Client Success Stories:
Hear A Clip From
Myrna Everett
"I didn’t think I needed Amber as a business coach. I listened to her podcast religiously though and referred other people to her. I was doing well, after all. I had built a legacy of high-level service and profitable operations. Looking back now, my business had been operating successfully but I had been operating at a breaking point. I was a one-woman show wearing all the hats which came at a steep cost. I was at full capacity working weekends and starting my days early just to keep up. Sure, I was consistently servicing my clients but behind the scenes, my hair was on fire. I was constantly consumed by the daily crises of vendors, installers, and client communication. I hired Amber and she helped me transform my mindset, navigate hiring, and create strategic systems which have helped me grow my team and start replacing myself in my sales and design roles. As such, I have been able to take guilt-free time off and spend more quality time with my loved ones."
~ Myrna Everett, Founder at Home Vogue Interiors
Myrna Everett is the founder of Home Vogue Interiors, a successful custom window coverings business that she started in Canada in 1993 and moved to San Diego in 2005. Long before we started working together in 2021, she had already built a legacy of high-level service and profitable operations. Myrna’s exceptional skills and technical expertise were undeniable, but her business model was operating at a breaking point. Together, we addressed her growing pains and worked to find solutions and better approaches.
Myrna was the ultimate one-woman show, wearing all the hats in her business for years. This dedication came at a steep cost: she was at full capacity working weekends, and starting her days early just to keep up. She was consistently getting tasks done without clients complaining but she routinely showed up to our coaching sessions "hair on fire," consumed by the daily crises of vendors, installers, and clients. The thought of relief seemed impossible. When asked to pull her role apart for delegation, her initial reaction was a blank stare back at me, insisting, "It's just one job. I can't pull it apart".
Still, we pressed on. Our work together was a four-year journey mainly focused on transforming Myrna’s mindset and strategic systemization. First, we had to address her deep-seated resistance to delegation. She resisted outsourcing accounting, believing something was going to get missed, but eventually ceded control. There were some hiring pains that came along with growing a team but once she put the right people in place, Myrna was able to unload tasks off her plate and into their capable hands. She found her lighter load to be a huge relief.
Next, we tackled Myrna’s complex quoting process. She insisted her manual, hand-written calculations were faster, but eventually realized that building digital formula driven spreadsheets was necessary for scalability, admitting the final calculators were way more efficient - even for her.
Even before we started working together Myrna had reached a turning point when she forgot to order for a paying client and had to do damage control. That single event prompted her to admit her memory-based system was "broken” and spurred her to start using the project management system AirTable. We worked together to maximize its functionality and create cohesive systems in AirTable which had quickly become her golden foundation for growth.
Finally, we moved to strategic hiring. Myrna successfully brought on a project manager who almost immediately streamlined everything, transitioning the business from Myrna’s old school paper files to a digital environment. The ultimate validation came when Myrna actually took time off from her business. Her project manager stepped up, used the systems and processes they'd built together, and kept the business running smoothly, even making sales in Myrna's absence.
Today, Myrna is transitioning out of the sales and operational roles she's held for over 30 years and stepping into her role as CEO and strategist. The transformation is evident in her personal life: after her first vacation with her project manager handling everything, Myrna's family commented that she was actually present, something they'd never experienced before as she was usually on her phone throughout vacations. She has since taken a guilt-free three-and-a-half-week vacation, secure in the knowledge that her business is no longer dependent on her constant presence. She is now focused on her next big step: interviewing to replace herself in the sales and design role so she can devote her energy to leading and growing her business.
Myrna has experienced quite the evolution - from running a successful business on the front end but headed toward a breaking point on the back end, to running a successful business on both the front end and back end, AND in a strategic way that has essentially made replacing herself possible.
Hear A Clip From
Amy Pearson
"Having Amber as a sounding board - someone I could ask my questions and pose my hypotheticals to - has been so incredibly impactful. And work-life balance now vs. before working with Amber has been night and day. I have always been pretty good about protecting my weekend hours but now I don’t go back to work after picking the kids up from school. I hang out and relax with them more. I find time to tackle home projects that used to be left until way late at night. I go to the gym and go on walks. I am able to take care of myself more. I even inverted the time I work in the business vs. on the business. It’s been a huge transformation. Amber really helped me successfully pull myself out of survival mode and transition to thriving mode. Now, I actually enjoy working on my business!"
~ Amy Pearson, Principal Interior Designer of Amy Pearson Design
One year ago, Amy Pearson was the owner and principal designer of a successful design studio in Portland, Oregon, a loving wife, and mother of 14 year-old twins. Her family was her entire world and her "why" for all of her business decisions - one of those decisions being hiring me to help her make some necessary changes in the way she operates as a business owner.
