How I Started Listening to Podcasts as a Busy Mom
How I Started Listening to Podcasts (and When I Fit Them Into My Busy Life) Kristina October 3, 2025 My Journey to $100k This post is part of my *Diary of a First $100K” an open journal where I document the real journey of building my first digital business from scratch. Each entry shares the wins, the setbacks, the tools I try, and the lessons I learn as I aim for a $100K milestone. I’ll be honest I wasn’t always a podcast listener. For years, I just listened to music or the local radio station during my school runs. (Yes, I still sometimes tune into our local station. Does that show my age in my 40s? Probably!) Podcasts just felt like something “younger” people did, and I didn’t think I had the time or need for them. The Disney Podcast That Changed Everything In early 2022, after Covid travel restrictions were lifted, I started planning a Disney World holiday. A little backstory here: my parents had a timeshare in Orlando in the 90s, so growing up, we went almost every other year. Those memories are some of my most treasured. When I had the chance to go on vacation with my own little family to Disney World for the first time in 2018, it felt like a homecoming. I made a goal to take my kids back annually, so naturally, I wanted to prepare properly. That’s when I stumbled on a Disney planning podcast. And I got hooked. I subscribed to a few and started listening on my school runs. Suddenly, instead of just background music, I was getting up-to-date tips on rides, food, and park changes. It was fun, informative, and made me even more excited for our trip. I found myself actually looking forward to those short drives because they felt productive and uplifting. Expanding My Podcast Horizons After that Disney revelation, I naturally started discovering more content that caught my interest. I added some mommy podcasts to my rotation because let’s face it, we all need that validation that we’re not the only ones struggling with the mental load of parenthood. Especially since we had our youngest as a surprise addition to our family in 2021. It honestly felt like starting all over again, having a baby at 41! I also explored travel-focused shows, dreaming about future adventures and picking up tips for family travel. At one point, I even asked my cousins for suggestions. They swore by true crime podcasts, but I quickly figured out that wasn’t for me. I prefer content that lifts me up rather than keeps me up at night wondering if I double-locked the doors. The mommy and productivity podcasts, though, were genuinely helpful during that phase of my life. They gave me practical tips for managing household chaos, insights into child development, and most importantly, the reassurance that other moms were going through similar challenges. There’s something comforting about hearing other women talk honestly about the struggles and joys of motherhood while you’re picking up Lego and Jellycat toys off the floor for the hundredth time. The Business Pivot By early this year, when I started taking my online business journey seriously, everything shifted. I researched entrepreneurship podcasts and made a conscious decision to replace most of the Disney content with business-focused shows. It wasn’t easy those Disney podcasts had become like comfort food for my ears but I knew I needed to feed my mind with content that would directly support my new goals. Now, the ones I listen to most are the ones that help me learn about entrepreneurship, productivity, and mindset the ones I share in my “Favorite Podcasts” post. They’ve given me invaluable insights and help me stay up to date with the fast-changing world of social media trends and AI, which is essential for my digital business journey. Still, I haven’t let go of the Disney podcasts entirely. I treat myself to one every other week as a pick-me-up a little mental vacation that reminds me of my goal to bring my family back to Disney World soon. When I Listen Here’s how I’ve carved out time to make podcasts a part of my life: School Runs and Errands: Or basically any car journey. What used to be radio time is now learning time. Even 15–20 minutes can spark new ideas. Workouts at Home: I do YouTube walking or rebounding workouts, watching the video on my TV while listening to a podcast with one earbud. That’s 45 minutes of exercise and growth combined. Chores: Cooking, folding laundry, tidying up podcasts turn routine tasks into moments of inspiration. Waiting for the Kids: Whether it’s swimming lessons or ballet class, I alternate between podcasts and catching up on my reading list. This has become one of my best hacks. I don’t have to “make time” for learning because I’ve woven it into parts of my day that were already happening. Looking Back What started