Today we have one of my favorite entrepreneurs, Ashley Gartland.

Small business mentor and coach Ashley Gartland helps service based businesses streamline so that they can scale sustainably and build a business that makes the life and the lifestyle they desire possible. She runs her six figure business in 30 hours a week, leaving her plenty of time to enjoy the good stuff in life - like trail runs, reading and adventures with her family.

What I love about Ashley is that she's so honest. She is willing to break the mold. She has a brilliant mind and is all about creating simple and streamlined businesses that serve your life.

The funny thing is we didn't make an online connection until well after I'd moved to Belfast., but Ashley and her family are actually based back in Portland, Oregon, where I spent about seven years before moving here. So it's really cool to have that connection and I'm hoping that next time we get to go home, I'll actually get to meet her in real life.

That's why The Capable Collective was created.

Because I have a vision for a space - where women run business in the integrative way that comes so naturally for us.

And we all thrive while doing it. Because there is a desperate need for us to push away from the hustle culture. That exists in digital business.

Because there needs to be an informational hub where the curtain is pulled back on the mechanical side of business. We are in this together.

That's why The Capable Collective was created.

Because I have a vision for a space - where women run business in the integrative way that comes so naturally for us.

And we all thrive while doing it. Because there is a desperate need for us to push away from the hustle culture. That exists in digital business.

Because there needs to be an informational hub where the curtain is pulled back on the mechanical side of business. We are in this together.

That's why The Capable Collective was created.

Because I have a vision for a space - where women run business in the integrative way that comes so naturally for us.

And we all thrive while doing it. Because there is a desperate need for us to push away from the hustle culture. That exists in digital business.

Because there needs to be an informational hub where the curtain is pulled back on the mechanical side of business. We are in this together.

“I’m not ‘techy’.” I hear this all the time from the women I work with.⁠⁠

The thing is that it’s almost never true. Once my clients have been walked through the basic steps of using a new software, website platform, or email marketing tool they realise that it’s easier than they ever thought it would be! ⁠

You are more than capable of handing the tech in your life and business.

I’ve grown so much and have a much healthier relationship with money and how I can use it for good in my life and to invest in the relationships and small businesses I love.

However, I really wanted to make the money stuff in my business really easy. I didn’t want to be bogged down by spreadsheets or those awkward “hey, you haven’t paid me yet’ conversations.

So I made sure I was using great tools! I filed my self-assessment tax return a few days ago and it took no math. Because my system had all the answers for me!

I’m a firm believer that creating a system can be easy AND that doing so will save you hours of time and sanity. It can stop you from missing steps or dropping the ball and means you don’t have to keep everything swirling around in your head.

It’s a brand new decade and I’ve been reflecting on how to start out on the right foot! I’ve listed the top 10 things to stop doing in 2020 as well as the top 10 things to ensure you find fulfilment and enjoyment in the new year!

Time, money, and energy are all essentially the same thing.

Let that soak in for a minute.

We must be mindful of what we spend in each category and each person’s version of an “ideal” balance to strive for is different. Some people (like me!) love to craft and find that spending their time and energy creating something they could buy is absolutely worth it. However, this isn’t the case for everyone.

Do these and you’ll be on track to have a fantastic and stress free month because you’re awesome and opted to delegate, automate and systematise right at the very beginning. Doesn’t it feel freaking awesome?

This summer, I’m taking two trips to the US to visit my friends and family! One is a few days in NYC for a gals weekend and the other trip is a full 3 weeks back in Oregon to visit my other home. This has really gotten me thinking about how prepared we, as entrepreneurs, need to be to actually get the most out of a vacation. So here is my foolproof formula for finally getting away from it all for a bit.

Solopreneurship offers the incredible opportunity to call your own shots and answer to no one (except maybe your clients). However it does create a unique set of struggles that other types of entrepreneurs don’t always have to face (or at least have to take on alone). I’ve been speaking with other solopreneurs to discuss some of the biggest pet-peeves, struggles and challenges they face. Are you running the same sticking points in your solo business?

I’ve been speaking with and working with solopreneurs to discuss some of their biggest pet-peeves, struggles and challenges as solopreneurs. Are you facing the same difficulties running your solo business?

I’m all about systems and productivity. I’ve picked up and honed my skills as a way to create order and gain a little control over what can be a chaotic and hectic life! I run a part-time VA business, work a full-time job, and I’m at my happiest when I have a thriving social calendar.

Systems and automation are key to balancing it all! Here are my top 7 tips for becoming a productivity badass, just like me.

As entrepreneurs sometimes it can feel like there's never enough time to tackle everything on our to-do lists. In my line of work, as a virtual assistant, I see people committing to the same time-wasters over and over. And while there are a million apps, tools, and resources available - it can be very overwhelming to try to find exactly the right tools for your business.

Are you wasting your time on any of these 5 things? Here are my recommended tools for solving your most time-consuming, daily, administrative tasks!