Introduction: Success on Your Own Terms

Success doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your life, your health, or your family. In today’s noisy business world, we’re told to hustle harder, post daily, and chase constant growth—but what if you could build a thriving business and design a life that works for you?

In this episode of The Disruptor, I sat down with Holly Haynes, founder of the Crush the Rush Podcast and strategist for female entrepreneurs. Holly shares her journey from corporate consultant to building a 7-figure business, retiring her husband, and redefining success with a life-first business strategy.

Here’s what we covered:

• How Holly balances family and business with strict boundaries.
• Why social media is the “sidecar” in her business, not the driver.
• Her proven approach to content repurposing and client attraction.
• How you can scale intentionally and sustainably, without burning out.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing it all” but getting nowhere, this conversation is packed with actionable tips that will change the way you run your business.

1. Holly’s Journey: From Corporate Consultant to Entrepreneur

Holly’s story started in corporate America. For over 22 years, she thrived in consulting, leading complex projects and managing teams. But deep down, she knew there had to be more.

Her “aha” moment came during a graduate class, when she listened to Jenny Britten Bauer, founder of Jeni’s Ice Cream, share her story. It wasn’t about ice cream—it was about impact. That’s when Holly realized she wanted to make her own mark.

“I loved my job, but I kept questioning—could I really do this for another 10, 20 years? I felt like there was something more.”

Holly started her business during the pandemic while working full-time and raising twins. She built her strategy around one goal: creating freedom and flexibility while growing intentionally.

2. Scaling Intentionally: The Life-First Business Model

For Holly, success meant building a business that revolved around her life, not the other way around. She prioritized her family, travel, and time freedom—and designed her systems to make that possible.

Boundaries That Create Freedom

Holly shares that her entire business is structured around clear, non-negotiable boundaries:

• No calls on Fridays.
• No meetings before 10 AM.
• Planning vacations first, then aligning business launches around family schedules.

“Strict boundaries actually give me more freedom. I’m not falling across the finish line on Fridays—I feel recharged, inspired, and ready to show up for my family.”

By prioritizing her personal life, Holly created the space to grow her business in a sustainable way.

3. Why Social Media Is the Sidecar, Not the Driver

One of the most refreshing parts of Holly’s approach? She doesn’t rely on social media for business growth.

While many entrepreneurs are glued to Instagram, Holly uses it as a sidecar—a secondary platform that supports her main content strategy.

“I post repurposed content on social media, but if I don’t show up, it’s fine. My business doesn’t rely on it. My audience comes from SEO, referrals, and my podcast.”

How Holly Attracts Clients Without Social Media

1. Podcasting: Holly’s podcast is the centerpiece of her content. Each episode fuels:
   • Social posts
   • Weekly emails
   • Pinterest pins
   • YouTube shorts
2. Speaking Opportunities: Holly focuses on getting in front of audiences that matter—guest podcasting, speaking in communities, and networking locally.
3. Referrals and Partnerships: From lead magnet swaps to launch collaborations, Holly leverages simple strategies to grow her list and attract aligned clients.

The takeaway? You don’t have to be everywhere. Choose one platform that works for you and let it drive everything else.

4. The Power of Content Repurposing: Work Smarter, Not Harder

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by creating content, Holly’s streamlined approach will be a game-changer.

Her method starts with one core piece of content—her podcast. From there, she repurposes it across 17 platforms, including:

• Blog posts
• Emails
• Social media posts
• Pinterest graphics
• LinkedIn articles

“It doesn’t start with social. It starts with one thing—like a podcast episode—that I can repurpose everywhere.”

How to Start Repurposing Content

• Pick one core content channel (like a podcast, YouTube, or blog).
• Create a system for repurposing content into multiple formats.
• Batch and schedule everything in advance.

Start small—3 posts, 1 email—and build from there. The goal is to make every piece of content work harder for you.

5. Designing Offers That Serve Every Level of Your Audience

Holly credits her quick success to creating offers that meet her audience at every stage. She teaches a model called “income stacking”, which layers multiple offers to create sustainable revenue.

Here’s how her product suite works:

1. Crush the Rush Club: A monthly membership with DIY workshops and group coaching.
2. Anti-Social School: An 8-week program teaching client attraction strategies without social media.
3. The Co-Op: A high-ticket, done-with-you mastermind where clients get access to Holly’s team of experts.

Holly’s approach is simple but effective:

• Start with one high-value offer.
• Test it with real clients.
• Use their feedback to build out complementary offers.

The result? A scalable business model that works for both her and her clients.

6. Building Client Attraction Into Your Daily Routine

Holly emphasizes that client attraction isn’t a “one-and-done” task—it’s something you do every day.

Her strategies include:

• Speaking on podcasts and in communities.
• Hosting local networking events.
• Sending consistent emails that deliver value and build trust.

“Client attraction is about showing up in diverse spaces consistently. If you’re not getting traction, you’re probably not talking about your offer enough.”

7. Planning for Success: How Holly Maps Out Her Year

Holly plans her entire year in advance by aligning business goals with family priorities. Here’s her process:

1. Start With Life: She and her husband plan vacations, family events, and personal commitments first.
2. Layer in Business Goals: Holly schedules one launch per quarter and plans podcast content to support those launches.
3. Batch and Automate: From podcast recordings to email scheduling, Holly batches everything in advance so she can step away when needed.

This intentional planning allows her to scale while still honoring her values.

8. Redefining Success: Freedom, Flexibility, and Impact

For Holly, success isn’t measured in revenue alone. It’s about creating a life that feels fulfilling—one where she can prioritize her family, travel the world, and make an impact through her work.

“When you create space for freedom and flexibility, you show up with more energy, creativity, and purpose. That’s when true growth happens.”

Conclusion: Your Life-First Business Is Possible

Holly Haynes proves that you don’t have to sacrifice your life to build a successful business. By setting boundaries, simplifying your systems, and focusing on what truly matters, you can scale with intention and freedom.

If you’re ready to build a life-first business strategy like Holly, start small:

1. Set non-negotiable boundaries.
2. Choose one content platform to focus on.
3. Plan your year around your life, not just your business.

Want to learn more? Connect with Holly:

• Website: HollyMarieHaynes.com
• Instagram: @thehollymariehaynes

And if you’re ready to transform your brand into the only choice in your market, let’s chat. Book a free 20-minute brand audit, and let’s make 2025 your best year yet.

Book your brand audit here →