as a fun way to plan a vacation has turned into one of the most important habits in my business journey. Podcasts have filled the quiet spaces of my day with voices that challenge me, comfort me, and guide me forward. If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t have time for podcasts,” maybe start with your school run, a workout, or even folding laundry. You’ll be surprised how much those little pockets of time can add up. In my next entry, I’ll share the five podcasts that inspire me most as I build my digital business. Frequently Asked Questions 1. How did you first get into podcasts? A. I first discovered podcasts in 2022 while planning a Disney World trip. A Disney planning podcast hooked me instantly, and from there, I explored mommy, travel, and eventually business podcasts. 2. How do you make time to listen to podcasts as a busy mom? A. I integrate podcasts into everyday routines like school runs, workouts, chores, and waiting for my kids during activities. 3. Do you
Diary of a First $100K: How I Hired My First VA and Changed My Business
Diary of a First $100K: How I Hired My First VA and Changed My Business Elle Suhardi September 26, 2025 My Journey to $100k The Desperation Phase If I had to describe those early weeks in one word, it would be: “LOST.” It was the period that eventually led to how I hired my first VA and began rebuilding my focus and systems. By early January, I had made the decision to go all in on making money online. The pressure was real. I had burned through almost all my savings and did not have enough for my son’s university fees. The anxiety was overwhelming, but I hid it from everyone. I found myself drowning in a sea of online opportunities. Every creator seemed to offer the next big thing that promised big money. I attended free info sessions, consumed content, and tried to figure everything out using ChatGPT (my first time using it professionally , talk about learning on the go). Those early attempts eventually shaped how I hired my first VA later on. The coaching fees were eating through what remained of my savings fast. I had already invested heavily with Coach A, trying dropshipping and Amazon stores with limited success. When that did not work out, I bought another creator’s $20 Shopify store package. It gave me the promise of big earnings and useful information but left me stuck on the technical aspects of Zendrop integration. Then came another $497 upsell from Coach A which I just succumbed to. I felt trapped, vulnerable, and desperately searching for solutions. January passed. February flew by. I was still in analysis paralysis, trudging along with previous content that was endlessly presented to me on social media but I was overwhelmed. The Turning Point In early March, I discovered an academy through Instagram ads. I signed up for their freebie course on March 6th and completed the 5-part series that weekend. Something clicked. The founder’s approach was refreshingly straightforward with a clear $8K price tag upfront. What really caught my attention was the “virtual assistant angle.”. I had previously tried Fiverr before for various small jobs, logo designs and some help with PPC ads for my amazon store but that was on a gig basis. The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning: I was good at giving instructions and directing people. What if I could get others to learn the courses and do the work for me? This could be my way out of this downward spiral! Even though I was down to my last $10K and could not afford the full course, the founder had shared enough tips in his freebie webinar about hiring VAs to get me started. His approach was eye-opening: in the Philippines, there is a large pool of educated workers, including students and those just starting their careers, who are willing to work for $1 per hour while they gain experience and skills. I want to be transparent about this. One dollar per hour is well below minimum wage standards in many countries. However, in the Philippine market, this rate is commonly accepted by students, new graduates, and those seeking to build experience in specific skills. The cost of living difference makes this a viable opportunity for many Filipino workers, and it is always voluntary. The understanding is that as the business grows and their skills develop, wages increase accordingly. It can be a mutually beneficial arrangement that helps cash-strapped entrepreneurs get started while providing valuable training and experience to workers who are eager to learn. Taking Action: March 11, 2025 This became my official “Day 1.” I signed up for OnlineJobs.ph and jumped in with both feet. The founder recommended using Discord for communications to keep the process clean and protect personal information. There was just one problem: Discord was completely new to me. My 17-year-old son helped set me up initially, though he was clearly annoyed by my constant questions. Armed with ChatGPT as my guide, I learned to navigate Discord step by step. I figured out how to: Set up channels Write a compelling job description Build my first Google Form Prepare interview questions It was challenging, but I was proud to work through it. The Timeline That Changed Everything The journey from March 11 to March 28 , I posted my first job hire on March 16th and got around 280 applicants, it was definitely an intense experience and such a steep learning curve! I had to sort out hundreds of applicants, but in the end it was worth it; I finally settled on Kristina on March 27th, and she officially started the very next day. Those 17 days were filled with learning new platforms, crafting processes, and taking action despite financial constraints. Looking back, I realize this was not just about hiring a VA. It was about finally breaking free from the endless cycle of consuming information without taking action. It was about recognizing that sometimes you have to work with what you have and trust the process. What I Learned The most important lesson? Sometimes desperation can be the catalyst for your biggest breakthrough. When you are backed into a corner with no other options, you find ways to make things work. That first $1 per hour VA hire was not just a cost-saving measure. It was the first step toward building something bigger. It was proof that even when you do not have all the resources you think you need, you can still move forward. And more than that, it was a leap of faith. Hiring Kristina was not just about filling a role. It was about trusting that I would find a good and honest person who could help me grow efficiently. What I did not expect was the genuine friendship that came out of it. Today, Kristina is more than a VA. She is a true partner in this journey, a cheerleader, and a friend and that is more than I could ever have asked for. Frequently
Testing Daily Quotes for Engagement
Testing Daily Quotes for Engagement Elle Suhardi September 23, 2025 My Journey to $100k Today I managed to get an early start on work, a rare occurrence but a new habit I am trying to stick to. That one extra hour made all the difference. It gave me the space to dive into the analytics of my three Instagram accounts and really look at what is happening. Scrolling and comparing across all three, I could see that the content we have been pouring hours into the reels, the carousels, the captions has not been enough to increase our numbers. Growth feels painfully slow. Engagement is quiet. And part of me keeps whispering, “Maybe I should stop. Maybe I am not cut out for this.” But instead of giving in to that voice, I decided to try something simple. Quotes. I’ve noticed that the right quotes are actually quite powerful and I myself often repost them from other accounts, when I see the perfect one that matches what I’m going through that day. One line of text, placed beautifully over a simple background, shared daily. Nothing fancy, nothing too overwhelming. Why Quotes? Why Now? It actually came together so quickly that I had to laugh. Using ChatGPT, I pulled together 30 perfectly matched quotes for each account each one tailored to its audience. On top of that, I asked for step-by-step Canva instructions to build simple templates. Within minutes, I had 30 days of ready-to-post content for all three accounts. Maybe I have been overthinking, overplanning, and overcomplicating this whole time. Yet maybe the answer is in simplicity. Thank goodness for Chatgpt. So starting today, I am testing daily quotes across all three of my brands: @elleearnsincome– my hard-sell affiliate account, targeting parents looking for extra income. @luneandivory– my calm, aesthetic home and lifestyle brand. @ourdreamsinprogress– my faceless brand documenting the behind-the-scenes of building this business. This is Day 4 of the Diary. This is me documenting my first small experiment. The Starting Line Here is where things stand right now: @elleearnsincome → 4 followers | 79 posts | ~3,200 views in the last 30 days @luneandivory → 21 followers | 141 posts | ~1,700 views in the last 30 days @ourdreamsinprogress → 31 followers | 26 posts | ~2,000 views in the last 30 days Not impressive, but honest. And that is the point. This diary is not about glossy highlight reels. It is about what it really looks like to build from the ground up. What I Am Learning Already Waking up earlier really helps. Even one extra focused hour made me feel more in control. Not everything needs to be complicated. A simple content type like quotes can still be powerful. Tools like ChatGPT and Canva can take away the heavy lifting and free up my mental energy. Takeaway of the Day The biggest insight today? “Consistency does not always require complexity.” Sometimes, the smartest growth hack is not about creating more, but about creating less with more focus. This is me, Elle, on Day 4 of the Diary. Here is to seeing where this first little experiment leads. Frequently Asked Question 1. Why are daily quotes effective for Instagram growth? A. Daily quotes work because they are simple, relatable, and easy for audiences to share. Unlike reels or long captions, quotes deliver quick value and can increase visibility through saves and shares. 