Introduction: Why Yearly Business Planning Is the Key to Success

Let’s face it: most of us want to plan out our year, but it can feel overwhelming. Between the unpredictability of running a business and our own creative energy, mapping out an entire 12 months feels like an impossible task.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the more intentional you are about planning, the more freedom you actually create.

In this episode of The Disruptor, I’m giving you an inside look at how I’ve planned out my entire year for 2025—from podcast content and email marketing to team systems and personal priorities. I’m sharing the strategies, tools, and shifts that have made this possible, and how you can adopt them for your business.

1. Why I Decided to Plan My Entire Year for 2025

Every year in business brings a mix of surprises and struggles. For me, 2024 was a year of recalibration. After a whirlwind 2023—where Liberty Type grew quickly but chaotically—I felt a deep pull to slow down, get intentional, and streamline everything.

Here’s what I realized:

• Growth doesn’t have to mean chaos.
• Doing less, but doing it better, creates the kind of freedom and success I crave.

So when I sat down to plan for 2025, I knew I wanted:

1. Clear systems to keep my content, marketing, and offers streamlined.
2. More time for personal priorities, like homeschooling my son.
3. Space for flexibility, so I can pivot when unexpected challenges or opportunities arise.

2. The Role of Reflection: What Worked (and Didn’t) in 2024

Before planning for the new year, I had to look back at what worked—and what didn’t—in 2024. Here are some key lessons:

1. A Rebrand That Didn’t Click

At the beginning of 2024, we tried to shift Liberty Type’s branding to feel more approachable. The intention was good, but the execution went too far, making the brand feel “amateur” instead of professional.

This experience taught me a valuable lesson: Your brand identity has to balance who you are with how you want to be perceived.

2. Slowing Down Led to Deeper Growth

In 2023, we scaled too quickly. I had a bigger team, more projects, and less peace. In 2024, I simplified. I streamlined my team down to one incredible full-time employee, Emily, and focused on intentional, high-impact work.

Growth doesn’t always mean revenue. Sometimes, it’s internal.

3. New Personal Priorities Required More Flexibility

When I started homeschooling my son in September, my daily schedule changed overnight. I now had less time to work—and more reason to get smarter with my systems.

3. The Systems That Helped Me Plan My Year

So how did I map out all of 2025? It came down to these systems:

A. Batching Content for the Podcast

The podcast is now the centerpiece of my content strategy. Here’s how I plan it:

1. Batch Recording: I’ve scheduled two dedicated recording days every quarter. This allows me to interview guests, record solo episodes, and create weeks’ worth of content in one focused sprint.
2. Editing Blocks: Two days after each recording sprint, I block time to edit and schedule every episode.

Why batching works: It keeps me focused, reduces task switching, and ensures the podcast stays consistent without overwhelming my calendar.

B. Streamlining Social Media Content

Here’s my social strategy for 2025:

• Two Instagram Accounts: Liberty Type (@libertytypeco) for agency work and Content Freedom Club for content-focused offers.
• Posting Schedule: 5 posts per week split between the two accounts.
• Automated Scheduling: Instagram allows scheduling up to 4 weeks in advance. I record all reels for upcoming podcast episodes in one batch and pre-schedule them.

4. Automating to Free Up Time

Automation has been my biggest time-saver. If I can automate something, I will. Here’s what I’ve automated:

• Podcast Guest Emails: I send graphics, bios, and promotional links a week before episodes go live. It’s all templated and automated.
• Client Onboarding: We moved from Dubsado to Honeybook, streamlining how we manage contracts, invoices, and communication.
• Email Marketing: I’ve created templates in Flodesk for all three weekly emails.

5. How AI Changed My Approach to Content

I’ve been building custom GPT tools to simplify content creation. Voice Victory AI—my custom tool that captures Liberty Type’s brand voice—has been a game-changer.

Here’s how I use AI to streamline my content:

• Podcast Show Notes: I input transcripts into a GPT trained on my formatting preferences, and it generates high-quality show notes and summaries.
• Emails: AI helps me draft 90% of my email content, which I then tweak to add final touches and stories.

AI doesn’t replace me—it makes my processes faster, smoother, and more consistent.

6. Prioritizing Personal Life Without Sacrificing Business

One of the biggest shifts in 2025 is prioritizing time for homeschooling my son. Here’s how I made it work:

• Morning Focus: My mornings are for school time with my son.
• Time Blocking: I work in focused, shorter windows—usually in the afternoons.
• Batch Work: Because I’ve streamlined content and automated systems, I can get more done in less time.

7. Creating a Content Ecosystem Around the Podcast

The podcast isn’t just one piece of my strategy—it’s the hub of all my content.

Here’s what the content ecosystem looks like:

1. Podcast: Weekly episodes recorded and batched.
2. Social Media:
   • 1 reel per week promoting the episode.
   • 4 other posts split between Liberty Type and Content Freedom Club.
3. Email Marketing:
   • Email 1: Episode announcement.
   • Email 2: Takeaways or lessons from the episode.
   • Email 3: A storytelling or launch-focused email.

By centering everything around the podcast, I’ve removed the constant pressure of “What do I post?” or “What do I write about?”

8. My Focus for 2025: Consulting and Intentional Growth

As I move into 2025, my focus is on depth, not just breadth. I want to dive deeper into consulting by working with one business as their brand director or strategist.

This shift allows me to:

• Use my expertise in a hands-on, transformational way.
• Create space for Liberty Type to grow without me in the weeds.

9. My Tips for Mapping Out Your Year

If you want to map out your year with intention, here are my top tips:

1. Reflect First

• What worked last year?
• What didn’t?
• What do you want more (or less) of in the new year?

2. Choose Your Centerpiece

Pick one core marketing channel (like a podcast, blog, or weekly workshop) and build your content around it.

3. Batch Everything You Can

• Schedule recording days for content creation.
• Use tools to automate emails and social scheduling.

4. Block Your Calendar

Plan your schedule intentionally—leaving room for the unexpected.

5. Use AI to Streamline

Start exploring AI tools to save time without losing quality.

Conclusion: 2025 Is About Doing Less, Better

If there’s one thing 2024 taught me, it’s that simplicity leads to success. By planning intentionally, batching content, and automating systems, I’ve created the space to grow my business and prioritize what matters most.

You don’t have to do it all—you just have to do what works.

If you’re feeling stuck in your brand or need help creating a plan for your year, I’d love to chat. Book a free 20-minute brand audit with me, and let’s figure out what’s holding you back and how to move forward.

Book your audit here →