The Organized Coach - Productivity, Business Systems, Time Management, ADHD, Routines, Life Coach, Entrepreneur

105 | Building a Business That Supports Creativity with Laurie Smith

Have you ever felt like your creativity thrives—but your systems are falling apart behind the scenes? 😬

If so, you are going to LOVE this conversation with my past one-on-one coaching client, Laurie Smith.

Laurie is an author, a workshop leader, and a fierce advocate for flow. She lights up when she talks about creativity—but struggled behind the scenes to organize her growing business, especially as she landed a book deal with a major publisher (hello, Hay House!).

In this episode, Laurie gets real about what it’s like to run a creative business that’s scaling fast—and how disorganization was costing her more than just time. We talk about the emotional impact of digital clutter, the power of honoring how you're wired (instead of fighting it), and how she shifted into a CEO mindset… complete with a sticky-note wall, a customized bookmarks bar, and a little Beyoncé alter ego energy. 

Get ready for a warm, honest, and super-inspiring conversation that’ll make you want to spend the weekend organizing your bookmarks—and maybe your life.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• How Laurie knew it was time to invest in organization for business growth and how it impacted her creativity

• The surprising link between being organized and helping people feel safe

• Laurie’s “book baby” metaphor—and how she wanted to prepare for her third "child"

• Why the ability to find things is more important than having a Pinterest-perfect system

• What happened when she started building systems her way (she carried herself differently is one thing)

• The mindset shift that helped her stop judging herself for how she works

• Post-it walls, branding audits, and CEO alter egos (we cover it ALL)

For the notes, links, and more, go to:  https://simplysquaredaway.com/105

104 | This Tiny Rule Will Make You More Organized Today

Feeling distracted and overwhelmed with a million tabs open—literally or mentally?

You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing one simple yet powerful strategy that has been a total game-changer in my own business this week. It’s about reducing decision fatigue, staying laser-focused, and actually finishing tasks. (Yes, even when your brain wants to jump ship every 10 seconds.)

But first—a little reminder: the doors to Organized Coach Academy are officially OPEN. This is your sign if you’re craving calm, order, and confidence in your business. Want to stop wasting time, find what you need fast, and finally get that scribbly mess out of your brain? Then, let’s do this together.

Organized Coach Academy's deal of the century ends today, so join now by clicking here.

I even pulled out some recent student wins to give you a peek behind the scenes (and to show you what’s possible when you organize your biz like a pro).

Then, we dive into the power of one—one tab, one task, one Post-it. I walk you through how this approach helps you ditch distractions and get stuff DONE. Think of this as your brain’s best friend, especially if you're prone to hopping from idea to idea like it's your job.

If you're ready to feel in control and love your systems, this episode is for you.

What you’ll learn:

• What real students are saying about Organized Coach Academy (and why they're loving the checklists)
• How the “power of one” helps reduce mental clutter
• A simple Post-it note trick to instantly increase your focus
• What to do when 47 browser tabs (or brain tabs) are fighting for your attention
• Why clarity is a kindness to your future self
• How this one trick changed my day (and how it can change yours)

For the full transcript, notes, links, and more, go to:  https://simplysquaredaway.com/104

BONUS: Ai Powered Productivity Replay

Time Sensitive Links:
Organized Coach Academy: https://simplysquaredaway.com/yes
Get access to the video replay: https://simplysquaredaway.com/ai

Feeling like there’s never enough time in the day? Struggling to get (and stay) organized? You’re not alone!

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how AI can be a game-changer in productivity—but only if your business is organized first. I’m sharing my proven three-part organizing framework and showing you exactly how to layer AI on top to 10X your efficiency.

Here’s what we cover:
✅ Why productivity feels hard (and how to fix it)
✅ The three-part framework for organizing your business: your mind, computer, and processes
✅ The truth about AI: why no tool will save you if your business is a mess
✅ How to layer AI into your workflow to accelerate results
✅ What’s really costing you time—and how to reclaim hours every week

If you’ve ever wasted time searching for a file, felt overwhelmed by decision fatigue, or wondered how to use AI without adding more chaos to your business, this episode is a must-listen!

🎧 Tune in and let’s get your business streamlined!

