Promote Yourself to CEO | Small Business Strategy for Women Entrepreneurs

Send us Fan MailThere is a specific kind of quiet that gets under your skin in July, and it has nothing to do with a slow, lazy afternoon. It is the quiet of your bank account. Clients are off on vacation, nobody is starting anything new, and you can feel the revenue dip coming the way you feel a storm before it lands.I used to brace for that quiet too. Now I don’t, because of one strategic move I make almost every summer. It is the same reason I can spend a month in Italy with my family without watching my revenue flatline while I am gone.The summer cash-flow dip is not a demand problem. It’s not a sign you are doing something wrong. More often – it is a timing problem. People aren’t wanting to tackle a new project or focus on new goals when they have a trip to the beach coming up in a couple of weeks.This episode is a smart strategy to help you solve the timing problem. I am walking you through how to pre-sell your fall, get the yes now while it is quiet, and set the work to start in September or October, so the deposit is in, the contract is signed, and you actually get to enjoy your summer knowing revenue is already on its way.It is the difference between white-knuckling your way to fall and walking into Q4 already booked. Let’s get into it.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy the summer cash dip is usually a timing problem, not a demand problem, and what that changes about how you fix itThe one move Racheal makes almost every summer to keep revenue coming in while she is offlineWhat pre-selling your fall actually looks like in practice, from deposit to contract to a locked future start dateHow to position the offer so it lands as care and leadership instead of a pushy pitchWhat the September scramble costs your clients, and how booking them now is the giftThe onboarding step that decides whether a pre-sell holds together or falls apartHow to run the whole thing off a curated list and a few personal invitations, no sales page requiredKey Concepts from the EpisodeThe Summer Dip Is a Timing Problem. The cash slowdown most service providers brace for in July is not your audience losing interest. It is your audience postponing, because they are juggling vacations and downtime and do not want to start something they will have to babysit mid-trip. Demand did not disappear. It got rescheduled, and you are allowed to reschedule it back.Pre-Sell the Fall. Get the yes while it is quiet. The deposit gets paid, the contract gets signed, and the start date gets set for the end of August, September, or October. You are not doing the work now, you are holding the date. A held date with real money behind it is the difference between hoping fall fills up and knowing it already has.Pushy Is a Story, Not a Fact. If reaching out to book people in advance feels pushy, that usually points to a quiet belief that your offer is an imposition rather than a result your clients want. If the work makes their life easier and gets them what they came for, getting on your calendar now is leadership, not a hard sell.You Are Protecting Them From the September Scramble. When everyone comes back at once, school starts, routines snap back, and your clients are suddenly racing to get year-end projects done against a calendar that is already full. Booking now spares them that pileup. The pre-sell is not you asking for something. It is you handing your client their fall back before it gets crowded.The System Is What Makes It Repeatable. One pre-sale stitched together with a scramble of emails and a payment link is doable. A pre-sell you can run every summer without rebuilding it from scratch is a Client Growth Engine™, the repeatable system underneath your marketing, sales, and client experience. Pull it off once and it is a heroic effort. Build the system underneath it and it is just something your business does.Resources MentionedOn-Demand CEO Retreat + Client Growth Engine bundle. The strategic thinking behind a proactive quarter, paired with the repeatable system that puts marketing, sales, and client experience on rails so pre-selling becomes something your business does on purpose. The price goes up at the end of June. Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailI grew up in the river realm of Virginia, where everyone either had a boat or knew someone who did, and summer meant Friday afternoons out on the water before the weekend even started. The reason my family got to do that was simple. My dad ran summer hours in his business, and by noon on Friday the office was empty and everyone was gone.I didn’t clock it as a business decision back then. I just knew we were a little different. But I’ve run summer hours in my own business every single year since, and every time I bring the idea to another business owner, I hear the same fear underneath it. If I’m less available, I’ll lose clients.You won’t. Summer hours are not an availability problem. They’re a communication problem, and that’s something you can fix in an afternoon.This episode is your permission slip, except the permission isn’t coming from me. It’s coming from you. I’ll walk you through how I set my hours, the way I communicate them so nobody panics, and how my model calendar turns the boundaries living in my head into something my team and my family can see and plan around.Decide your hours. Communicate them everywhere your clients reach you, well before the season starts. That’s the whole move, and by the end of this one you’ll know how to make it.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy setting summer hours is a communication problem and not an availability problem, and how that one distinction changes everything about how you handle itThe exact way my parents announced summer hours every year with no apology and no long explanationHow to reset client expectations around your response time without losing a single clientWhat a summer autoresponder should actually say so it does the heavy lifting before you ever open your inboxThe difference between summer hours and a true out of office, and how to communicate a longer stretch awayHow a model calendar turns the boundaries in your head into something your family and your team can plan aroundThe one standing appointment that stays on your calendar no matter what season you’re inKey Concepts from the EpisodeIt’s a Communication Problem, Not an Availability Problem. The fear is that shorter hours will cost you clients. What actually rattles clients is not knowing what to expect, and expectations are something you get to set. Clients don’t bristle at shorter hours. They bristle at not knowing what to expect.State It Plainly, Skip the Apology. My parents announced summer hours everywhere a client might look, on the website, in email footers, on the voicemail, on a sign at the door, with no apology and no justification. Just the new normal, posted before the season started. You’re not asking permission to take Fridays. You’re telling people how summer works.The Autoresponder Does the Work. A summer autoresponder sets your response time the second someone emails you, and a short FAQ of your most common requests answers half of them before they reach you. Set the expectation the moment someone hits send, and you stop answering the same question all summer.The Model Calendar Makes Boundaries Visible. My model calendar maps my ideal week into theme days, CEO day, client day, content day, and CEO Collective day, so nothing gets dropped and my capacity is obvious at a glance. It also lets my family and my team plan around me instead of guessing. A boundary that only lives in your head is one nobody else can honor.The CEO Date Is the Non-Negotiable. Whatever shifts for the season, the weekly CEO date stays. It’s the standing block where you work on the business, check your 90-day plan, and track your 12-month goals. Summer hours change with the season. The CEO date is the appointment that doesn’t.The On-Demand CEO Retreat. Build your 90-day plan on your own schedule, around your summer instead of on top of it. Currently bundled with the Client Growth Engine™, the first system we install in every business inside The CEO Collective®.Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailMy three teenagers are home for the summer, the calendar cleared out the last week of May, and like a lot of business owners I could feel the pull to write the next two months off and call it a season.I’m not doing that, and I don’t want you to either.After almost 20 years of running this business, here’s what I’ve watched happen every single year. The women who disappear completely in June and July are the same ones scrambling in September, marketing dried up, no clients in the pipeline, head barely above water. The chaos they feel in the fall isn’t a fall problem. It’s a summer problem.This is the season I do some of the most strategic work of my entire year, and I still take two full weeks off with my family. Both are true. I’m recording this in early June with most of 2027 already mapped, not because I’ve converted to hustle culture, but because I refuse to spend October panicking while I’m also helping my kids study for the SATs.What I want to give you today is a way to use a slower summer to build the capacity fall is going to demand, so you walk into your busiest season with more room instead of more dread.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy the version of you who disappears this summer is the same version scrambling in the fallThe line between a slower season and a stalled-out one, and how to tell which one you’re actually inHow to read your clients’ seasons the way Target reads a retail calendarThe one summer capacity project to pick, and why trying to do all of them is the wrong moveWhat “hire slow, fire fast” actually asks you to start doing in June, not SeptemberHow to get four to eight weeks ahead of your marketing without running it on willpowerThe quiet planning choice that ends the feast or famine cycle for goodKey Concepts from the EpisodeSummer Is a Season With a Job to Do. Slower does not mean stopped. When demand dips and your inbox quiets down, that open space is the whole point. It’s the time to finally work on the business instead of in it. Slower seasons are not the same as stalled out. Don’t check out just because your clients did.Your Business Has Seasons, and So Do Your Clients. Planning as if every month brings identical demand, energy, and client volume is magical thinking. The fix is knowing your own growth seasons and, just as much, knowing where your clients’ attention actually is. Meet your clients where their attention is, not where you wish it was.Build the Capacity Before the Demand Shows Up. Q3 has one job, and that’s building the infrastructure for the clients you already know are coming in the fall. Wait until they arrive and you’re onboarding in a panic with your head barely above water. You can’t wait for the demand to show up and then build the capacity. That’s where the scrambling comes from.Stop Building on Willpower. Willpower is the first thing to go when life gets hard or busy, so marketing that only runs when you can show up week after week is built on the wrong foundation. Batch the assets, map the sales calendar a year out, and let the systems carry the heavy lifting. Willpower is the first thing that goes when life gets hard. Build assets, not motivation.Feast or Famine Is a Planning Choice. The cycle isn’t a fact of running a business. It smooths out when the work you do in the quiet seasons holds through the loud ones, and your business stops depending on your stamina. Calm is capacity, and you can spend the summer building a little bit of both.Resources MentionedThe On-Demand CEO Retreat. Build your 90-day plan on your own schedule, around your summer instead of on top of it. Currently bundled with the Client Growth Engine™, the first system we install in every business inside The CEO Collective®. The CEO Mid-Year Review. The episode and workbook for pressing pause, checking your real numbers to date, and looking forward through the next six months. This is the first move of the season. Notes to Future Me. The episode on the habit Racheal uses to protect her calendar and her capacity, and to leave herself instructions for the busy weeks ahead. Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailThere is a note blocking off the last week of May in my calendar, and it is yelling at me. Last week of school. Do not plan anything. All caps. Too many exclamation points. When I open it, past me has left the longer version: be nice to yourself, Racheal, there will be concerts and awards and kid stuff, the twins get out by one most days.I wrote that a year ago, for the version of me who would forget. And she always forgets.Here is the thing nobody tells you about capacity. The reason you keep overcommitting is not that you lack discipline. Overcommitting is not a discipline problem, it’s a memory problem. We forget the things that repeat, the school years and the flare days and the travel that wrecks you for three days after, and then we plan the next six months as if every week is sitting there waiting for us. It is not.So I started leaving notes to future me. In my calendar, in the notes app on my phone, no new software and nothing fancy. Present me taking care of future me, before future me is too foggy or too maxed out to think straight.This one is part of the mid-year series, and it picks up where the mid-year review left off. That episode helps you decide what you want from the back half of the year. This one is about how to protect your capacity so you have the room to pull it off.