I had plans

"The system just doesn’t do that."It’s the most common phrase heard in change management, and it’s almost always a lie. But it’s not a malicious lie - it’s a survival tactic.In this episode, we peel back the corporate curtain to look at the "Human Comedy" of digital transformation. I’m sharing a story from the front lines of a recent project where I walked in as the "contractor invader" to digitise a messy, manual world.We dive into:Whether you're a leader trying to implement a new SaaS platform or an admin wondering why your weekends are disappearing into manual data entry, this episode is a deep dive into the 90% of change management that has nothing to do with code and everything to do with the human soul.

Stop building the whole city. Just open the front door!You had plans for a masterpiece—the perfect 10-page website, the 40-video masterclass, the fully-loaded business ecosystem. But while you’re decorating a site that isn't live, your competitors are making sales on a "messy" one.In this episode, I’m breaking down why "Just Launch It" is the only strategy that matters. Stop hiding behind your WordPress settings and start building your foundation. I break down 3 practical examples of how to strip your project back to a functional MVP today. Wondering if you are paying for premium tools—like WordPress, Divi, or an LMS—that you are not utilising properly because you lack the foundations? Let's find out. Follow for more no-fluff systems that actually move the needle.

Most small biz CEOs find me on LinkedIn because they have a gut feeling their business should be running faster. They had plans for a scalable digital system, but they’ve ended up with an expensive digital filing cabinet.In this episode, I share a story from the front lines that left me gobsmacked—watching a team use a premium LMS plan to perform a 1990s manual workflow.Whether you’re using an LMS, WordPress, or a project management system you might be paying an "Manual Tax" for your team to stay in their comfort zone.I’m sharing a 60-second "Trust Test" you can use on Monday morning to see if your team is trapped in a manual cycle that’s bleeding your profit dry. If you suspect your team is trapped in a manual cycle, don't guess. Let’s find out exactly where the 'Manual Tax' is hiding in your business. Reach out on LinkedIn and let’s get your plans back on track.

There’s a version of being “easy” that people don’t talk about enough.It looks like being kind.It looks like being respectful.It looks like staying in your lane.You don’t interrupt.You don’t challenge.You don’t say the thing that might make someone uncomfortable.And on the surface… that sounds like a good thing.But it’s also the easiest way to never be wrong.Because you don’t speak up.You don’t make decisions.You don’t take the lead.You don’t take risks unless there’s something clearly in it for you.You stay out of it.You stay out of sight.You stay safe.And for a while… that works.Until it doesn’t.Because there’s a cost.Without risk, there is no growth.Without decisions, there is no change.Without an opinion, nothing gets explored.

Q1 is done. Not your goals — your actual work.What you repeated.What slowed you down.What you avoided.That’s your data.In this episode, I’m not going through “lessons learned” or resets.This is about using what actually happened in Q1 to make better decisions for the rest of the year.Tools, systems, and small shifts that remove friction — not motivation.

Most people have never heard of the LMS industry – even though millions of people use learning platforms every day.In this episode, I explain what LMS work actually looks like. From platform setup and migrations to troubleshooting and automation, I share the different roles inside this industry and why I often encourage people to consider it as a career.I also talk about something new I’m trying – co-working body-doubling sessions where you can see what LMS work looks like in real time while we work together online.If you’ve ever wondered what an LMS consultant actually does, this episode is for you.In this episode I talk about:what an LMS (learning management system) actually isthe different roles in LMS work – admin, consultant, developerwhy many people in the industry are self-taughtthe types of projects LMS consultants work onwhy I surprisingly love LMS migration projectshow body-doubling co-working sessions could help people learn about the industry

This International Women’s Day, I’m sharing the story behind a simple mantra that’s shaped my career: you don’t know if you don’t try.No perfect plan. No clear roadmap. Just curiosity, long nights, and the willingness to experiment. From working from home before it was mainstream to trying every opportunity, this episode is about how persistence, learning, and taking chances can create your own path—even when the answers aren’t clear.If you’ve ever had big plans, felt uncertain, or struggled to balance life and ambition, this episode shows you how trying—even without guarantees—can make it happen.

I started posting online almost randomly—on my business page, sometimes on my personal page - without any grand plan. What if I used social media as an extension of my CV and portfolio? What if I swapped a few minutes of scrolling before bed for a quick post or reel?The results surprised me: my leads quadrupled, more discovery calls came in, and opportunities started finding me- all without chasing followers or going viral. In this episode, I share what worked, what didn’t, and why putting yourself out there—even in small, imperfect ways—can pay off in ways you wouldn’t expect.