Though Amy was running a successful business, she was stressed out, burned out, and constantly feeling pulled between wanting to work less so she could spend more time with her family to wanting to work more so she could increase her revenue and afford private school for her kids. Decreasing her workload while increasing her revenue seemed like an impossible challenge to Amy but I listened to her plight, dove into her business, and was confident in the old adage where there is a will, there is a way. I remember telling Amy, “This is solvable and you are closer than you think.”
We got to work. First order of business: addressing Amy’s billing because the way it was structured- she was leaving money on the table. She was also being de-incentivized to work on her business even though that is where the passion and excitement lie, and that enjoyable work doesn’t feel like repetitive chores that aren’t profitable. She was literally floating after changing to flat rate billing. So much weight had come off of her.
Second order of business: Making a new hire. Over the year, Amy flipped her business model and decreased her unsustainable workload by hiring and training an assistant, improving her mindset, minimizing stress, increasing her capacity and profitability, and inverting the time she worked in the business vs. on the business - huge wins that she learned to celebrate!
Today, Amy’s weekends remain protected but now she doesn’t go back to work after picking the kids up from school. She spends more quality time with them and her husband. She finds time to relax and tackle home projects. She goes on walks and to the gym. She is able to take care of herself more. Amy had successfully pulled herself out of survival mode and transitioned into thriving mode. And her daughters? They are thriving too… in private school which Amy was able to pay for in cash. The transformation has been monumental, not just for Amy, but for her family, too. As it turns out, Amy’s challenges were solvable which has me smiling from ear to ear.
Hear A Clip From
Jenny Slingerland
"Before being coached by Amber, my business was thriving but running it didn’t feel good. I was a slave to my inbox, struggled with my ADD, had difficulty prioritizing, and my mind and body weren’t in a healthy place. I felt like I was short-circuiting. Amber gave me strategies to turn all that around AND make more time for my family. She helped me form a game plan to transform my business so it fits in with the life I crave and empowered me to make the necessary changes to see results. I wanted to change my life and with Amber’s help, I did!"
~ Jenny Slingerland, Owner & Principal Designer of Black Ink Interiors
Jenny Slingerland is the high-achieving owner and principal designer of Black Ink Interiors. When Jenny first came to me, her business was already thriving, profits were climbing, and the phone never stopped ringing. Still, running her business didn’t feel good.
Jenny was struggling as an entrepreneur wearing all the hats and feeling the pressure of ‘the buck stops with you.’ She was investing everything she had into her business and very little into herself. She wanted to be more present with her family but kept feeding the monster, giving the business more and more of herself. And no matter how much she gave, it didn’t feel like enough.
Jenny was a slave to her inbox and overwhelmed because she had a hard time letting go of tasks and delegating to others. She was also struggling with her ADD which made prioritizing and staying focused difficult. Jenny’s mind and body weren’t in a healthy place even though her business was. She felt like she was short-circuiting and got to a place where she’d had enough. Jenny realized she needed somebody to give her direction on how to manage her ADD, hold her accountable, and form a game plan for transforming her business so it fits in with the life she craves.
I look at Jenny today and am so proud of the progress she’s made in taking back control of her business and life. She is no longer bogged down working IN her business and actually works ON her business. She weighs opportunities against her goals and only goes down avenues she deems worthy of her time and energy. She anchors down her list of priorities and makes them happen instead of making excuses for why they can’t.
Jenny now executes strategies to curb her ADD and enable her focus. She no longer lets her inbox determine her day and is okay with something not being perfect but perfect enough so that her team can take the reins on some tasks and she can stay in her zone of genius.
Finally, Jenny got the permission she needed to create a schedule that allows her to work from home two days a week so she can be more present in her daughters’ lives. She now walks them to and from the bus stop twice a week and follows her passion for art by teaching art classes - things she could never have imagined doing before. Once Jenny’s eyes were opened to what was possible, she felt empowered to change her family life and did. Major props, Jenny!
Hear A Clip From
LuAnn Nigara
"Working out had been a non-negotiable for me six days a week. Once I started my podcast, all that time got sucked up as well as other personal time for my husband and passions. I was okay with that for a time because this huge, new project was so gratifying. I strongly believed I could produce an amazing podcast OR live a fulfilling personal life, but definitely not do both. Amber disagreed. She stepped into my life as a coach with different perspectives, knowledge, and strategies that helped me transform my mindset and realize what was possible. I let go of the notion that only I could do certain tasks in my business, made a new hire that has worked out brilliantly, and adopted an AND mindset that allowed me to reclaim what I’d lost in my personal life when I started my podcast. You really can have it all. Amber helped make that possible."