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy your capacity for the back half of the year is smaller than your plan assumes, and the specific reason your brain hides that from youThe tiny habit that takes zero new tools, just the calendar and notes app you already haveWhat a note to future you says when you are too deep in a flare to remember your own nameHow a single calendar note back in April keeps your kids from missing the whole summer in clothes that fitThe difference between saying you take Fridays off and having a calendar that protects it from youWhy summer quietly steals capacity even when the kids are in camp, and what to adjust before it happensThe monthly reset that turns self-care from a thing you hope happens into a thing already bookedKey Concepts from the EpisodeNotes to Future Me. Present you writes down what future you will need, before future you is too tired, too foggy, or too busy to figure it out from scratch. It lives in your calendar and your notes app, and it requires nothing else. Past you is the most underrated member of your support team.Capacity Is More Than Time. Time is the capacity everyone counts. Mental load and emotional capacity are the two that run out first, especially for a woman carrying an entire household in her head. You can have a free afternoon and still have nothing left to spend.Protect Yourself From Yourself. The people-pleaser will say yes to a call on your day off. The recovering workaholic will bulldoze the part of you that wants a slower pace. The habit exists because willpower loses that fight every time. Discipline is a decision you made once, written down where you can’t argue with it.Your Calendar Is a Values Document. You can tell what someone prioritizes by what they have made room for, not by what they say matters. If your health and your relationships are not blocked off, they are not protected. “I don’t have time” almost always means “I didn’t put it on the calendar.”Plan for Reality, Not Best Case. Twenty-six weeks left in the year does not mean twenty-six working weeks. Once you count the trip to Italy, cousin camp, the girls trip, and the holidays, the real number is closer to twenty-one. A plan built on your best week is a plan that breaks by August.Resources MentionedMid-Year Review Workbook. The free workbook from the previous episode, walking you through the back half of the year. The June CEO Retreats. Three formats are currently open: the Virtual CEO Retreat, the in-person Richmond CEO Retreat, and the On-Demand CEO Retreat. Pick the format that fits where you are right now. Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailIf the plan you wrote down in January no longer matches the year you're actually living, you're not behind. You're just due for a review.This is the time of year where I see most women entrepreneurs do one of two things. They abandon the plan entirely and start running on default, or they white-knuckle a plan that stopped fitting their reality months ago. Both end the same way: a Q3 where nothing feels like it's working and you can't tell why.So in this episode I'm walking you through the exact mid-year review I'm running on my own business right now, messy parts included. Facebook disabled my ads account for six weeks and pushed a one-month project into three and a half. Travel patterns shifted enough that we had to restructure how we delivered the March retreat. And I'm being honest about the weeks recently where I haven't had it in me to record at all, and what that's been teaching me about adjusting capacity instead of grinding through it.By the end of this conversation, you'll have a clearer picture of what's still working in your business and what you need to change before the second half of the year gets away from you.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy most entrepreneurs abandon their plan in June instead of doing the harder work of adjusting itHow to separate the goals that still serve you from the ones that no longer match the year you're actually inWhy 80% is the only achievement standard worth holding yourself to right now, and why 100% is silently breaking your businessThe leading metric Racheal tracks every week to predict revenue before it shows upWhat to do when last year's capacity isn't available this year, and how to set goals around the version of you that exists todayHow to "think like a store" when you're deciding what to sell each month for the rest of the yearWhat Racheal is changing in her own business right now after running this exact review on herselfKey Concepts from the EpisodeMaycember. The collision of end-of-school chaos, exam stress, classroom parties, and final projects that turns May into a second December for working parents. If your operating system doesn't have built-in checkpoints, you'll lose the back half of your year to whatever shows up.Adapt vs Abandon. When the plan stops matching reality, most entrepreneurs don't update it. They quietly let it go and start running on default instead. A plan you stopped using six months ago isn't a plan. It's a relic.The 80% Standard. Hitting 80% of what you set out to do is success, not failure. Holding yourself to 100% in a year like this one is how you burn out trying to prove a point that doesn't matter. Perfection is not a business strategy. Capacity is.Lagging Goals vs Leading Metrics. Revenue is a lagging metric. It tells you what already happened. Leading metrics, like the number of consults booked this month, tell you what's about to happen. If revenue is the only thing you're tracking, you're managing your business through the rearview mirror.Think Like a Store. Even retailers with a full catalog highlight specific offers each month tied to what's seasonally relevant. The same applies to your business. Selling the same thing every month is not consistency. It's invisibility.Resources MentionedPlan Your Best Year Ever. Racheal's free annual planning challenge to map out your goals, your offers, and your marketing calendar for the year. Fired Up and Focused. Free five-day challenge to build the habits and systems that keep you focused on what actually moves your business forward. The June CEO Retreats. Three formats are currently open: the Virtual CEO Retreat, the in-person Richmond CEO Retreat, and the On-Demand CEO Retreat. Pick the format that fits where you are right now. Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailMost women don’t realize they’ve built a ceiling around their next opportunity until they’re standing right in front of it.It looks like turning down a speaking opportunity because you have nothing to wear. It looks like saying no to the podcast interview because your hair needs to be colored. It looks like quietly opting out of visibility because the version of you that needs to show up doesn’t feel like the version of you that exists right now.In this episode, Racheal sits down with longtime CEO Collective member Angela Foster – the petite style coach and founder of a thriving one-on-one styling practice – to talk about the invisible barriers women build between themselves and the next level of their business. Angela works specifically with high-achieving executives and entrepreneurs who are 5’3 and under, helping them stop wasting time, energy, and confidence on the daily struggle of getting dressed.But this conversation is about much more than clothes. It’s about what happens when a smart, capable woman tries to figure everything out on her own and what changes when she finally lets someone support her.About Angela FosterAngela Foster spent 20 years as a fashion and beauty executive – now she uses that expertise to help high-achieving Petite women feel more confident by creating closets they love – ones that truly represent both their personal style and professional brand.Through her signature SPARK Petite Style Method, Angela’s clients show up feeling prepared and confident whether they’re heading to brand photoshoots, delivering keynote presentations, or simply navigating everyday life. They love their wardrobes because every piece fits their height, flatters their body shape, and reflects who they are. Angela’s expertise has been featured in Real Simple, PureWow, and People magazines.Angela has been a CEO Retreat attendee for years and is a long-standing member of The CEO Collective.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy word of mouth is still the gold standard of marketing and what it actually says about your business when clients refer you in rooms you’re not inHow niching down to a specific audience (women 5’3 and under) expanded Angela’s reach instead of shrinking itThe “self-imposed ceiling” most women build between themselves and the next opportunity in their career or businessWhy “I’ve taken a bajillion business classes” is a sign you’re being asked to fit into someone else’s framework instead of being supported in building your ownThe exact quarterly numbers moment that finally tipped Angela from CEO Retreat attendee to Collective memberWhy subtracting from your business is harder – and more valuable – than adding to itHow leaning into your communication strengths beats forcing yourself into trendy marketing tactics every timeKey Concepts from the EpisodeThe Self-Imposed Ceiling. Visibility opportunities show up unexpectedly – a speaking invitation, a podcast guest spot, a board meeting, a press feature. When women aren’t resourced ahead of time, they quietly turn those opportunities down and tell themselves they’re “too busy.” That’s not a scheduling issue. That’s a capacity issue that’s been disguised as a wardrobe issue.Get Ready, Don’t Wait Until You’re Ready. Building a sustainable business means preparing for the opportunities you want before they arrive – not scrambling once they do. The women who say yes confidently are the ones who built the systems, the support, and the readiness in advance.The Framework Should Fit You, Not the Other Way Around. Most business advice tries to squeeze every business into the same template, regardless of fit. For highly relatiConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailMost women entrepreneurs hit a ceiling in their business somewhere in the $100K–$1M range – and most generic advice will tell them the fix is more revenue, a new funnel, or a mindset shift.That advice is wrong. Or at best, it’s treating a symptom.In this live assessment, Racheal walks through the five areas where the real ceiling lives and why most business owners misdiagnose where they’re actually stuck. Capacity isn’t just about time. There are four different kinds, and most women are running low on all four at once.If you’ve been feeling maxed out, burned out, or stuck at a revenue plateau no amount of hustle seems to move, this is the framework that will name what’s actually going on.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe four types of CEO capacity and why “just manage your time better” is the worst advice most business owners getWhy hiring more people and throwing money at problems often makes the bottleneck worse, not betterThe five areas of your business where the real ceiling hides: Calendar & Buffer, Cognitive Load, Emotional Capacity, Marketing Stability, and Feedback LoopsThe simple green/yellow/red diagnostic Racheal uses with her clients to identify the one area that’s blocking everything elseWhy “chaos coordinator” and “CEO” are not the same job – and how to tell which one you’re actually doingHow to start unlocking bottlenecks one at a time, without burning the business down and starting overWhy the businesses that survive hard seasons (illness, caregiving, grief, burnout) aren’t the ones with the most grit – they’re the ones with the right systems built in advanceKey Concepts from the EpisodeIf You Are the System, You Are the Ceiling. When everything about how your business runs lives in your head – when every decision runs through you, when nothing can move forward without you – your personal capacity becomes a hard cap on your business’s capacity.The Four Types of Capacity. Time is only one. The others – physical, cognitive, emotional, strategic – are the ones most business owners never hear named, and they’re where the real drain happens.The Growth Edge Is Uncomfortable. Moving from Chaos Coordinator to true CEO requires leading yourself first – setting boundaries, making decisions before you feel ready, and building systems that don’t require you to be the engine.Resources MentionedThe CEO Collective® – Racheal’s 12-month operating system and leadership mentorship for service-based women entrepreneurs at $100K–$1M. Enrollment closes Wednesday, April 30th at midnight ET. Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailEver wake up in the middle of the night with a line that feels like it downloaded straight from the universe?That happened to me a few weeks ago. I sat straight up, grabbed my phone, and emailed myself these words: If you are the system, you are the ceiling.The next morning I Googled it. Searched my inbox. Ran it through Claude and ChatGPT. Nothing. It was just… there. And suddenly I couldn’t unsee what it meant.For months, people have been asking me the same question: How did your business survive a full year of intensive caregiving with you working five hours a week? And my answer has always been simple: My business did exactly what I designed it to do.But here’s what I realized – I’ve been burying the lead. I’ve been playing it safe with my messaging while the women who need this most weren’t seeing themselves in what I was putting out there.So I rebuilt my entire website. Rewrote my positioning. Got bolder about what we actually do here. And in this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of that decision and why I think it’s the most important thing I’ve done for my business in years.Episode Highlights:Why the shift from “girl boss” aspirational messaging to safety and stability isn’t just a trend – it’s a response to how the world has changedThe difference between theory and lived experience (and why mine includes supporting clients through grief, divorce, chronic illness, natural disasters, and wars)How “practical magic” became the frame for everything we do at The CEO Collective – aka the unsexy systems that make your business unshakeableWhy burying the lead keeps you stuck playing small (and what happens when you finally stop softening your edges)The one question that triggered deeper conversations everywhere I went: “What do you mean your business survived on five hours a week?”What it means to build research-backed, battle-tested methodology instead of one-size-fits-all cookie-cutter adviceHow to know if you’re ready to break through the ceiling in your business (and what the CEO Ceiling Assessment will help you uncover)Show LinksNew Website: The CEO CollectiveCase Studies: See How Women Built Unshakeable BusinessesThe CEO Ceiling Assessment – Live Event on April 20thLearn More About The CEO CollectiveClient Growth EngineRacheal on Instagram and TikTokRate and review the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast on Apple PodcastsConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailYou know that feeling when your business is growing, but somehow you feel more trapped than ever? More clients, more revenue, more team members… and somehow less freedom than when you started.Here’s the truth nobody tells you: growth doesn’t automatically create capacity. In fact, if you don’t redesign how you operate, growth will squeeze you harder than startup mode ever did.Most women entrepreneurs I work with hit a ceiling around the same point. They’ve built something real. They’re making great money. Their offers are selling. But they’ve become the bottleneck in their own business, and they can’t figure out why adding more revenue, more team, or more systems hasn’t given them the freedom they were promised.The answer isn’t working harder or being more disciplined. It’s not about better time blocking or another productivity hack. The problem is structural, not personal.In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly why high-achieving entrepreneurs stay stuck in reactive mode, how busyness becomes a comfort zone that keeps you from scaling, and the one shift that separates founders who burn out from CEOs who build sustainable businesses. Plus, I’m sharing the exact percentage you should be designing your business around (hint: it’s not 100%).Episode Highlights:Why exhaustion in a growing business signals a structural flaw, not a character flawThe hidden cognitive load that escalates as you scale and why “just outsource it” is terrible adviceHow more revenue amplifies problems instead of solving them (and what to do instead)Why designing your business at 100% capacity guarantees burnoutThe 70% Rule: How high-functioning CEOs build buffer into their operationsThe two weekly habits that create feedback loops and keep you proactive instead of reactiveWhy calm feels uncomfortable when you’re calibrated for chaos and how to recalibrate your nervous systemShow LinksCEO Date ChecklistRacheal on Instagram and TikTokRate and review the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast on Apple PodcastsConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailHere's the thing nobody in the business world wants to admit: you are not going to be at 100% every day. Not this month, not this year, not ever. And if your business only works when you're fully charged and firing on all cylinders, you don't have a sustainable business — you have a liability.I learned this early, growing up with a disabled parent. You don't plan for the good days. You plan for the hard ones. That lesson has shaped everything about how I've built The CEO Collective — and it's the reason my business kept running when I had to step back for almost a full year to care for my parents, navigate my mother's final months, and sit with grief that doesn't follow a schedule.In this episode, I'm opening up a conversation I want to keep returning to all month: what it actually means to lead from your real capacity — not the aspirational version of yourself, but the human one. Because growth without buffer isn't impressive. It's volatility. And your business shouldn't require you to sacrifice your worst days on the altar of your best ones.In This Episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:Why building your business around peak capacity is one of the most common (and costly) structural mistakes women entrepreneurs make — and the mindset shift required to fix itThe three types of capacity that actually determine how much you have to give — and why "what's on your calendar" is only part of the pictureWhat spoon theory taught Racheal about running a business with chronic illness, and why every CEO needs to understand itHow her business held when her available hours dropped from 25 to 5 per week — and the surgical decisions that made it possibleWhy grief doesn't flip off like a switch, and what her therapist warned her about using productivity to avoid itThe structural difference between a business that sways in a storm and one that collapses — and how buffer (not hustle) is what determines which you've builtThe reflection question to sit with this week: what has actually changed about your capacity in the last three years?Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailMost Q2 plans are built for a version of you that doesn't exist. The version with unlimited energy, zero personal obligations, and no curveballs. And then April hits, and you're already behind, already overwhelmed, already wondering what went wrong.Before you open a planning doc or write a single goal for the next quarter, there's one question worth sitting with first: What do I actually have the capacity to sustain right now?This episode is a bridge into Q2 — and it starts with the two questions I ask every CEO at the beginning of every retreat before we look at a single number. These aren't warmup questions. They're some of the most strategic questions you can ask yourself as a business owner.I'm also sharing what this looked like for me personally — including the caregiving season I walked through in 2024 and 2025 and how I kept my business running without it depending on me being at 100%. Because the goal isn't a business that works when everything is perfect. It's a business that keeps working when life is life.If you're stepping into Q2 with a plan in hand, this episode is what goes underneath it.In This Episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:Why the question isn't "what should I do more of?" — and what to ask instead before you finalize any Q2 planThe two questions I ask at every CEO Retreat before touching a single goal or revenue numberWhat "CEO you in this season" actually means — and why it's different from CEO you on your best dayThe three dimensions of capacity that never show up on your calendar (and why ignoring them is magical thinking, not ambition)How my business kept running through an intensive caregiving season — and the specific support structures that made that possibleWhy planning without accounting for your real capacity isn't ambitious — it's how you end up behind and burned out by MayThe reflection questions to sit with before you turn the page into AprilConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailIf you set big goals in January and you're already feeling behind, I want to be honest with you: the problem is not your discipline. It's not your motivation. It's not your mindset or your willpower. It's that the goal-setting approach most of us were taught was never designed for the stage of business you're actually in right now.In this episode, I'm breaking down the real reason so many service-based business owners end up in a cycle of setting goals, falling behind, and starting over. It comes down to one critical shift: moving away from project-based goals and into systems-based goals. Once you understand the difference, the way you plan, prioritize, and measure progress changes completely.I also walk through how to figure out what's actually driving results in your business right now, and why that answer is more grounding than any new strategy you could add to your plate. If you've been feeling like you need a whole new plan, there's a good chance you don't. You may just need to stop abandoning what's already working.This episode is for you if you're done with the start-over cycle and ready to build something that actually compounds.In This Episode:Why mid-March is when most business owners start blaming themselves, and why that self-diagnosis is wrongThe difference between project-based goals and systems-based goals, and which one actually builds momentum over timeThe three stages every new project goes through before it pays off (and the stage most people quit in)How shiny objects and instant gratification keep you stuck in startup mode, even after you've outgrown itThe one question I ask clients to help them identify what's actually driving results in their businessWhy the 90-day planning rhythm works when annual goal-setting doesn't, especially when life gets in the wayHow to build a Q2 plan that tells you what to focus on each week, with built-in space for when things inevitably come upConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailIf you've opened the news lately and felt your stomach drop, you already know how hard it is to justify sitting down to work on your business. The guilt is real. The distraction is real. And if you've been quietly wondering whether it's okay to keep going, this episode gives you a completely different way to think about it.This is not an episode about ignoring what's happening. What I'm making the case for today is that what we are watching unfold is the death throes of a system that was never built for most of us to begin with. And what gets built on the other side? That's on us. Right now. In our businesses.In this episode:Why going quiet right now is one of the most costly things you can doThe difference between the old model of "power over people" and what a values-driven business actually looks like structurallyWhat matriarchy in business really meansHow I personally stay grounded when the world is loudWhy your plan is not a cage, it's a compassHow to join me at the live CEO Retreat on March 27th to build your Q2 plan togetherShow Links:Q2 CEO Retreat on March 27thOn Demand CEO RetreatConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailMost business advice assumes you're operating at full capacity. But what happens when life doesn't cooperate — not for a week, not for a month, but for the better part of an entire year?In 2025, I went from working 25 hours a week to about five. My parents needed more care than they could safely manage at home. My mom moved into memory care. There were hospital stays, doctor visits, Social Security calls, house sales — and ultimately, her passing in December. It was, without question, the hardest year of my life.And yet, my business stayed intact. We kept our clients. We kept our revenue. I didn't have to walk away from the livelihood that supports my whole family.That didn't happen by accident. It happened because I had a system — the Client Growth Engine — that was built to keep running even when I couldn't. In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes into the exact decisions my team and I made so the business could work around my life instead of the other way around. If you've ever wondered what your business would look like if you had to step back for a long stretch, this one is worth your time.In This Episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:Why making strategic decisions before a crisis hits is the difference between steady revenue and panic mode — and how I did that when I saw what 2025 was going to requireA breakdown of the Client Growth Engine framework (attract → engage → nurture → invite → delight) and why designing it around your life matters just as much as designing it around your clientsHow 10+ years of one core attract strategy meant I had systems in place that could absorb my stepping back — and what I swapped in when I couldn't keep it upThe surprisingly simple marketing shift that kept things moving without requiring much from me at allWhy I stopped creating new sales assets and just repurposed what already worked — and how that made launches actually manageableThe new direction I'm taking with on-demand offers — what prompted the shift and what it means for how you can access this workConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailFrom hiding behind NDAs to leading a thriving book writing business, Amanda Edgar's journey proves that embracing visibility can transform your entrepreneurial path. In this candid conversation, the ex-professor shares how she escaped the constraints of third-party platforms, built a strong team, and developed a unique framework for helping others write books. Her story demonstrates how the right business systems and community support can help you scale while staying true to your values. Amanda's evolution from reluctant expert to confident CEO offers a refreshing perspective on building a business that thrives even through personal challenges.Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailIf you've been wondering whether a marketing framework like Client Growth Engine could actually work for your business, this episode is going to answer that question.I'm walking through three real client stories — a product-based business, a service provider who was stuck on a third-party platform, and a concierge medical practice — and what they all had in common might surprise you. None of them needed more marketing. They needed a repeatable system that fit how their businesses actually work. I've watched the feast-or-famine cycle wreck the confidence of brilliant women who are genuinely excellent at what they do. These case studies show what shifts when you stop running on inspiration and start running on a plan. I'm not promising overnight results — this framework takes three to six months to implement and another three to six to fully integrate. But the women I'm sharing about today are now predicting their revenue within 10%, working the hours they want to work, and building asset libraries they'll use for years. If any part of your marketing feels chaotic, exhausting, or like you're always starting from scratch, this episode is worth your time.In This Episode of Promote Yourself to CEOGabi (Bright Body) went from marketing-by-mood to a 12-month calendar that lets her predict revenue within 10% — and actually support a teamWhy repeating yourself is the point — and how the belief that everything must be new is quietly killing your conversionsAmanda (Page & Podium Press) broke free from a third-party marketplace that took 20% of her fees and controlled her client relationships, then built a scalable teamThe "learning without implementing" trap that keeps smart entrepreneurs spinning — and how a framework finally gave Amanda a path to run onDr. Libby (Best Life Functional Medicine) redesigned her client experience so she went from 24/7 availability to working 9–4, Monday through FridayWhy marketing and operations have to grow together — and what happens when you scale sales without the infrastructure to back it upHow to turn "couch potato content" into a reusable asset library that compounds over time instead of dying in your archivesConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO, I invited Gabi Day, CEO and founder of Brightbody, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey. Gabi shares insights on running a non-toxic, refillable personal care line and her new venture, Hype Ma'am, which supports women in product-based businesses. Gabi reflects on her transition from healthcare administration, dealing with chronic health issues, and becoming a mother of twins. She emphasizes the importance of creating flexible systems and structures, including her 90-day operating plan and annual marketing calendar that enable her to balance business growth and personal well-being. Gabi also discusses how implementing these strategies has transformed her role as CEO and improved her team's efficiency and happiness.10:58 Flexible Work and Parenting23:40 Adapting to Challenges: Flexibility in Planning27:37 Building a Reliable Team33:28 Streamlining Operations with SOPs42:26 Scaling Your Business with SystemsConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailYou make yourself available to your clients constantly. They can email or text or call you 24/7, and you make it a priority to respond to them as soon as possible. And you might even be making great money in the process!From the client's perspective, this sounds great. But while the constant availability works for them, it means your business isn’t really working for you.Today, I talk with CEO Collective member Dr. Libby Wilson whose functional medicine practice looked great on the surface with successful clients and cash flow. But she had to make shifts so that she could truly have freedom in her business to enjoy life. In this episode, she talks about how she turned things around over the last year to ensure that her practice not only works for her clients but also for herself and her family.On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:3:25 - Who is Dr. Libby Wilson, how does she help her clients, and where was she struggling in her business before joining the CEO Collective?7:55 - Hustle culture created this health issue for Dr. Libby. She had to fix the root cause and talks about how the 90-Day Planner helped.13:07 - Content creation is a major sticking point for a lot of entrepreneurs. Dr. Libby has a 12-month rinse-and-repeat content calendar, so how does she do it?16:29 - Dr. Libby reveals something she does for her practice and that every entrepreneur needs to apply in their business. We discuss what it is and why it’s so important.22:34 - Watching how my business runs behind-the-scenes helped Dr. Libby get away from making herself constantly available to clients. What changes did she make in her practice as a result?30:04 - Dr. Libby discusses how making the adjustments to her business has improved her life and her mindset.36:30 - To wrap the show, Dr. Libby reveals what she’d say to anyone thinking of joining The CEO Collective. She also briefly discusses her new book and how she works with clients.Mentioned in Is Your Business Really Working for You? Best Life Functional MedicineThe Path of Intention: Five Habits to Optimize Your Health and Create a Life You Love by Dr. Libby Wilson90-Day CEO PlannerApply for The CEO CollectiveRacheal on Instagram and TikTokConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailIf your marketing strategy feels like it was stitched together from a dozen different experts, programs, and podcasts — it probably was. And that's exactly why it's not working the way you need it to.I've been in that place, and I know how exhausting it is to keep up with a to-do list that never ends, while still not knowing where your next client is coming from. Here's what I've come to understand: the problem isn't your motivation, and it's not that the advice you've been following is wrong. It's that none of it was designed to work together — for a business like yours.In this episode, I'm breaking down the difference between tactics and strategy, and why that distinction is the thing most small business owners are missing. I'll walk you through the Client Growth Engine — the five-stage framework I use with every single client at the CEO Collective — and show you how to spot the gaps that are creating friction for your potential clients right now. Whether you've been in business for two years or ten, I think you're going to hear something in this episode that finally makes the whole picture click.In This Episode of Promote Yourself to CEOWhy your marketing feels hard — and why it's a systems problem, not a motivation problemThe real difference between strategy and tactics — and why leading with tactics is multiplying your workload without the results to show for itThe five stages of the Client Growth Engine — Attract, Engage, Nurture, Invite, and Delight — and what's actually supposed to happen at each oneThe most common point of confusion — why so many business owners are conflating "attract" and "nurture," and what it's costing themHow to identify the gaps in your own engine — so you stop doing random activities and start fixing what's actually brokenWhat it looks like when the system runs without you — including how I kept my business moving during one of the hardest personal seasons of my lifeConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailHere's a question most business owners can't actually answer: Do you know where your next 10 clients are coming from?Not their names — just the path. The channel. The sequence of events that gets someone from "never heard of you" to handing over their credit card.If you paused on that, you're not alone. In this episode, Rachel Cook gets into the specific patterns she sees when she pops the hood on a client's business during a strategy review — and why so many smart, hardworking entrepreneurs are stuck in feast-or-famine despite doing more marketing than they probably need to.The uncomfortable truth she makes here: unpredictable growth isn't a motivation problem. It's a systems problem. And most of the "solutions" people reach for — more content, more platforms, more visibility — are actually making it worse.If your revenue feels harder to predict than it should be, this episode is worth a listen. Rachel doesn't dress it up, and she doesn't make it complicated. She walks through four mistakes that are almost universally present in stalled businesses, and gives you enough to start diagnosing your own.In This Episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:Nurture vs. attract marketing — and why confusing the two quietly shrinks your business. If your marketing is only reaching people who already follow you, you're not growing visibility. You're just talking to a contracting audience.The math most business owners are avoiding. Once you know your conversion numbers at each stage of the client journey, you can forecast revenue within 10% — and finally stop guessing at whether your marketing is working.Why passive selling is costing you clients who were ready to say yes. The people in your audience aren't tracking your offers as closely as you think. Rachel makes the case for why showing up once — or burying an offer in a P.S. — isn't enough.Doing more vs. deciding better. When growth stalls, the instinct is to add: more tactics, more platforms, more content. Rachel explains why that instinct is usually what's keeping you on the hamster wheel.What "removing friction" actually looks like in the client journey — and how making it easier for people to understand their next step is often more valuable than any new marketing strategy.Why decision fatigue is the real reason your marketing to-do list stops producing results — and what to do instead of continuing to pile on.A preview of the Client Growth Engine framework — the strategic system Rachel uses with every client at the CEO Collective, and what's coming in the next episode.Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailHere's something nobody wants to admit: most marketing advice actually works. The problem? It's just not working for your business. And that disconnect is exactly why everything feels so much harder than it needs to be.I'm pulling back the curtain on why you keep getting stuck in this exhausting cycle of trying every strategy, tactic, and tip that crosses your feed—only to end up more burned out and no closer to the sustainable business you want. We're talking about the online marketing echo chamber that's lost touch with how real businesses actually work. The advice designed for high-volume, transactional businesses that makes zero sense when you're building something based on trust and long-term relationships.If you've ever frozen up trying to decide what to post, felt guilty for not doing "all the things," or wondered why client referrals keep your business running while you're stressing about content calendars—this one's for you. I'm sharing the exercise that helps my clients immediately identify what's actually driving results in their business (spoiler: it's usually not what they think). Time to stop forcing strategies that were never built for businesses like ours.In This Episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:• Why the online marketing world has become an echo chamber – and how it's completely lost touch with regular, everyday small businesses that serve actual humans (not just other entrepreneurs trying to sell courses)• The massive difference between high-volume transactional businesses and high-trust relational businesses – and why trying to apply the same marketing strategies to both is making you feel like you're failing when you're absolutely not• The hidden costs of forcing the wrong strategies on your business – from burnout and fragmented client journeys to analysis paralysis that keeps you frozen instead of implementing anything at all• How my business not only survived but grew during the hardest year of my life – and why having a strategy that actually aligns with your life and business model is what makes "cruise control" possible• The "last 10 clients" exercise that reveals the truth – this simple diagnostic will show you exactly where your clients are actually coming from (and it's probably not where you're spending 80% of your marketing energy)• What your hair stylist understands about sustainable business that most online gurus don't – the power of 150-200 loyal clients who come back every three months versus chasing thousands of strangers on social media• The real goal isn't to stop marketing – it's to build a strategy so clear and aligned that you never run out of ideas, you stop second-guessing