2. How do you create daily quotes quickly? A. Using tools like ChatGPT and Canva makes it easy to batch-create quotes. You can generate text ideas instantly and design branded templates for consistent posting. 3. Can quotes replace reels and carousels? A. Quotes should not fully replace other content, but they are a great supplement. They help maintain consistency on slow days and create engagement opportunities without the extra effort. 4. What metrics are you tracking in this experiment? A. I am tracking followers, post counts, and views across three Instagram accounts. Starting numbers are small, but the goal is to see if daily quotes create a noticeable shift in engagement. 5. What is the biggest lesson from Day 4 of the Diary? A. The lesson is that growth does not always come from complexity. Sometimes, focusing on simple, consistent actions like posting quotes can be more powerful than chasing big production content. Facebook-f Instagram Recent Post How I Hired My First VA: A Journey from Desperation to Action Testing Daily Quotes for Engagement Starting Again: Finding Hope Through Atomic Habits and a Fresh Outlook Categories My Journey to $100k Subscribe Our Newsletter Sign up today and get the Canva Course Starter Pack Freebie, plus access to my free newsletter filled with tips and inspiration. You can unsubscribe anytime, and you’ll find all the details in our Privacy Policy. Send You have been successfully Subscribed! Ops! Something went wrong, please try again.
Starting Again: Finding Hope Through Atomic Habits and a Fresh Outlook
Starting Again: Finding Hope Through Atomic Habits and a Fresh Outlook Elle Suhardi September 22, 2025 My Journey to $100k Today feels like a heart opening. The weekend was tough, a weary crawl of wanting to do so many things but not managing much at all. I carried my laptop back and forth from my office to the living room, trying to be productive while also being with the kids. I wanted so badly to get work done, but it became an endless cycle of distractions. In the end, nothing got accomplished: no work, no workout, not even quality time with the children. Just more social media scrolling with occasional background conversations with them. By Sunday night, the intrusive thoughts crept in, the ones that whisper about giving up, admitting defeat, and choosing the easier path of retreat. Flight over fight, always. It is a pattern I know too well. I felt like giving up entirely. I wanted to tell Kristina, “I just want to quit all this work because it’s not working. I haven’t earned a single cent since April, and I’ve already invested so much. It’s just not working.” I felt guilty for giving her all that work with nothing to show for it. That was really me that night, tired, guilty, and ready to walk away. I wondered how many others go through this too, this urge to quit everything and just hide. That night, I couldn’t bring myself to make my usual reels once the kids were asleep. I was mentally drained and continued doom scrolling late into the evening. I succumbed to being unproductive and just let myself go. Knowing we had a short family trip planned for Monday, I put my energy into packing and preparing instead. Monday arrived, and we packed everyone into the car. I brought along “Atomic Habits“, a book that had been on my list for ages. My eldest had this copy lying around, but when I asked him what he thought, he just said, “It was ok.” Maybe he is too young to appreciate it fully. I was probably the same at his age, rushing through self-help books just to tick them off a list without really absorbing them. But yesterday, when I finally started it, the book spoke to me right from the beginning. I felt seen, like it was talking directly to me. It touched on some deep truths I am only beginning to uncover, but already I feel like I am gaining clarity about myself and why I fall into this loop of wanting to quit whenever things get hard. The trip itself was wonderful. I loved seeing the kids so happy with their cousins. We all stayed together at a resort for one night, and we managed to celebrate my mother-in-law’s birthday with the whole clan. My eldest couldn’t join us due to space in the car, but he had