EPISODE · Jan 18, 2026 · 48 MIN
Designing Freedom: How Kelly Irving Rebuilt Her Business to Work 20 Hours a Year (& Travel the World!)
from Outlaws Podcast: Embracing Career Freedom · host Shayla Strapps & Kate Offer | Outlaws Podcast
What if career freedom isn’t about walking away from work altogether, but about consciously redesigning how you work? In this Outlaws Escapes episode, Kate and Shayla are joined by editor, book coach and founder of the Expert Author Academy, Kelly Irving, who shares how she radically restructured her business to avoid burnout, reclaim her time, and create a life that worked for her family. A few years ago, Kelly and her family packed up their lives and travelled through 11 countries — all while she reduced her one-to-one workload and experimented with working just 20 hours across an entire year. In this conversation, Kelly unpacks what redesigning work actually looks like in practice, from delegation and community-led business models to letting go of perfection and the myth of indispensability. Together, they explore career freedom, the courage to tolerate discomfort, and why bold change rarely comes from having a perfect plan — but often starts with simply naming what you want and beginning. This episode is for anyone questioning traditional definitions of success, feeling the early signs of burnout, or wondering whether there might be another way to work, live, and lead. In this episode, we discuss: What career freedom really means (and what it doesn’t) Redesigning work to reduce burnout and protect energy Why working on your business matters more than working in it Delegation, community, and letting others step up Family travel as a catalyst for perspective and change The power of intention, discomfort, and starting before you feel ready More about Kelly Irving Connect with Kelly at www.kellyirving.com or www.expertauthor.community Follow on LinkedIn and Instagram. Nail your best book idea with the Book Canvas here. If you loved this episode... Share it with a friend who’s wanting a change (or just needs permission to do the thing!). Rate and review Outlaws on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more Outlaws find us Find out more Website: www.outlawspodcast.com Subscribe to our newsletter for updates, tools, and more Outlawbrary picks Connect with us Instagram: @the.outlaws.podcast - https://www.instagram.com/the.outlaws.podcast Facebook Group: Outlaws Podcast Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/the.outlaws.podcast LinkedIn: Outlaws Podcast - https://www.linkedin.com/company/106681587 Email: [email protected] Hosted and produced by Shayla Strapps and Kate Offer
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Career freedom doesn’t always mean walking away from work. Sometimes it means redesigning work so it actually supports the life you want to live. In this Outlaws Escapes episode, Kate and Shayla are joined by editor, book coach and founder of the Expert Author Academy, Kelly Irving. Kelly shares how she deliberately restructured her business to reduce burnout, move away from intensive one-to-one work, and reclaim her time — all while travelling through 11 countries with her family and experimenting with working just 20 hours across an entire year. Career freedom doesn’t always mean quitting work; sometimes it means redesigning work to fit the life you actually want. In this Outlaws Escapes episode, editor and book coach Kelly Irving shares how she restructured her business to reduce burnout, step away from constant one-to-one work, and travel through 11 countries with her family while working just 20 hours across an entire year. This conversation explores redesigning work in practice — from delegation and community-led business models to tolerating discomfort and choosing a different definition of success.
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Designing Freedom: How Kelly Irving Rebuilt Her Business to Work 20 Hours a Year (& Travel the World!)
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