103 | The #1 Mistake You’re Making with AI Productivity

Grab your seat at the FREE AI-Powered Productivity Training: https://simplysquaredaway.com/ai

For the full transcript, notes, links, and more, go to:  https://simplysquaredaway.com/103

Are you making this mistake when trying to be more productive with AI?

If you've been adding AI into your workflow but still feel overwhelmed and scattered, you're not alone. In fact, most coaches are making one major mistake that’s keeping them stuck in a cycle of busywork instead of true productivity.

In this episode, I’m diving into what productivity really means and why jumping into AI tools without an organized business is actually making things worse. If you feel like you’re spinning your wheels despite all the automation hacks out there, this episode is for you.

And—if you’re catching this episode live—my AI-Powered Productivity Training is happening tomorrow, March 19! Don’t miss it: https://simplysquaredaway.com/ai

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The #1 mistake coaches make when trying to be productive with AI
• Why doing more isn’t the same as being productive
• How to create sustainable systems before layering in AI
• Simple ways to structure your business so AI actually works for you
• Three key areas to organize before automating anything

Resources Mentioned:

• FREE AI-Powered Productivity Training: simplysquaredaway.com/AI
• The 5 Folders I Use to Organize My Business: simplysquaredaway.com/5files
• Get the File Naming Formula Cheatsheet: simplysquaredaway.com/fnfc

Your Next Steps:

• Join the training tomorrow! simplysquaredaway.com/AI
• Work with Me: simplysquaredaway.com/appointments
• Follow me on Instagram: @tracyhoth

102 | How I'm Adding Custom AI Bots to My Course (And You Can Too)

Sign up for my free class on March 19th, AI-Powered Productivity: How Coaches and Online Business Owners Can Organize Without the Overwhelm: https://simplysquaredaway.com/ai

For the full transcript, notes, links, and more, go to:  https://simplysquaredaway.com/102

What if your course had its own personal assistant working 24/7 to help your students finish what they started... and actually have fun doing it?

That's exactly what I'm building inside Organized Coach Academy—custom AI bots in every module guiding my students step by step, making the whole process smoother, faster, and way less overwhelming.

And today? I'm pulling back the curtain to show you exactly how I'm doing it.

In this episode, I'm sharing how ChatGPT helped me brainstorm custom AI bots for each module of my program, how I'm integrating them to make the course 10x more helpful, and how YOU can use this same strategy to create an incredible, guided experience inside your own course or coaching program.

Because here's the truth:
If your students are getting stuck halfway through…
If they’re ghosting your community…
If they’re overwhelmed trying to figure out "where to even start"...

This episode is going to fire you up with ideas to fix that.

What you’ll learn:

• How AI bots are making Organized Coach Academy feel like a “mini me” is helping every step of the way
• Exactly what my bots are doing in each module (and how you can copy it)
• The ChatGPT prompts I used to brainstorm my bots
• How to use AI to reduce overwhelm and speed up student results
• How even 1:1 coaches can use this strategy
• Three questions to identify exactly where your clients are getting stuck

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://simplysquaredaway.com/appointments
• Learn the Only Five Folders I Use To Organize My Business: https://simplysquaredaway.com/5files
• Get the File Naming Formula Cheatsheet: https://simplysquaredaway.com/fnfc
• Connect on Social: https://www.instagram.com/tracyhoth

101 | The Pros and Cons of AI - My Real Experience as a Business Owner

For the full transcript, notes, links, and more, go to:   https://simplysquaredaway.com/101

AI is everywhere—but is it actually useful for online business owners and coaches?

In this episode, I’m breaking down AI from an organizer’s perspective. I’ll share

• the pros and cons,
• my real-life experience with AI (including the time it totally failed me), and
• the three (maybe four) ways I’m using it right now to streamline my business.

Plus, I’ll explain how I finally upgraded from the free version of ChatGPT (spoiler: I resisted for a while!) and why I created a custom GPT to write podcast scripts for me… except when it totally backfired. 🤦‍♀️

And don’t forget—registration is open for my upcoming workshop:
💡 AI-Powered Productivity: How Coaches & Online Business Owners Can Organize Without the Overwhelm
🗓️ March 19, 2024
📍 Register here: https://simplysquaredaway.com/ai

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ The biggest pros and cons of using AI as an online business owner
✅ How AI helps me brainstorm, organize, and create content faster
✅ Why I upgraded to the paid version of ChatGPT (and whether it’s worth it)
✅ The AI tool that deleted 15 minutes of my work (and how to avoid my mistake!)
✅ The one thing you MUST do before relying on AI-generated outlines
✅ A fun way to personalize your ChatGPT experience (hint: nicknames!)