his own plans, so it worked out. The break was refreshing, not just because of the getaway, but because of that book. I also found relief in forgiving myself for not finishing “Start with Why“. I just couldn’t get through it, and that is okay. Maybe “Atomic Habits” is simply the book I needed at the right time. And this time, I feel truly connected to it, its lessons landing in a way that feels deeply relevant to what I am going through now. Back at work today, Kristina suggested a pivot. Not a small adjustment, but a big shift that means restarting, redoing, and trying again. More work, more risk, more uncertainty. And yet, her generosity astounds me. Why would someone I barely know invest so much in my success? She has so much on her plate already, and still she offers this selflessly. I cannot fully understand it, but I know I am blessed. I asked myself, “Why is this relative stranger doing so much for me, so selflessly?” In the end, I am choosing to accept it with grace, help that was meant to find me. My role is to accept it with gratitude and honor it with effort. I should not waste it. I need to focus more and believe in myself the way she believes in me. So here I am, starting again with a renewed outlook, trying to apply what I am learning from the book, and praying for better days ahead. This feels like the beginning of something new. I don’t know exactly where it will lead, but I am ready to keep showing up and see what unfolds. Frequestly Asked Questions 1. How do you stay motivated when you feel like giving up? A: I remind myself that motivation isn’t always about big wins. Sometimes it starts with small habits, like reading a page of a book or showing up for one task. “Atomic Habits” reminded me that progress builds slowly, but it builds. 2. What is the main lesson from Atomic Habits that helped you restart? A: The book showed me that small, consistent changes matter more than giant leaps. Instead of aiming for perfection, I am focusing on simple daily habits that bring me closer to where I want to be. 3. How do you handle intrusive thoughts that tell you to quit? A: I acknowledge them instead of fighting them. Writing about my experience, forgiving myself for unproductive days, and leaning on support from others helps me shift back into action. 4. Can taking a break really help with productivity? A: Yes, sometimes stepping away is exactly what we need. My short family trip gave me the space to reset, and reading something new gave me fresh clarity. Breaks can be powerful if we return with renewed focus. Facebook-f Instagram Recent Post How I Hired My First VA: A Journey from Desperation to Action Testing Daily Quotes for Engagement Starting Again: Finding Hope Through Atomic Habits and a Fresh Outlook Categories My Journey to $100k Subscribe Our Newsletter Sign up today and get
My ChatGPT Journey: From Skeptic to AI Sidekick for My Small Business
My ChatGPT Journey: From Skeptic to AI Sidekick for My Small Business Elle Suhardi September 15, 2025 My Journey to $100k This post is part of my “Diary of a First $100K” an open journal where I document the real journey of building my first digital business from scratch. Each entry shares the wins, the setbacks, the tools I try, and the lessons I learn as I aim for a $100K milestone. Why It’s the Best $20 a Month I’ve Ever Spent on My Business I never thought $20 a month could completely change my business until I discovered “ChatGPT”. What started as a casual experiment quickly became my most reliable assistant, my brainstorming partner, and my confidence booster. I’ve gone from barely touching it to using it daily for planning, content creation, and problem-solving. If you told me a year ago that I’d be working alongside an AI tool every single day, I probably would have laughed. I’m a 45-year-old mother of three who’s spent years running traditional, offline businesses. My work didn’t require research papers, long reports, or tech-heavy problem solving. That was for corporate people, university students, and maybe my own 18-year-old son, who’d already been introduced to ChatGPT at school. For me? Not so much. And yet, here I am writing this very blog post with ChatGPT as my personal assistant. The journey from skeptic to daily user has been surprising, frustrating, and sometimes even emotional. I first heard about ChatGPT through friends who worked in teaching and corporate jobs in the middle of 2023. They raved about how it saved them hours of work. I was curious, but skeptical. The very first time I opened it, I wasn’t thinking about productivity or content creation. I just wanted ideas for a name for a new travel agency with a floral theme. I typed: “Come up with 10 business names for a travel agency that has a floral component/reference.” When I hit “Enter”, I was