The migrant rule is simple: stay.Stay in the job. Stay grateful. Stay safe.I had plans.But I also grew up with a rule I didn’t choose: keep the job, stay loyal, be grateful, don’t rock the boat.In this episode, I explore the tension between personal ambition and the migrant script many of us inherit. The unspoken expectations around stability, loyalty, and security - and the guilt that shows up when we want something different.This isn’t about rejecting our parents’ sacrifices. It’s about understanding the rules that shaped them… and deciding which ones still serve us.If you’ve ever felt ungrateful for wanting more, this episode is for you.

When work is quiet, you stress and chase.When work is busy, you crave space to build.In this episode, I talk about the tension of running a business when it’s never the “right” time to focus on long-term growth. I share what’s been happening behind the scenes while building my directory, navigating quiet months, and then suddenly hitting a manic February.This is about mindset, structure, and learning to work with the rhythm of business instead of fighting it.If you’ve ever thought, “I had plans…” , this one’s for you.

I asked my kids what I should talk about on the podcast.My six-year-old said, “Just talk about something you like.”My eight-year-old agreed.Which was funny… because that’s exactly what I’ve always told them when they prepare for school news day or public speaking.But it got me thinking.What do I actually like?Not my job.Not my roles.Not where I’m from.Just… what do I like?It sounds like a simple question.But it took me a minute to answer.

One of my traits — and vices — is exploring new tools and tech.Understanding what they do, why they’re useful, and when they’re not.That curiosity is a big part of how I built my career and the way I work today.In this episode, I share how I think about using digital tools to support my plans — not to chase productivity, but to reduce mental load.I touch on a few tools I use every day, including Tango, Notion, and Zapier.This isn’t about using more tools.It’s about making plans actually happen.Did you enjoy the deeper dive, or do you prefer shorter episodes?

A broken dishwasher, an error code, and a growing pile of dishes during school holidays wasn’t part of the plan — but it turned into a perfect reminder of how transferable skills actually work in real life.In this episode, I share how the same troubleshooting process I use in IT and LMS work helped me diagnose and fix a very non-technical problem in the kitchen — and why so many people underestimate the value of the skills they already have when thinking about career change or flexible work.If you’ve ever thought you need completely new skills to change direction, this episode might change your perspective.

Most people don’t stop learning because they don’t want to.They stop because learning stops fitting their life.In this episode of I Had Plans, I talk about what happens when access, location, timing, and real life get in the way of education - and why that experience shaped how I see learning systems today.I share what it was like trying to learn while living remotely, relying on small libraries, early internet, and whatever resources were available at the time. It’s also why tools like LMS platforms — especially Moodle — matter so much to me. Not because of the tech, but because they remove barriers and make learning possible when life isn’t neat or predictable.This episode is about access, adaptation, and finding another way forward when the original plan no longer fits.I had plans… and when they changed, I found another way forward.

Most of the plans that changed my life didn’t come with approval.No green light.No roadmap.No one saying, “Yes, that’s a good idea.”In this episode of I Had Plans, I talk about curiosity, starting before you feel ready, and doing things without waiting for permission.I share how wanting to “just understand how things work” led me into tech, eLearning, and LMS work long before it felt sensible - or safe. How learning after hours, ignoring the noise, and following curiosity quietly reshaped my career.This episode is for anyone stuck in the loop of:“I’m not ready yet”“I need more experience”“I need permission”Because most people who move forward don’t wait.They just start.I had plans.I just didn’t ask first.

2026 feels like the year personal branding stops being optional. Not in an influencer sense, but in a practical one. In this episode, I talk about what it really means to put yourself out there, why being seen by people who already know you is the hardest part, and how visibility often comes before confidence. This is about clarity, consistency, and letting yourself evolve in public.

I set out to read 25 books this year. I ended up with 17.In this episode of I Had Plans, I get real about what happens when a hobby turns into a goal, and a goal starts to feel like work. From forcing myself through books I didn’t enjoy to finally finding reading again on my own terms, I share what missing my target taught me - about focus, capacity, and how the lessons carry over into running a business and building a creative life.If you’ve ever felt the pressure of doing more, tracking everything, or turning joy into a metric, this one’s for you.

December makes planning strange. Some days you don’t even know what today looks like, yet somehow this is when the ideas for next year start showing up.In this episode of I Had Plans, I talk about planning when routines disappear, days are unpredictable, and everything feels a bit looser. I share how I hold plans without locking them in, why this season pushes me to think big picture, and what it’s like letting go of structure when I usually rely on it.If you’re ending the year feeling inspired, busy, and slightly out of sync all at once, this one will feel familiar.