Resources Mentioned:

• AI-Powered Productivity Workshop – https://simplysquaredaway.com/ai
• Create Your Own Brand Book for less than $100! - https://bit.ly/43jkwmp (affiliate link)
• DM me and share how you use AI: https://www.instagram.com/tracyhoth

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://simplysquaredaway.com/appointments
• Learn the Only Five Folders I Use To Organize My Business: https://simplysquaredaway.com/5files
• Get the File Naming Formula Cheatsheet: https://simplysquaredaway.com/fnfc
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracyhoth

100 | 100 Things to Let Go Of for More Simplicity, Success, and Sanity

For the full transcript, notes, links, and more, go to:  https://simplysquaredaway.com/100

We made it to 100 episodes! 🎉

I can’t believe I’m saying this. Whether you've been here from the beginning or this is your first time listening—THANK YOU. Every download, share, and message has meant the world to me.

When I started this podcast, my goal was to help coaches and business owners simplify and systemize—to take the skills I used as a professional organizer and apply them to online businesses. And now, here we are, 100 episodes later, diving into one of the most important themes in organization: letting go.

Letting go of:
✔ Physical and digital clutter
✔ Time-wasting habits
✔ Overcomplicated workflows
✔ Mindset blocks that keep us stuck

And so much more. In this episode, we’re tackling 100 things to let go of so you can create more space, clarity, and freedom in your life and business. But don’t worry, I’m not rattling off a list of 100 things—I’ve broken them into 10 categories and added personal stories to bring them to life. See the full list below.

Pick a few that resonate with you, commit to releasing them, and then tag me on Instagram and share what you’re letting go of!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔ The surprising way physical clutter keeps you mentally stuck
✔ The digital clutter stealing your time and focus (hello, 100 open tabs 🙈)
✔ Business habits that slow your growth and keep you overwhelmed
✔ The perfectionism trap and how to release it
✔ How to free yourself from mindset blocks and emotional clutter
✔ Why saying no is the ultimate productivity hack

Ready to organize your business's digital files? To learn the ONLY 5 file folders you need, go to: https://simplysquaredaway.com/5files

99 | How I Stopped Avoiding My Business Finances (And You Can Too) with Mark Butler

For the full transcript, notes, links, and more, go to:  https://simplysquaredaway.com/99

💰 Feeling overwhelmed by your business finances? You’re not alone!

Today on The Organized Coach Podcast, I’m joined by Mark Butler, founder of Let’s Do the Books. Mark is a bookkeeper, CFO, and financial coach who has worked with some of the biggest names in the coaching industry. He’s here to break down the difference between bookkeeping and accounting, explain why keeping track of your numbers doesn’t have to be stressful, and share why hiring a bookkeeper might be the best decision for your business.

In this episode, we cover:

✅ The key differences between bookkeeping and accounting (and why you need both!)
✅ The biggest mistakes coaches make when managing their finances
✅ How to simplify your bookkeeping (even if you’re just starting out)
✅ Why separating your personal and business finances is a game-changer
✅ When it’s time to hire a bookkeeper and how Mark’s unique sliding-scale pricing makes it accessible
✅ My experience with my own finances then and now

Mark’s service has completely changed how I handle my finances—it’s simple, streamlined, and stress-free. If you’re ready to get your books in order, you won’t want to miss this episode!

👉 Learn more about Mark’s bookkeeping service at letsdothebooks.com

(I've been using this service for five years and cannot speak highly enough about it. If you decide to join, thank you for writing Tracy Hoth in the "who referred you" line.)

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://simplysquaredaway.com/appointments
• Learn the Only Five Folders I Use To Organize My Business: https://simplysquaredaway.com/5files
• Get my File Naming Formula Cheatsheet: https://simplysquaredaway.com/fnfc
• Connect on Social: https://www.instagram.com/tracyhoth
• Organize and Systemize Your Business in Organized Coach Academy: https://simplysquaredaway.com/oca