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EvIf you started your business with dreams of freedom but now find yourself glued to your laptop at 9pm most nights… you’ll want to read this blog in full!
I sat down with Shay Brown from Bucketlist Bombshells, and oh my goodness, we went deep. From designing a business model that actually fits your life to reclaiming your time with something she calls “trash-trim-transfer,” this is your permission slip to build smarter, not just harder.
Let’s unpack the biggest takeaways.
1. Freedom Doesn’t Just Happen, It’s Designed
Shay shared her daily rhythm (and yes, it includes morning workouts, meditations and actually finishing work by 4pm most days). But here’s the catch: that didn’t happen by accident. It came from making intentional decisions about how she wants to live and work.
“I wanted to stop work at 4pm… so I had to build a business that let me do that.”
If your business model is based on what others are doing (or what sounds “sexy” on Instagram), it might be time for a rethink.
2. Ask Your Audience What They Want (Don’t Guess)
One of the biggest pivots in Shay’s business came from simply asking her people what they wanted. Seems obvious, right? But so often, we create courses, offers or services based on what we think our audience needs.
Ask instead:
- How do they want to be served?
- What format do they prefer?
- What are they actually willing to pay for?
“We asked our community what they wanted, and that’s what changed everything.”
3. Choose Your Business Model Based on You (and Them)
We broke down three common models: courses, done-for-you services, and memberships. Each has pros and cons, but none are a magic bullet. What matters is alignment.
Courses are scalable, but require high volume + consistent sales.
Done-for-you work pays well, but caps your time unless you scale with a team.
Memberships offer recurring revenue, but demand consistent community management.
“Just because it works for them, doesn’t mean it’s right for you.”
The goal? Choose what fits both your audience and your lifestyle.
4. The Trash-Trim-Transfer Method (Reclaim Your Time)
Here’s where it gets juicy. Shay recommends tracking your time for two weeks (yes, every minute), then running it through her signature framework:
Trash what doesn’t need to happen
Trim by automating or batching
Transfer the rest to a team member or VA
“I realised I was spending so much time in my inbox. That wasn’t CEO work.”
Intentionality here = time back in your week.
And time back = energy, clarity, and honestly… joy.
5. Seasons, Boundaries & Space
You don’t need to work 24/7 to grow. In fact, Shay shared how she averages 25-30 hours a week right now. Sometimes more in launch seasons, sometimes much less.
The trick?
Planning for space.
Setting boundaries.
And knowing that letting go of something now doesn’t mean it’s gone forever.
“Even if you put something down now, you can pick it back up later.”
Final Thoughts
You can have a business that supports your life, not swallows it. But it takes intention. It takes awareness.
And yep, sometimes it takes letting go of the idea that you have to do all the things.
Start by asking: What does freedom look like for me right now?
Then build around that.
ABOUT SHAY:
Shay is the Co-Founder and COO of Bucketlist Bombshells, a purpose-driven business coaching company that empowers women to build successful service-based online businesses – specifically in graphic design, branding & website design, digital & content marketing, social media management, public relations, and business operations.
Originally from Vancouver Island, Canada, Shay’s holistic business coaching style blends her expertise in sales, operations, and financial management with a compassionate focus on mindset development.
Over the past 10 years, she has helped grow Bucketlist Bombshells to generate over $6 million in revenue and serve over 10,000 women worldwide, achieving recognition in Forbes, BBC and CNBC. When she’s not coaching women inside their business programs Bucketlist Bombshells Launch Camp™, She’s Fully Booked® and Scale With Purpose Mastermind™, you can find her co-hosting their top-charting podcast, The Freedom Filled Life™ Podcast, inspiring entrepreneurial women. Shay now enjoys a balanced life with a part-time 4-day workweek, allowing her to travel, pursue her hobbies, and focus on her personal wellness!
CONNECT WITH SHAY:
Your FREE Dream Client Playbook to consistently land more clients & grow your revenue:
https://bucketlistbombshells.com/seriouslyinbusiness
Get booked out in your business and start generating $5k+ months:
https://bucketlistbombshells.com/shesfullybooked
Hit 6 figures and ready to scale? Join our small group coaching program:
https://bucketlistbombshells.com/mastermind
Tune into the Freedom Filled Life Podcast:
https://bucketlistbombshells.com/podcast/
Connect with Shay directly in the DMs here: https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistbombshells/
WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio
