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Episode 12

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Published on:

25th Aug 2022

Pick Your Path with Ashley Pendergraft of Systems Over Stress

I was first introduced to Ashley of Systems Over Stress through her Airtable bonus inside the Done in a Day program.  I downloaded it, watched like one video, but didn’t have the capacity to add Airtable to my tech stack at that time. Then in March of 2022 we were both presenting at the Done in a Day Virtual Conference and Ashley’s talk was one of my favorites.

Now mind you, I YELLED at her through my computer screen the entire time. Her talk was geared towards using Airtable as your CRM, you know to replace Dubsado.

But at the end of that talk I was like “I have got to work with Ashley”.


I tried to hire her for a VIP Day to help me setup Airtable to manage the backend support for my Dubsado clients/students, but she wasn’t taking on any clients.


I managed to sneak into her group program right before she closed the WHOLE thing down even though I wanted nothing to do with a group program.  Turns out that was the best decision!


Okay, so now that I have talked about how we met, I want to give you a preview of this podcast episode. Because despite the fact that we are both systems strategist, we didn’t about talk that much about systems.  Instead, we honed in on Ashley’s recent decision to pause ALL sales in her business (VIP Days, group program seats, and Airtable templates) in order to niche down to serving business owners with group programs>


Despite having a wildly successful year in 2021, she realized being on a call for 6-hours for VIP Days wasn’t going to get her the business she dreamed of.  If you want to hear the rest, grab some headphones.  This is one of my favorite conversations to date!


Here are the highlights…

[00:56] What is Systems Over Stress?

[01:37] What was in your offer suite prior to June 2022?

[03:52] What has happened since you niched down your group program?

[07:55] Figuring out who you want to serve

[10:29] Let’s talk money

[11:19] Do your VIP Days have a future?

[16:09] How has your customer base changed inside Systems Over Stress?

[18:18] Why should someone care about Airtable?

[21:39] How I’ve integrated Ashley’s Airtable strategies into my own business

[25:51] Ashley’s advice for pivoting your business

[28:56] Ashley’s advice for building the business YOU want


Links

Ashley’s Instagram: @systemsoverstress

Ashley’s Systems Over Stress Program: systemsoverstress.co (aff link)


Guest Bio

Hey! I’m Ashley, and my company is called Systems Over Stress.


I am an Airtable & Zapier consultant. I primarily work with feminist and neurodivergent online business owners and help them use Airtable to manage their group offer so they can deliver a low-lift, high-touch (and automated) experience.


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ARE YOU READY TO CREATE CONSISTENT SYSTEMS IN YOUR BUSINESS?


Dubsado VIP Experience: This is a fully done-for-you offer for creative entrepreneurs and service providers, which includes full strategy and implementation to provide each and every one of your clients with an amazing + consistent experience.  https://coliejames.com/dubsado-vip-day

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About the Podcast

Business-First Creatives
A podcast about systems, workflows, and business advice for creative service providers.
Business-First Creatives is a podcast for photographers and creative service providers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business without drowning in admin work, client experience chaos, or systems that let you down.

This show delivers clear, actionable conversations around marketing, CRM workflows, client communication, Dubsado and Honeybook automation, Airtable systems, and workflow strategies, giving photographers and creative entrepreneurs the systems that scale, operational clarity, and strategic, human-first client experiences they need to build streamlined, referral-worthy business operations that don't require working 24/7.
If you're tired of babysitting your inbox, chasing down contracts, or watching your workflows break the moment you look away, this show will help you move beyond "figuring it out as you go" and toward a creative business that brings you joy and a paycheck.

This podcast provides answers to questions like:
How do I automate my client journey without losing the personal touch?
What CRM workflows do photographers and creative businesses need?
How can I use Dubsado or Honeybook to streamline my client experience?
What systems do photographers need to save time and deliver exceptional client experiences?
How do I reduce admin time in my creative service business?
Why do my workflows keep letting me down (and how do I fix them)?
How can I build a profitable creative business that brings me joy and a paycheck?
What's the best way to communicate with clients throughout their journey?
How do I create systems that work even when I'm not babysitting them?
How can I map my client journey to convert more inquiries into bookings?

Hosted by Colie James, a Dubsado Certified Specialist, Honeybook Educator, and Workflow and Automations Guru with 10+ years helping creatives systemize their businesses—this show delivers practical, no-BS guidance for photographers and creative entrepreneurs who are ready to streamline their client journey, automate their operations, and make money from their craft.

If you're done dropping balls and ready to build a business-first creative operation with systems that scale, you're in the right place.

Find out more about Systems in Session ➡️ https://coliejames.com/systems-in-session