every decision, and marketing finally feels manageable instead of overwhelmingConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailYou're showing up, creating content, following the advice. So why does marketing still feel like pushing a boulder uphill?Here's what I realized after the hardest year of my life, when I had to step back from my business for months: most marketing advice wasn't designed for the kind of business you're actually building.The strategies you're following? They're built for high-volume businesses with massive content teams. That influencer playbook? They have five people following them around with cameras. You're trying to make it work solo or with a tiny team, wondering why you can't keep up.In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the disconnect between what you're being told to do and what actually works for relationship-based businesses. I'm sharing what kept my business running and growing when I couldn't show up, and why you're not broken or behind—you've just been following the wrong roadmap.This changes everything.In this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:• The two business models almost no one talks about—and why following advice designed for the wrong one makes everything unnecessarily hard• What it actually takes to execute "simple" marketing tactics—the behind-the-scenes reality of massive teams that most business experts won't mention• The autopilot test—what happened when I stepped away during the hardest year of my life, and what it revealed about truly sustainable systems• Why you don't need to be an influencer—the truth about sharing your life versus building a successful relationship-based business• The certainty question—one simple filter that reveals whether your marketing strategy is actually working (or just keeping you busy)• What high-trust businesses need instead of constant content—this will change how you approach marketing forever• The square peg problem—the real reason you feel behind (and why it has nothing to do with you)Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailAs soon as you get up, the dog is already begging to be let outside. The kids don’t want to get ready for school, so you have to practically drag them out of bed. Your partner is wondering where the hell this or that is while you’re trying to get ready yourself for the day. And you’re still just barely awake in all this and haven’t had your coffee yet! Are your mornings crazy like this? Let’s do something about that! High performance CEOs know how to manage their day and conserve their energy to get the results they want in life and business. So in this last installment of the “Run Your Business Like a CEO” series, I talk about three surprisingly key things to running your day like a CEO, based on my own experience. On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO: 7:54 - A great day truly starts the night before. I used to never be a great sleeper (and even failed at it, according to my FitBit), so here’s how I fixed that. 15:48 - Morning routines can be so different from person to person. As an introvert who likes the quiet, here’s what I do and don’t do. 20:00 - What else can you consider to keep your days running smoothly? Pay attention to these things. 23:00 - I reveal what I do to simplify decision-making regarding my wardrobe, self-care, and home essentials. 26:45 - What’s sucking away your time? I discuss the happy accident that helped me truly relax. 28:27 - I used to feel resistant to morning and nighttime routines. Are you in the same boat?   Mentioned in Run Your Day Like a CEO FitBit Calm Grove Collaborative “From Not Ready Yet to Ready for Next Level Visibility with Stylist Nicole Otchy” Racheal on Instagram and TikTok Rate and review on Apple Podcasts Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailAs a CEO, you’ve got many potential distractions in your business. Answering emails or other ongoing administrative work can keep your attention off the tasks that’ll actually move your company forward. Then by the end of the week, you’ve made little (if any) progress on the tasks that do drive business growth and success. In this episode, I talk about how you can run your week as a CEO with five top strategies that help you skillfully manage your time and energy while prioritizing those higher-value tasks that move the needle. On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO: 5:01 - What is a model calendar, and how do you use one? I talk about how I created my model calendar and really dig into the details of how I use it now. 21:57 - If you have other people on your team, here’s something else you should consider doing to protect your time and energy. 26:33 - What’s the second most important strategy to run your week like a CEO? I do this for my business every Monday morning. 39:46 - I’m pretty ruthless when I implement the third strategy. And it certainly helps with client appointments and business boundaries when I do this. 41:37 - I often get asked why I included these couple of questions in The CEO Planner. What are they, and why did I? 45:03 - The CEO Score comes in handy when it comes to sticking to the weekly plan you just mapped out. Here’s a breakdown of what it’s all about. 57:26 - The last strategy is built right into the planner as this series of questions so you can make better decisions and nip any recurring problems in the bud. 1:02:58 - To wrap up, I quickly recap all five top things to do to run your week like a CEO. Mentioned in Run Your Week Like a CEO The CEO Collective The CEO Planner Fired Up & Focused Challenge “How a model calendar helps me work just 25 hours a week!” “What Is Your Role as CEO?” CEO Date Checklist “How to Track Your Productivity With an Entrepreneur Scorecard” Racheal on Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailI go on CEO dates with myself. Once every month (as well as on a weekly basis), I take some time to check in on my business and ensure I’m continuing the progress toward the goals I’ve set. This is how I create business plans that I follow through on and adapt as circumstances arise. And in this episode, I discuss how you too can build in self-accountability so that your plan isn’t just another document you’ll never open again. On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO: 2:59 - I talk about my monthly CEO date and dive into my check-in process. 7:48 - What kinds of questions can you ask yourself as you look back on the previous month? 11:28 - I reveal another reason why I absolutely love working with The CEO Planner. 14:15 - What are the consequences of not tracking and documenting things in your business on a consistent basis? 20:07 - Your business metrics and revenue help you predict your company’s future. I reveal how I check on mine every month without obsessing over them. 27:20 - What if you discover that you’ve fallen behind (even way behind) on your projected goals? Here’s how I handle it. 32:24 - One of the most crucial things you need to do with your team while setting your top business priorities for the next month. 34:10 - What’s the last thing I do at the end of my monthly CEO date? Mentioned in Run Your Month Like a CEO Plan Your Best Year Ever Challenge The CEO Collective The CEO Retreat The CEO Planner Racheal on Instagram and TikTok Rate and review on Apple Podcasts Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailEvery new year feels like a new chance to go after the big, audacious goals of your dreams. But as recent years have shown, you need to have adaptable plans for your business so that it can have the flexibility it needs while still getting the results you want. That’s why I love running my quarter through 90-day plans. Today, I talk about how to actually dig in and start creating these plans for your own business. On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO: 3:34 - Why go for 90-day plans? Entrepreneurs love setting big, ambitious goals, but it can be overwhelming. 7:27 - How do you break down big goals into more manageable chunks to fit your time, energy, and resources? You can make your best guess, or do this instead. 11:24 - As an example, I quickly walk through how you can launch a new group program within a year (or sooner). 16:03 - How do you actually create your first 90-day plan? I dig into it and discuss the kind of goals you want to focus on during this process. 19:50 - Start the process by looking over your sales and marketing with this 5-part marketing strategy framework. 27:01 - Most people think of this part of the framework when they think of marketing and can get it confused with the first step. I reveal why it’s different and necessary. 34:08 - What’s next after you have your systems in place? I discuss the difference between process vs. project goals and breaking them down in your 90-day plan. 38:38 - Asking yourself these questions as you work through your plan can really help ensure you avoid major challenges. 42:50 - I talk about fine-tuning your plan throughout the quarter without burning yourself out. Mentioned in Run Your Quarter Like a CEO Plan Your Best Year Ever Challenge The CEO Collective The CEO Retreat The CEO Planner Get Paid Calculator Racheal on Instagram and TikTok Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailI need you to meet Michelle Mercurio. She's one of those rare people who refuses to pick a lane—and that's exactly what makes her brilliant. In this conversation, we dig into why the traditional business advice to "niche down" might actually be killing your ability to show up as yourself. Michelle's built a career that spans branding, community building, teaching, and yes, witchy practices—all tied together by two powerful threads: understanding who we are and how we relate to one another.What I love most about this episode is how Michelle reframes growth itself. We're so conditioned to think growth means up, up, up—more revenue, bigger team, next level. But what if growth is actually a spiral? What if coming back to familiar patterns isn't regression but evolution? We explore how to shed decades of conditioning that taught us to smooth out our edges and fit in, why elevator pitches actually kill connection, and what it really takes to build authentic community (spoiler: it requires showing up even when it's uncomfortable). If you've ever felt like you're supposed to be further along or you're doing it wrong because you don't fit the mold, this one's for you.In This Episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:• Why Michelle describes growth as a spiral rather than a ladder—and what that means when you feel like you're revisiting the same challenges you thought you'd already overcome• The real danger of trying to fit in as a small business owner—how smoothing out your edges to belong actually makes you invisible in the marketplace• What neuroplasticity research reveals about conditioning—and why it takes intentional effort to break free from the patterns that keep us playing small• How elevator pitches kill connection instead of creating it—Michelle shares her "Ditch the Pitch" approach that uses questions as hooks instead of titles and credentials• The truth about successful people that nobody talks about—hint: they're just the ones who didn't quit (but Michelle draws an important line about what you should quit)• Why you can't just show up once and expect community to happen—what it really takes to find your people and build genuine relationships in business• The one action you can take today to build authentic community—Michelle's practical suggestion for anyone feeling isolated in their business journeyConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailThe best entrepreneurial stories rarely start with a grand vision. They start with a rug being pulled out.That's Ashley's story. A layoff. A pandemic that destroyed her in-person business overnight. So she did what many of us do in crisis—she picked up watercolors and created. A hundred days worth. Except it took two years to finish.When Ashley came to me, I saw what she couldn't see herself: a hundred pieces of unique, marketable content in a space flooded with generic coaches. She resisted. Hard. Tears and all.But here's what changed everything: clarity isn't something you force. It's something you create conditions for. Once Ashley stopped waiting for perfection and started building in public, the momentum came fast. Seven months from a wine bar idea to four finished books.If you've got something incomplete sitting in your files, or you're wondering if your "weird" skill could be your real differentiator—listen in.On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:The accidental entrepreneur — Ashley's family had three generations of business owners. She wanted nothing to do with it until a layoff left her no choice.When crisis creates clarity — A pandemic wiped out her revenue overnight. She started painting. Two years later, she had 100 finished watercolors and no plan.What I saw that she couldn't — A hundred pieces of unique, ready-made content. Ashley saw uncertainty. I saw her competitive advantage.The two-year gap between finishing and knowing — Completed the paintings in 2022, knew her path in 2024. Here's what she learned about waiting for clarity.Building in public before you're ready — Ashley announced her journal plan on LinkedIn, tagged 200 people, took pre-orders before writing a word.Why smaller commitments actually work — Instead of writing all four at once, she took pre-orders for volume one, wrote it, then repeated. The structure got it done.Your market is telling you something — People kept asking about her art, not her coaching. She listened to that signal instead of resisting it.Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailYour revenue is down. Sales have slowed. And every time you log into social media, you're hit with another wave of news that makes you want to throw your entire business plan out the window and start over.But here's what most business owners don't realize: when things slow down, the problem is rarely everything. It's usually just one or two key levers that need your attention. The CEOs who come out stronger on the other side? They're the ones who can diagnose the real issue instead of burning it all down in a panic.In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact framework I use with my CEO Collective clients to figure out what actually needs fixing in your business. We're talking about the four levers that directly impact your revenue, how to identify which one is causing your slowdown, and why changing everything at once is the worst move you can make right now.This isn't about working harder or doing more. It's about working smarter and focusing your energy where it will actually move the needle. Because sales slowdowns don't mean your business is broken. They mean it's time to make a strategic CEO-level decision.On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:The leaky bucket problem - Why you might be bringing in new clients but still losing revenue (and the one metric that will tell you if this is happening in your business)Product-market fit in uncertain times - The three scenarios where adjusting your offers makes sense, and when a "bite-sized" entry point could be the bridge between hesitant buyers and long-term clientsThe messaging shift nobody's talking about - Why aspirational content stops converting when the economy gets shaky, and what your audience is actually searching for right nowThe visibility dilemma - How to stay visible when you're burned out on social media, plus the "Follow-Up Friday" strategy that's working for service-based business owners right nowThe science experiment approach - Why changing one variable at a time is the only way to actually know what's working (and what's not) in your businessClient retention as your secret weapon - The case study of a CEO Collective member whose revenue dropped even though new client numbers stayed the same, and what we discovered when we looked under the hoodConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailYou know that feeling when you open your closet and somehow have nothing to wear—even though it's packed full? That's what running your business feels like right now. Not because you lack options, but because you have too many of them.Fresh off our CEO Retreats, I've been hearing the same thing from small business owners across the country: they're stuck. Not on client work—they're confident there. But on the CEO-level decisions that could make or break their next year. The ones about pricing, team, strategy. The decisions they keep putting off because "what if I'm wrong?"Here's what nobody talks about: this isn't a confidence problem. It's not an effort problem. It's decision fatigue, and it's eating up your cognitive capacity before you even get to the decisions that matter. Every morning you're starting with a tank of mental fuel, and by the time you need to make the big call, you're running on empty.In this episode, I'm breaking down why wait-and-see mode is costing you more than you realize, what Steve Jobs and Barack Obama understood about preserving brain power, and the one tool that's going to help you cut through the noise: your CEO decision matrix. If you've been spinning your wheels on a decision you know you need to make, this one's for you.In This Episode:Why small business owners feel economic shifts first—and what that reality means for the decisions sitting on your desk right now that you've been avoidingThe cognitive capacity trap: I'm breaking down how your morning routine, chronic illness, or last night's sleep actually determines how much decision-making power you have today (and why this changes everything)What prolific leaders do differently when it comes to preserving mental energy for strategic decisions—it's not about working harder, and the examples might surprise youThe real cost of "wait and see" mode—I'm sharing what I've witnessed happen when small business owners delay tough conversations about team, pricing, or strategy, and why your options shrink instead of expandHow too many options create paralysis—your packed closet explains exactly what's happening in your business, and once you see this pattern, you can't unsee itThe CEO Decision Matrix framework: I'm walking you through the filtering system that uses your vision and values to help you make tough calls faster and with more confidenceConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailYou know that sinking feeling when a client asks for "that document we worked on last month" and you have absolutely no idea where you saved it? Or when you're paying your team to sit idle while you frantically search through folders trying to find the resources they need?If you've ever felt like the organized, professional front you present to the world is hiding a complete digital disaster behind the scenes, this episode is for you. Tracy Hoth, professional organizer turned business coach, reveals why most entrepreneurs struggle with organization (hint: it's not because you're "naturally messy") and shares her surprisingly simple system that works whether you're a solopreneur or managing a team.This isn't about buying fancy software or overhauling your entire business overnight. Tracy breaks down the exact five-folder system she uses with clients to eliminate the constant search-and-rescue missions that are quietly draining your productivity and confidence. She also shares the "wonderful one" concept that could save you hours every week and the maintenance habit that takes less than five minutes but keeps everything running smoothly.Ready to stop being the bottleneck in your own business? Tracy's practical approach might just be the missing piece that transforms your behind-the-scenes chaos into a well-oiled machine.In This Episode:• The "Monica's Closet" phenomenon — Why most business owners look perfectly organized on the outside while drowning in digital chaos behind the scenes• Tracy's five essential business folders — The stupidly simple filing system that works for Google Drive, Canva, email, and every other platform you use daily• The hidden cost of disorganization — How being unable to find files is masquerading as "bad time management" and costing you money in team productivity• The "wonderful one" rule — Why choosing a single hub for everything eliminates decision fatigue and stops files from multiplying across devices• SPASM method revealed — Tracy's 17-year-old organizing process that works for physical spaces, digital files, and even overwhelmed brains• The maintenance secret — The simple habit-stacking technique that keeps your system running without constant overhauls (spoiler: it ties to something you already do)Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailEver feel like you're constantly tweaking your business but nothing quite clicks? Like you're a plant that's outgrown its pot but you keep trying to make it work anyway?You're not alone. And more importantly, there's a reason why all that surface-level fixing isn't working.In this conversation with Jessica Sato, we dig into why successful entrepreneurs hit this wall—and what actually needs to happen to break through it. Jessica works with impact-driven female entrepreneurs who've built something good, but know there's something bigger calling them forward.This isn't about another rebrand or website refresh. It's about the deep work that most people skip because it feels too slow, too introspective, or too "nice to have." But here's what Jessica and I both learned the hard way: you can't shortcut this process.We talk about the moment you realize your current container is too small, why "good enough" can be the enemy of extraordinary, and how to find that through line that connects everything you've built into something cohesive and compelling.If you've been in business for 5+ years and something feels off—even if you can't put your finger on what—this conversation will give you language for what you're experiencing and a path forward that doesn't involve starting over.On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:• The accidental TEDx discovery that shifted Jessica's entire approach to helping entrepreneurs find their big ideas• Why your "expertise overwhelm" is actually the problem—and the umbrella framework that cuts through the confusion• The two unmistakable signs you've outgrown your current business model (hint: one involves a lot of frustrated tweaking)• The root-bound plant analogy that explains why no amount of "window dressing" will fix a foundational misalignment• Why successful entrepreneurs resist the deep work that would actually solve their problems (spoiler: it's not what you think)• The difference between copywriters and messaging strategists—and why working with the wrong one keeps you stuck• Rachel's honest breakdown of her two major business evolutions and what triggered each shift• The "good enough" trap that keeps mid-stage entrepreneurs from doing the work that would unlock their next level• How Jessica's Egypt retreat idea emerged from a dream and why discomfort might be exactly what your business needsConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailShow Notes: How to Build Premium Services Without the Premium HeadachesWhat if everything you've been told about raising your rates is backwards?Amy Hayes, founder of The Global Creator, spent a decade building a design business that runs almost entirely on referrals—and she's never touched social media marketing for her client work. In this conversation, she reveals why most creatives are focusing on all the wrong things when trying to command premium prices.You'll discover why that expensive camera or fancy software isn't what's keeping you from high-end clients. Amy breaks down the real difference between high-end and high-touch services, and why the latter matters more than you think. She also shares her unconventional approach to client boundaries—one that actually strengthens relationships instead of creating friction.If you've ever felt trapped in the feast-or-famine cycle, constantly chasing new clients, or wondered why your perfectly polished portfolio isn't attracting the clients you want, this episode will shift how you think about service-based business entirely. Amy's insights on the relationship-first approach might just save you years of spinning your wheels on strategies that don't actually move the needle.In This Episode:• Why accumulating more skills and certifications won't fix your client pipeline problems• The "self-concept" shift that transforms how clients perceive and treat you• How Amy built a decade-long business without social media marketing (and why referrals don't actually "dry up")• The counterintuitive approach to client boundaries that creates stronger relationships, not weaker ones• Why high-end services require high-touch experiences—and what most people get wrong about this• The real reason clients become demanding (hint: it's not about your pricing)• How to price projects with built-in margins for creativity and collaboration• Why saying yes to smaller projects from existing clients can be your most profitable decision• The energy shift from "creative gun for hire" to strategic partner that changes everythingConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailWhy Your Burnout Isn't a Time Management ProblemI've been thinking a lot about why so many of us are running on empty, and this conversation with Amanda Miller Littlejohn gave me language for something I've been feeling for years. We're not just tired—we're operating from a fundamentally broken blueprint about what makes life worth living.Amanda's new book, The Rest Revolution, cuts through all the productivity hacks and time management systems to get to the real issue: we've been taught to measure our worth by our output. And frankly, it's killing us. What struck me most about our conversation wasn't just her story of severe burnout after having her third child during the pandemic (while not taking maternity leave), but how she traced this pattern all the way back to childhood.This isn't another "work-life balance" conversation. Amanda challenges the entire framework of ambition in our post-pandemic world. She's a sought-after executive coach, brand strategist, and now Rosalyn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellow whose work has appeared in the Washington Post and Forbes. But more than that, she's someone who hit the wall hard and found a different way forward.If you've ever felt like you're supposed to be grateful for being overwhelmed, this episode will shift something in you.Show Notes• The childhood origins of overwork - How being rewarded for effort and achievement creates adults who don't know they have limits• Back-burnering vs. front-burnering - Why we systematically deprioritize health, hobbies, and key relationships for things that "matter" financially• The breaking point pattern - How burnout manifests when we either get physically sick or lose someone and have no space to grieve• Machine mindset vs. human needs - Why "I can't afford to take my foot off the gas" is a lie that keeps us trapped• The village we've lost - How hyper-capitalism destroyed the natural support systems our grandparents had• Friend-making in your 40s - Amanda's practical approach to "proposing" to potential best friends and showing up consistently• The three P's of friendship - Proximity, positivity, and frequency (why adult friendships require intentional effort)• Redefining the measuring stick - Moving from productivity-based worth to relationships, joy, and health as success metrics• Why this all becomes urgent in your 40s - How decades of bad habits finally catch up and force a reckoning with what actually mattersConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailWhen you’re running a business day to day, your to-do list is full with answering emails, posting on social media, working with clients, etc. Many women entrepreneurs spend so much time working in their business that they don’t have the time to work on big picture, game-changing stuff like writing the book they’ve thought of for years or creating that next-level program that brings everything together. In this episode, I share my favorite time management tips to help you build more CEO time into your business so that you can finally open up new revenue streams, reach more people, and work smarter instead of harder. On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO: 4:29 - The answer is, “No.” I discuss how money mindset mentor Denise Duffield-Thomas decided to use tip #1 to stop this time and energy infiltrator. 7:21 - If you’ve been sitting on big dreams for years due to lack of time, I reveal the honest truth in tip #2. 9:33 - What’s my absolute favorite strategy to help you design your week around what matters to you most? 11:54 - You can work on the big picture of your business in 20 hours a week. I discuss how, even if you’re still working a job or taking care of young kids. 16:03 - I talk about this third and final big time management tip all the time! It’s one of my favorite things to do. Show Links Fired Up & Focused Challenge “How a Model Calendar Helps Me Work Just 25 Hours a Week!” “A Mamapreneur’s Guide to Finding Childcare (Without Breaking the Bank)” The CEO Planner “How a CEO Date Keeps Me Focused Each Week” Racheal on Instagram and TikTok Leave a review on iTunes Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailAs a new entrepreneur, you feel inclined to say yes to everything. But as your business grows and those yeses pile up, they become overwhelming to the point where they prevent you from doing the necessary CEO level work you need to focus on. In today’s episode, I share the top three boundaries that’ll give you the confidence to say no so that you can concentrate on the work you’re truly here to do. On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO: 2:59 - Having clear boundaries doesn’t get talked about much in business circles. Why is having clear boundaries in place so crucial as a CEO? 8:07 - I discuss the different types of clear boundaries you need to place in your business, starting with your calendar. 15:31 - What’s one reason why people get drained and feel tired when working with clients? I talk about the most important thing you can do about it. 21:57 - I reveal how I handle emergencies (on both my end and a client’s) and requests for meet-ups to ensure I protect my time and energy. 27:29 - Constant communication can become an energy drain too. What do you need to look at when setting boundaries around people contacting you? 37:28 - While email is my go-to business communication channel, I reveal how I handle questions and messages through other channels. 42:17 - What do you do when people just want to pick your brain? It’s easy to get sucked into this thinking it’ll lead to a client relationship! 45:46 - Having these clear client boundaries in a scheduling policy will nip problems like last-minute cancellations in the bud quickly. 50:45 - This client boundary challenge is something I see a lot in service providers who are good at a lot of things. Show Links Fired Up & Focused Challenge Dare to Lead by Brené Brown “How a Model Calendar Helps Me Work Just 25 Hours a Week!” The CEO Planner The CEO Retreat Google Voice, Help Scout, and Voxer Racheal on Instagram andConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailMy entrepreneurial dad taught me that you have to fire yourself from every other position in your business. But when you first start your business, you have to wear so many hats: customer service, bookkeeper, tech person, assistant, and so on. So it can be quite challenging to let go of some of the roles as you grow your business and your team. Today kicks off a new podcast series that discusses how you can become more productive and focuses as a CEO. And in this episode, I talk about how to redefine your role as CEO of your business so you don’t become the bottleneck that holds everything up. On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO: 3:56 - Why is it so difficult to let go of the other roles and stay in your CEO lane as your business grows? 7:07 - Founder of Spanx, Sara Blakely, gave insight on how she had to learn to get out of her own way. 12:05 - You being the bottleneck in your business has this unintended consequence as well. 13:06 - How can you start redefining your role as CEO? I reveal the first thing I did and some red flags that signal you’re getting in the way. 17:29 - I discuss the role of the traditional CEO in defining their business’s vision. I also share my favorite exercise to get clarity on your business’s vision. 22:00 - CEOs also have a responsibility to set the culture for the company. I talk about one of the values I’ve had for my business since the beginning. 26:36 - What’s the difference between how corporate CEOs go about creating the strategic plan for their business vs. small business CEOs? 28:49 - I discuss how running a small business team contrasts with running a large company team and how that’s reflected in my business. 31:53 - This final role-playing piece for CEOs is one of the most difficult. It’s the one thing you can’t outsource. 38:35 - Where do you need to put your time, energy, and attention so that you can focus on generating business growth and results? To get clear on this, here are some questions to ask yourself. 48:44 - I share how the avenues where I focus my time, energy, and attention on show up in my business every week and month. 56:15 - How do I divide up my time between doing all the things I’m focused on in my business? Mentioned In This Episode Fired Up & Focused Challenge Double Double: How to Double Your Revenue and Profit in 3 Years or Less by Cameron Herald The CEO Retreat “How a CEO Date Keeps Me Focused Each Week” Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailAre you investing time, energy, and money into your business but not always seeing the return? You're not alone—and it's time we have a real conversation about how to actually get results from those big decisions.In this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO, Racheal Cook breaks down 5 essential strategies to make the most of every investment—whether you're hiring, signing up for a program, attending an event, or investing in a rebrand.You’ll learn how to:✅ Make smarter decisions BEFORE you spend a dollar✅ Follow through (even when life gets in the way)✅ Avoid ghosting your growth by leaning in and asking for help✅ Take what works and leave what doesn’t—with confidence✅ Build your own business ecosystem through real relationshipsIf you've ever felt disappointed by a course, coaching program, team member, or service provider—or just want to be more intentional with your resources—this episode is packed with honest insights and practical advice to help you stop wasting money and start getting results.This isn’t just about ROI—it’s about stepping fully into your CEO role.🎧 Press play now to learn how to turn every investment into real momentum in your business. 👇 Then DM Racheal on Instagram @racheal.cook and let her know: Which of the five strategies will you be focusing on first?Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailAfter setting a revenue goal for your business, the next question on your mind might be, “How do I actually reach my goal?” If that’s you, then you’ll love this episode! In it, I dive even deeper into the actual math behind your revenue goal using real numbers to help you determine what to sell, at what price point, and to how many clients or customers. On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO: 3:26 - I explain why figuring out how to hit your revenue goals can get a little tricky, especially if you follow so-called guru advice. 10:11 - You have to understand your sales conversion rate which varies based on what you’re selling, to who, and at what price point. 12:26 - What kind of sales call conversion rate do I see among people, even those without much sales experience? 14:53 - Let’s take a look at conversion rates of some other popular promotional methods. 22:56 - How do I know that the price point advice too many “gurus” give to entrepreneurs isn’t necessarily based on any real data? 27:39 - I discuss the biggest problems I see with offering a one-session service and my minimum price point recommendation for your signature offer. 31:39 - Here’s how building a baseline revenue with a higher-end offer can help you grow your income down the line, without sacrificing your time or salary. 34:55 - Remember this about each product, program, or service you create for your business. Show Links Get Paid Calculator Racheal on Instagram Leave a review on iTunes Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailThere’s a tale that’s rarely told in the business world. It’s a tale of two companies. Both make seven figures annually. But the business owners behind them receive a vastly different amount of money as actual take-home pay. What happens once money comes into a business? Where does it go from there? The lack of real disclosure on this in online entrepreneurial circles has led to lots of people focusing solely on revenue goals, not their business’ actual profitability. So in this episode, I break it all down, talk some numbers, and tell you exactly what it means to have a six-figure take home income, not just a six-figure business. On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO: 3:29 - How much time do you have to invest in your business? Here’s how to take a look at your situation to see what works best for you. 7:16 - How much energy do you have available to you? And what do you need to do to maintain it? 9:48 - Instead of pulling a revenue goal out of thin air, ask yourself this question. I reveal the right way to come up with your number and a free resource you can use. 14:28 - I briefly mention why defaulting to your last salary as your revenue goal won’t work. 15:55 - I talk about what goes into running a business, how to use that information to reverse engineer your target, and a super simple way to figure out your revenue goal. 23:46 - Setting aside a little bit of your profits every month really starts to change the game and your perspective. I break down some percentages in detail. 31:08 - I look at the math behind a $100,000 annual revenue goal and how much you really need to earn to make that your take-home pay. 36:27 - How much tax are you going to pay at this point? This is where you’ll want to get yourself a good CPA. 39:10 - Before wrapping up, I go over the biggest piece of misinformation about growing a bigger business. It stops many from setting a higher revenue goal. Show Links Get Paid Calculator Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Racheal on Instagram Leave a review on iTunes  Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan Mail  You’ve seen the hype about small business and entrepreneurial success out there. It’s unreal! Not a day goes by when I don’t see photos of fancy cars, vacations, oodles of cash, and the typical success catch phrases that come with them on my social media. Here’s the conundrum, though: when your business crosses into the territory of making seven or eight figures, it can quickly become less about doing what you love and more about grinding things out as an entrepreneur to meet demand.  So does bigger actually mean better for you? Or is big enough... enough? In today’s episode, I talk about why I believe in creating a big enough business to create an actual business and life you love. On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO: 5:54 - I discuss what it was like growing up around entrepreneurs, and the surprising information I recently learned from my mother. 8:16 - Why should you beware of creating a business that grows too fast? I tell you what I’ve seen from businesses that experienced hyper growth. 10:02 - I retell a parable about a CEO and a fisherman that illustrates my point. 12:47 - I describe the time I was at a crossroads when I first heard the parable and the realization I came to after some reflection. 