Episode Details

Behind the Business #9: How I Actually Get Work Done With Three Kids at Home

Hook: How I stay consistent in my business—even when motivation is gone.

Welcome back to Behind the Business, where I'm taking you behind the scenes of how I actually run Classy Career Girl.

Last week, I took you behind the scenes of my life—motherhood, homeschooling, travel, routines, and the choices we've made as a family.

This week, we're going behind the business.

Yesterday, I shared the one-page business plan I actually use.

But here's the thing:

A business plan doesn't work if you don't actually do the work.

And that is what I want to talk about today.

Because I have three kids at home. We homeschool. We have gymnastics, activities, appointments, meals, laundry, and all the normal things happening around us.

And I still have a business to run.

So how do I actually get things done?

Especially on the days when I don't feel motivated?

Motivation Is Not My Strategy

One of the biggest things I've learned after more than a decade of entrepreneurship is this:

You cannot build a business based on whether you feel motivated that day.

There are mornings when I'm excited to work.

There are also mornings when I'm tired, someone needs me, the schedule changes, or I would rather do almost anything else.

Consistency comes from having a simple system I can return to.

And for me, that starts with knowing my priorities.

1. I Design My Work Around My Life

I don't start by asking:

"How can I fit my family around everything I need to accomplish in my business?"

I do the opposite.

I look at our family schedule first.

When are we homeschooling?

When do the kids need me?

What activities do we have?

When do I want to be completely off?

Then I decide where work fits.

I've learned that less time can actually make me more productive because I have to decide what truly matters.

I can't spend six hours making a Canva graphic perfect.

I have to focus on the work that actually grows the business.

2. I Know My Most Important Business Activities

There will always be more things I could do than I have time to do.

So I focus first on the activities that move the business forward:

Sales.

What am I selling? Who needs to hear about it? What conversations do I need to have?

Delivery.

What do my clients and customers need from me?

Marketing.

What podcast, email, social media post, or piece of content needs to go out?

Everything else comes after those things.

Because a full to-do list does not necessarily mean you're growing your business.

3. I Pick My Top Three

This is probably one of the simplest things I do, but it makes a huge difference.

Every day, I identify my top three priorities.

Not 27.

Three.

If the day completely falls apart but I accomplish those three things, I can still say:

"Today moved the business forward."

That helps me avoid spending my best working hours answering random emails, organizing files, or doing little tasks that feel productive but aren't actually important.

4. I Time Block the Work

Once I know the priorities, I give them somewhere to live.

I don't just write:

"Record podcast."

I decide when I'm recording the podcast.

I don't just write:

"Follow up with potential clients."

I put a block on my calendar to do it.

Your calendar forces you to confront reality.

You might have 15 things on your list, but only two hours available.

Something has to go.

And that's okay.

5. I Make Consistency Easier

I also use simple tools to reduce the amount of thinking I have to do.

I use things like ChatGPT to help m