excited to see the results. The names it came up with were creative and unique. That gave me confidence in its abilities but I still didn’t think it had a place in my life. At the time, I was running a food business and a flower shop, so I assumed ChatGPT was more useful for people writing reports or doing academic work. From Hesitation to Daily Habit Even after that first try, I barely touched ChatGPT. I’d been told it could help with Amazon product listings and research, but I never really applied it as much. That changed at the start of this year when I decided to build a new online business from scratch. Suddenly, I needed support with planning, writing, and research. That’s when “ChatGPT” moved from being a novelty to becoming part of my daily routine not just for work, but for almost everything. Early Frustrations and AI Hallucinations Of course, the early days weren’t perfect. ChatGPT has this overly optimistic, agreeable tone. That’s great when you need encouragement but less useful when you want brutally honest, practical feedback. I also learned about “AI hallucinations,” moments when it confidently gives wrong or made-up information. When it happened, I’d get annoyed and frustrated, especially if I was in the middle of solving a problem. Still, I didn’t give up. Even at 75–80% accuracy, the fact that it could give me “multiple options to consider” made it worth using. Tip: Always fact-check important details from AI tools platform processes can change quickly. Learning the Language of ChatGPT Within my first month of using it regularly, I realised prompts matter. The way you phrase your request can completely change the quality of the answer. I started listening to The ChatGPT Experiment Podcast during school runs and watching YouTube tutorials. But honestly, most of my learning came from trial and error. Over time, I found a natural rhythm, now I don’t have to overthink my questions. I know how to guide ChatGPT to give me the kind of answers I need. This was when I began to see ChatGPT not just as a writing tool but as a real AI personal assistant for my small business. The Aha Moment That Changed Everything There have been countless “aha” moments with ChatGPT, but one stands out. When I began this online business journey, I set a big goal to earn $100,000 USD in 12 months. ChatGPT helped me brainstorm ideas and gave me possible paths to reach that target based on the business models I wanted to pursue. One recurring piece of advice was to hire people I could delegate tasks to. Until then, I’d only hired virtual assistants for short-term gigs to support my Amazon business never a daily, hourly hire. But when the time came, I found Kristina. For almost three months, ChatGPT secretly acted as my expert trainer for my new VA. Kristina would send me technical questions about setting up a WordPress blog, configuring Shopify, or troubleshooting IT issues and I’d copy her question into ChatGPT, get the answer, and send it straight back to her. The result? I looked like I knew exactly what I was doing. In reality, I’d never even used WordPress before. Eventually, I told her the truth: I wasn’t a big business with a tech department. I was just a solo entrepreneur with an AI-powered sidekick. That moment didn’t just mark the start of my deeper reliance on ChatGPT , it was also the beginning of an amazing working relationship with Kristina. Over time, she’s become more than a VA. She’s a genuine friend, my constant cheerleader, and my accountability partner on this journey. From One Story to Many This is just one chapter in my ChatGPT journey. Over the months, “Chatty” has been part of so many more moments, from big breakthroughs to small daily wins and I’m only just beginning to share them. In future diary entries, I’ll go deeper into the exact ways I use ChatGPT in my business, the systems it’s
The Day I Decided to Start Sharing My Story
The Day I Decided to Start Sharing My Story Elle Suhardi September 13, 2025 My Journey to $100k This post is part of my Diary of a First $100K, an open journal where I document the real journey of building my first digital business from scratch. Each entry shares the wins, the setbacks, the tools I try, and the lessons I learn as I aim for a $100K milestone. In this post, I open up about my story, the day I decided to start sharing my journey publicly and how that single decision changed the way I view growth, courage, and connection. This isn’t Day 1 for me, but it is the day I’ve decided to start sharing the real story. For months, I’ve been quietly building a digital business from scratch while balancing life as a 45-year-old mother of three. And a lot has been going on in the background. My eldest child, 18, will soon leave home for college in another country, and I’m dealing with all the