15:30 - The big questions I want you to ask about your revenue goals, and defining a Big Enough Business, the kind that loves you back. 17:10 - An early lesson in my business that serves as an example of why NOT to model your version of success after someone else. 20:05 - An example of what my "Big Enough Business" looks like and why it serves me in creating a business and life I love. 23:55 - How being intentional allows me to succeed without sacrificing my life and without causing me to be in a constant state of emergency in my business. 25:20 - How a big enough business allows you to live in your business sweet spot, and stop dreading Monday morning. 27:50 - How a big enough business and building a business and life you love will mean you must know your non-negotiables.  29:40 - Does focusing on a big enough business, mean you lack ambition?  34:00 - The questions I want you to ask to define your big enough business. Show Links The CEO Collective Racheal on Instagram Leave a review on iTunes Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailStop burning out while building your empire. CEO and entrepreneur Rachel Cook reveals why your success is setting you up for a crash—and the three-layer support system that saved her business during family crisis. Learn the exact reset strategies, email scripts, and relationship-building tactics that let you scale sustainably without sacrificing your sanity. This isn't typical self-care advice—it's strategic business infrastructure. Discover how to spot burnout before it hits, build non-transactional support networks, and create recurring systems that keep you resourced through any challenge. Essential listening for ambitious women who refuse to choose between success and wellbeing.Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailI'm recording from a completely new space today, and honestly, that feels fitting because everything about my business and personal life has shifted over the past 18 months. What started as managing my parents' care while growing a thriving business has turned into something much more complex.You might think successful entrepreneurs have it all figured out, but I'm here to tell you that's not how it works. While my business was scaling to a team of 12 and hosting sold-out retreats, I was also getting new medical diagnoses, watching my father relapse into alcoholism for the third time, and spending $16,000 a month on my mother's care. Sometimes life demands that you make hard choices about what you can and can't handle.This isn't your typical business strategy episode. I'm sharing what it actually looks like when the CEO of your life has to make decisions that nobody prepares you for - from letting go of team members to setting boundaries with family to completely restructuring how you show up in your business. If you're navigating major life changes while trying to keep your business running, you'll want to hear this.On This Episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:• Major business pivots under pressure - Why I closed my downtown office, scaled back my team from 12 to 2 core members, and what that taught me about sustainable growth• Managing chronic illness as an entrepreneur - Getting a lupus diagnosis and finding the right medical support while running a business (and why perimenopause is no joke)• The real cost of family caregiving - How spending $16K monthly on my mom's nursing care led to difficult decisions about boundaries and what "responsibility" actually means• Navigating addiction in the family - What it looks like to watch a parent go through rehab three times and why I had to learn that you can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved• Building business resilience for life's curveballs - The systems and mindset shifts that allowed my business to not just survive but thrive during the most challenging 18 months of my lifeConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailI used to get so frustrated when people told me to "work smarter, not harder." My parents were entrepreneurs who embraced the hustle, and I thought success meant being willing to work 80-100 hour weeks, doing anything and everything to grow your business.But here's what I learned the hard way: there's a ceiling to how much harder you can work. When you hit it, you become the bottleneck in your own business.I've built a multiple six-figure business working just 25 hours a week—not through some magical productivity hack, but by fundamentally shifting how I think about work itself. In this episode, I'm sharing the six strategies that allowed me to step out of the grind and into true CEO-level thinking.This isn't about cramming more tasks into your day or finding the perfect time-blocking system. It's about questioning everything you've been taught about what it takes to succeed and discovering that the entrepreneurs who scale sustainably aren't the ones working the hardest—they're the ones working the smartest.If you've hit that wall where working harder isn't the answer anymore, these six shifts will change how you approach every aspect of your business.On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:• Do less with more focus - I'll show you why having a signature offer and focused marketing strategy delivers exponentially higher returns than trying to be everywhere at once• CEO doesn't mean Chief Everything Officer - I learned this lesson the hard way about letting go of control and building the support systems that freed me from day-to-day busy work• What got you here won't get you there - I'll walk you through the critical pivot points every business faces and why your current strategies might be holding you back from the next level• Embrace rinse and repeat - Find out why I had to overcome my creative nature to build reusable assets that prevent me from constantly recreating the wheel• Create the money to invest back - How I shifted my mindset from "I can't afford this" to "I can create the money for this" and transformed how I view business investments• Find mentors and masterminds - Why you can't Google your way to success and how having the right people in my corner accelerated my growth exponentiallyConnect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailJust because it's a slow down season in your personal life doesn't mean your sales have to follow suit. Summer especially is known (and sometimes feared) as a dead time for business revenue. Unless your product specifically caters to what people purchase during these months, you're probably bracing for that dreaded dip in sales.But what if I told you the sales gravy train can keep rolling, even while you're enjoying those precious summer moments with family? After realizing I only have a handful of summers left before my twins prefer friends over family time, I knew I needed a solution that wouldn't sacrifice revenue for relaxation.The truth is, momentum doesn't require constant hustle. In my 15+ years helping women entrepreneurs scale sustainably, I've identified three high-leverage tactics that keep businesses thriving during personal slowdowns. These strategies don't demand more time—quite the opposite. Once implemented, they work automatically in the background while you're at the beach or enjoying summer evenings with loved ones.In this episode, I'm sharing exactly how to keep generating the sales and revenue you desire (and deserve) when you step back from your business, so you never have to experience the feast-or-famine cycle that plagues most entrepreneurs during summer months.Complete your mid-year review first to identify what's actually creating momentum in your business.Remove friction from your buying process to make sales effortless even when you're off the clock.Discover how pre-selling future projects keeps service providers booked without sacrificing summer freedom. Learn why repurposing content creates more impact with less effort than constant creation. Find out which marketing strategy to double down on when everyone else is scaling back. Implement these three momentum-maintaining tactics for a relaxed summer without revenue drops. Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailFeeling overwhelmed by "Maycember" chaos? Discover my proven mid-year business review process to recalibrate your 2025 strategy before summer disruptions hit. Learn the 80% achievement standard successful CEOs follow, identify your true revenue-driving metrics, and map your next six months with intentional focus instead of panicked reaction. With unpredictable market conditions in 2025, this practical framework helps you adapt your business plan without starting over. Download the free workbook and transform uncertainty into strategic opportunity. Stop running your business on default mode and start leading with clarity.Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailStruggling with entrepreneur burnout? In this powerful conversation, trauma therapist Shulamit Ber Levtov shares game-changing mental health strategies specifically designed for business owners. Discover why traditional self-care advice falls short, how to implement 30-second regulation techniques during business crises, and why acknowledging difficult emotions actually creates resilience. Learn practical approaches to maintain your wellbeing while navigating the entrepreneurial rollercoaster without succumbing to toxic hustle culture. Perfect for women business owners feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or questioning their capabilities. This episode reframes entrepreneur mental health as an essential business strategy rather than a luxury—empowering you to build both a sustainable business and a fulfilling life.Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailI'm revealing why your once-reliable business systems may be failing in today's economy. In this episode, I'll guide you through revitalizing your client growth engine by strategically analyzing your attract, engage, nurture, and invite systems. You'll learn to identify where your best clients actually come from, eliminate friction points in your sales process, and build sustainable relationships instead of chasing marketing trends. Take control of your business growth with my proven, relationship-focused strategies that bring consistent results.Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailDecision-making during uncertain times can make or break your business. When stress levels rise, our natural decision-making abilities become compromised, pushing us into either reactive choices or complete avoidance—both potentially devastating for long-term success.The entrepreneurs who navigate turbulent periods most effectively aren't those making the quickest decisions, but those making thoughtful, aligned ones. This episode walks you through creating your own decision-making framework based on the 90-Day CEO Operating System, providing a structured approach to evaluate opportunities and challenges without falling prey to panic-driven reactions.Your decision-making matrix should start with your vision—what's your core business model, who do you serve, and what impact do you want to create? Even when you can't see years ahead, clarity about your 12-month goals provides essential context. From there, every potential decision should be filtered through alignment questions: Does this fit your existing offers? Does it serve your current clients' evolving needs? Does it leverage your established marketing and sales systems rather than forcing you to build entirely new ones?During economic uncertainty, clients naturally seek safety and security. Smart entrepreneurs anticipate these shifts by creating risk-reversal options—perhaps offering satisfaction guarantees, bite-sized entry offers, or more flexible payment terms. But these adaptations must still align with your core strengths, brand identity, and team capacity.Perhaps most vital is filtering decisions through your values. If "life before business" matters to you, will a potential change respect that boundary? Will it move you closer to your personal definition of success, not just financial targets? By creating and consistently using a comprehensive decision matrix, you'll navigate even the most challenging times with greater confidence and clarity.What decision has been weighing on your mind lately? Try applying this framework and share what insights emerge. Your thoughtful decision-making now will position your business for sustainable success regardless of external circumstances.Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!

Send us Fan MailI'm sharing exclusive content from my March 2025 CEO Retreat, including my battle-tested "Oh Shit Kit" framework to help you stabilize your business during uncertainty. In this special episode, you'll experience key moments from the retreat as I provide actionable steps to secure your finances, generate revenue from existing relationships, and adjust your messaging to meet clients' shifting needs. Discover why increasing visibility—not retreating—is crucial during economic downturns, and how transparent leadership builds trust when others hide. These practical retreat strategies will help you make clearheaded decisions from a place of strength rather than fear.Connect with Me:Instagram: @racheal.cookTikTok: @rachealcookmbaLinkedIn: @rachealcookYouTube: @the_ceo_collectiveWebsite: The CEO CollectiveSubscribe & Review:If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!🎤 Thanks for listening! I'll see you next week!