“You can just use the transcript.”I hear this all the time when people see me taking notes in meetings. On the surface, it sounds practical. Helpful, even. But for me, it misses the point entirely.In this episode of I Had Plans, I talk about why I still use paper in a very digital world, how note taking helps me stay focused, and what online meetings don’t show about attention, engagement, and neurospicy brains. It’s a reflection on tools, assumptions, and the quiet pressure to work the “right” way, even when it doesn’t actually work for you.If you’ve ever been told to change a system that already works just because it looks different, this one’s for you.

School holidays as a self-employed parent come with a special kind of chaos. The routine disappears, the house gets louder, and somehow the important meetings still need to happen.In this episode of I Had Plans, I share one of my not-so-proud parenting moments involving a bowl of popcorn and a very important call, plus what it really looks like to balance work, kids, guilt, and sanity during the break. I talk about the constant adjustments, the behind-the-scenes juggle, and how I try to make it all work without completely losing myself in the process.If you’re navigating school holidays, running a business, or just trying to survive the week, you’ll probably feel very seen in this one.

Launching a podcast is easier said than done. In Episode 9 of I Had Plans, I talk about my experience starting a podcast, the tools that helped, the lessons I’ve learned, and how I balance recording with client work and life. If you’re a freelancer or creative curious about podcasting, this episode is for you.

In this episode of I Had Plans, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a project I’ve been building quietly for months. Instead of sharing the glossy launch version, I’m inviting you into the messy, exciting middle, the part where an idea starts turning into something real.I talk about the brainstorming stage that lights me up, what it’s like building something for a niche community that I’m personally part of, and how I’m balancing creativity with the business side of things. From planning memberships and value to figuring out how to grow an audience from scratch, this episode is all about the real work that happens between having an idea and being ready to launch.If you’ve ever started building something because you knew or hoped it would genuinely help people, you’ll relate to this one. Pour a coffee and join me as I share how this project is taking shape and why it matters to me.

Ever noticed how we spend all our time fixing everyone else’s stuff and neglect our own? In this episode of I Had Plans, I talk about my neglected website, the classic “cobbler’s children” problem, and why taking even tiny wins for your own projects matters. Honest, relatable, and maybe a little rebellious - just like freelance life.

In this episode of I Had Plans, I explore what it really means for your job to be flexible. Who does your work actually serve, you or everyone else? I share my own wake-up call when I realised my so-called flexible work arrangements had become flexible for everyone but me.We talk about finding balance, making small resets, and taking back control of your time. That might mean working from a library, visiting your favourite spots during breaks, or just prioritising what matters each week. If you are self-employed, freelancing, or navigating flexible work, this episode is a reminder that flexibility should work for you too.Subscribe to I Had Plans for more stories, reflections, and practical insights on the messy and rewarding life of self-employment.

Everyone thinks freelancing is instant freedom, flexible days, and clients magically appearing. Spoiler: it doesn’t work like that. In this episode of I Had Plans, I share the real ways freelancers find work — networking, platforms, referrals, and yes, even a bit of awkward pitching.If you’ve ever wondered where your first client comes from, or how to start building your freelance life, this episode is short, honest, and sprinkled with a little sarcasm… and maybe a snack.

Just a quick chat about side gigs — why I think everyone should have one, what they actually teach you, and why it’s not all beach laptops and lattes. We should all be doing work we love, but sometimes there’s more we want to explore… and that’s where side gigs come in.Short, real, and a little chaotic. Just how we like it.

What happens when you try to tell people what you do for work? What does your family say?In this episode, I talk about trying to explain what I do for work…am I speaking another language?

Working from home sounds like a dream — but it’s not just luck. It takes determination, skills, and a whole lot of juggling. I’m sharing the real story behind the “luck” of freelancing and mum life.Do you get told "how lucky" you are? How do you repsond? Connect me with on socials to chat all about it.

What happens when you're juggling freelancing, parenting, and about five different side gigs? You hit record. In this quick intro, I share why I'm starting this podcast with zero script, minimal time, and probably a snack in hand.Hi, I’m Smaragda, and welcome to I Had Plans - the podcast where I talk honestly about freelance life, mum life, side gigs, and all the glorious chaos that comes with trying to do it all.Got a funny “plans gone sideways” moment, a freelance horror story, or just want to say hi? Hit me up: [email protected] - I’ll probably reply between snacks and client calls.