emotions of letting him go. Add to that the joys and challenges of navigating perimenopause, and it’s been a season of big changes. My elderly mother recently had knee replacement surgery, and I’ve been helping her through recovery. Financially, things have been tight as we’re self-funding my son’s college education. That’s a promise I fully intend to keep, just as my own parents did for me. We have some savings, but not enough to get him through all three years. This is why I’m starting this online business: to earn enough to put him through college without debt. The Reality Behind the Scenes It hasn’t been easy. I’ve spent more than I budgeted for. There have been more downs than ups, with plenty of unexpected setbacks along the way. I’ve been doing my own research amidst the usual chaos of daily life, from school runs to toilet training, ballet, swim class, driving lessons, and meal prep. It’s been a while since I’ve had to do any real studying, and it’s definitely not as easy as it used to be. These days I’m so forgetful, whether it’s motherhood, perimenopause, or just life, I’m not sure but focusing and picking up new skills feels harder than ever. There are days the learning curve feels steep enough to make my head explode! But here I am, tackling Canva and CapCut, experimenting with AI through ChatGPT, and figuring out Instagram and TikTok beyond casual scrolling. Canva, in particular, has tested my patience more than once. With so much information available online, it’s both a blessing and a curse. Too much has lead to analysis paralysis and honestly, there are days when I just want to give up. I’ve watched countless tutorials and webinars, often late at night after putting the little ones to bed. But I’m grateful for it all because there’s always something new to discover and lessons to keep. Why I Created “Our Dreams In Progress” Some days have been wins worth celebrating. Other days, not so much. It hasn’t been as smooth as I thought. But every day has been part of my journey. I created “Our Dreams In Progress” to document this messy, hard, magical, crazy rollercoaster of learning. Being based in Southeast Asia adds unique challenges, with geolocation restrictions on social media and payment platforms. Finding loopholes and workarounds is part of the process. It’s daily learning, taking in new information and trying to implement it while figuring out what works. What You’ll Find Here Here, you’ll see the real process: the tools I test, the strategies I try, the mistakes I make, and the lessons I learn. I’m not promising perfection. I’m promising honesty. Because building a profitable online business is possible, even from halfway around the world, and I want to show exactly how. If you’ve ever wanted to start something but felt overwhelmed, unprepared, or “too late,” I hope my work-in-progress story reminds you that the perfect moment doesn’t exist. You start where you are, with what you have, and you build as you go. This is my journey. I’m glad to finally start sharing it here. Frequently Asked Questions Q: Is 45 too late to start an online business? A: No — many entrepreneurs begin later in life and succeed because they have experience, resilience, and a clear sense of purpose. It’s never too late to start. Q: How do you start an online business from scratch with no experience? A: Choose one model to focus on (digital products, affiliate marketing, or e-commerce) and learn step by step. Free tools like Canva and ChatGPT make it easier than ever to start without a big budget. Q: What challenges do moms face when building a business online? A: Time and energy are the biggest struggles. Balancing school runs, family responsibilities, and learning new skills isn’t easy, but small, consistent actions build momentum. Q: Can you really build a business from Southeast Asia? A: Yes. While there are extra hurdles like payment restrictions and platform limits, there are also workarounds. Many successful entrepreneurs run profitable businesses from anywhere in the world. Q: How do you stay motivated when progress feels slow? A: By focusing on the long-term vision, celebrating small wins, and remembering why you started. Progress often feels slow, but consistency compounds over time. Facebook-f Instagram Recent Post How I Hired My First VA: A Journey from Desperation to Action Testing Daily Quotes for Engagement Starting Again: Finding Hope Through Atomic Habits and a Fresh Outlook Categories My Journey to $100k Subscribe Our Newsletter Sign up today and get the Canva Course Starter Pack Freebie, plus access to my free newsletter filled with tips and inspiration. You can unsubscribe anytime, and you’ll find all the details in our Privacy Policy. Send You have been successfully Subscribed! Ops! Something went wrong, please try again.