expertise.

So now let's talk about this week's quick win challenge. Remember, last week, I asked you to write down the top three things you repeat with every client. That can be questions, instructions or reminders that you see coming up over and over again. That list is the starting point of your system. So now, this week, I want you to choose just one of those things that you wrote down so we can get it out of your head and into a repeatable format. You can save it as a message template, drop it into a Google Doc or simply create a form. A new client can complete.

The format doesn't really matter right now. What matters is that you've taken the first step toward leading your client relationships forward instead of reacting to them, and here's why this step matters. This is exactly how members of the Mind your Time Society start building their onboarding systems. Everyone starts small. They document one thing, they plug it into the Welcome Kit and onboarding workbook so it becomes a professional process that works for every client. See, when you do this, you're not just creating a shortcut for yourself. You're practicing the exact habit that makes onboarding smooth, repeatable and professional. And when you plug that template from that workbook into the coach man, you come out with a professional system that you can use with every client.

Okay, so let's recap the three big lessons I want you to take away today. Number one things feel messy with new clients because there isn't a clear system guiding the process, and without that structure, you're feeling scattered, you're reactive instead of proactive and you're spending hours doing things you cannot bill for. Lesson two boundaries start with you. It's non-negotiable. You can't delegate them or expect clients to magically know how you work. And delegation is a strategy, not a shortcut. When you prepare your business by getting your systems and boundaries in place first, you set both yourself and anyone else that works with you up for success.

Lesson three smooth onboarding is not just about getting everything organized, it's leadership. So even if some of your clients resist the structure at first, they will come to appreciate it because it makes their life easier. And when you lead the process and stick to it, clients see you as a trusted partner, not just another service provider. So, in a nutshell, every client relationship succeeds or fails based on your system or your lack of having one. And when you lead with clarity from day one, clients will follow your lead with trust and respect. So that's it for this week.

Now, if this episode hit home and you're ready to simplify your onboarding process, here's your next step: Go to theshannonbaker.com forward slash checklist and download the free back office power checklist. It's going to show you exactly where the cracks are in your back end, starting with your client communication and new client onboarding, and when you're ready to fix those cracks and stop scrambling and start leading.

I would love to see you inside the Mind your Time Society and as soon as you join, you get access to the starter stack, which includes the Welcome Kit and onboarding workbook, the 90 day roadmap and the Welcome Kit coach. It helps you put it all into words, put them all together. It creates a repeatable process, a smooth professional onboarding process your clients are going to love and you will, too, imagine going into the next quarter with clients who follow your lead instead of it draining your time. That's exactly what the Mind, your Time Society helps you build, and the sooner you start, the sooner you're going to feel the difference. Every week you delay is another week. You're stuck chasing clients for files, repeating yourself and burning hours you can't bill for. But one small reset today can completely change how your next client relationship feels, because clients are always going to be clients. But with the right system in place, you stop scrambling and you start leading.

Now, don't forget, this is just episode two in the systems reset series. Next week, in episode three, we're going to shift gears and talk about your calendar. I'm going to talk about why poor scheduling doesn't just cost you time, but it also costs you the right clients. More importantly, I'm going to talk about why poor scheduling doesn't just cost you time, but it also costs you the right clients. More importantly, I'm going to walk you through a few simple resets that are going to help you filter out the wrong fit clients and projects and give you back time and energy. So make sure you hit, follow and I will meet you right back here next week for episode three. Thanks for tuning in today.

If this episode hit home, it's because you already know you're ready to stop patching up the problems and start running your business like the pro you are. But listening won't fix the cracks. Action will your next step? Grab the back office power checklist at theshannonbaker.com forward slash checklist. It'll show you exactly what's working, what's missing and where your back end is silently slowing you down. And if you're ready to go deeper, founder circle inside the Mind. Your Time Society is where we can fix it, together with the systems insanity suite and you'll get the clarity that you've been craving. Not quite there yet. Come say hi to me on Instagram at the underscore Shannon Baker. I would love to hear what resonated with you the most. And if you're loving the podcast, please leave a quick review because it goes a long way in helping more service providers like you find the podcast. You can do that right now at ratethispodcast.com forward slash Mind your time. Skills got your clients, systems and your expertise are what's going to help you keep them. So until next time, keep calm and streamline.