~ LuAnn Nigara, Keynote Speaker, Author, and Viral Podcast Host of A Well Designed Business
A few years back, a new client confidently said, “I bet I’m going to be your most difficult client.” I immediately became eager to dive into LuAnn Nigara’s successful business to help her fix what about it made her feel “difficult.” Running a business at LuAnn‘s level no doubt comes with a lot of chaos but I was determined to help her find more calm, create more efficiency, and have more time to live outside of her business, doing things she enjoyed. What that required was a giant mindset shift. Here’s how it all began…
Throughout her many years as a business owner, working out had been a non-negotiable for LuAnn six days a week. It boosted her energy, gave her all those feel-good endorphins, and kept her from getting “chubby and soft” (her words). That all changed once LuAnn started her very successful podcast and it sucked up all her free time. She let it continue like that for four years because she was:
Loving doing the podcast
Making a difference in others’ lives
Seeing higher revenue
LuAnn had willingly replaced recreation, personal time, and working out for something else that was extremely gratifying. The change in her personal life and freedom was dramatic but she accepted it. She had to, right?
I disagreed. I wanted her to have both and I knew she could. My goal was to help LuAnn figure out how she could regain all that she’d lost in her personal life while continuing to produce her amazing podcast and run her business. I was confident LuAnn could transform her mindset from thinking OR to living out AND. We just had to find the right strategy.
I dove into LuAnn’s business, approached it from a different perspective, and asked an insane amount of questions to find out where we could reclaim the most time to achieve the biggest breakthrough. I found the answer in her weekend routine. She was spending 6-12 hours writing the intro/outros to her three weekly podcast episodes every weekend! I recommended she give outsourcing her intro/outros a shot. LuAnn admitted her check engine light had not been working, continuing at the speed she was going was not sustainable, and something needed to change. Still, she firmly resisted outsourcing her intro/outros as she was emotionally attached to them and believed they were her secret sauce that only she could write.
My relentless recommendations to LuAnn eventually paid off. She hired a few writers, loved the intro/outros they wrote, and made final edits if needed before each episode aired. The result? The quality of the intro/outros didn’t suffer because the experienced, professional writers expertly mimicked LuAnn’s voice. LuAnn reclaimed her weekends for spending quality time with her husband, working out, and doing whatever else she wanted to do instead of what she had to do. It felt great and freeing not having the looming intro/outro deadlines hanging over her head every weekend.
Conquering LuAnn’s long-held beliefs that a) she was the only person who could write her intro/outros and b) she had to choose between serving her listeners at the highest level OR having time for herself on the weekends, was just one of the many strategies we worked on together to help LuAnn minimize the chaos, create more balance, increase efficiency, and give her more time to operate in her zone of genius. We also made moves to systemize parts of her business, switch gears less often, reduce the trips down time-consuming rabbit holes, stop bottle-necking projects, get out of her inbox, batch tasks, track her time, be more intentional with it, and achieve other mindset breakthroughs she can build upon. I am happy to say LuAnn’s check engine light is working again and she’s operating at peak performance.
Hear A Clip From
Tim Clothier
"I was the classic overworked business owner. Coming home late, never finishing projects, pulled in a million directions at once. Fast forward to today – I now have a daily schedule; tasks get done and things don’t drop through the cracks. I spend time each week working on business development rather than chasing my tail to just keep the business running. I delegate better, feel calmer and most importantly – spend time with my wife and my son. Amber has been instrumental in developing systems so I can run and grow the business I want and be the husband and father I promised myself to be. Amber has become an integral part of my team. She communicates ideas and concepts extremely well and is an excellent motivator. She now also works with my key management staff, which has helped them professionally and personally. If I could sum up my coaching sessions – I would say coaching is a business asset that is a key ingredient to growth and success."
~ Tim Clothier, CEO of Illusion Projects
Tim Clothier is the CEO of next-level fabrication shop Illusion Projects Inc. which originally got its start in taking magicians’ large-scale magic props from idea to completion. Once Tim got married and the let’s-start-a-family-discussions began, he knew he had to get his business house in order fast so he could be a good dad. Due to his upbringing, Tim was already hyper aware that he wanted to be a present dad which hardly aligned with how he had been running his business. He was consistently starting work at 8am and leaving work after 9pm six days a week. He knew his future child(ren) deserved better. Around the same time, Tim was feeling so exhausted from working so hard day after day that he asked himself, “Am I a business owner or just working really, really hard for a job that is not paying me enough for the work I’m doing?”
Tim’s biggest wakeup call came shortly thereafter when he arrived back at his workshop one morning after a late night there and realized he had left the doors open. Things HAD to change. Tim got to planning and identified some changes he wanted to make in the way he runs his business and how it affects the rest of his life.
He wanted to STOP:
Getting caught up in the day-to-day instead of moving projects forward
Operating in firefighter mode 100% of the time, making him constantly feel scatterbrained
Underestimating how long it takes to complete tasks
Spending way too much time at work
Allowing constant interruptions from his staff
The rinse and repeat of wake up super early, work until super late, sleep
Attempting to wear every hat
Being the self-proclaimed “world’s worst micromanager” which prevents others from doing their jobs
Being a “horrible chokepoint” holding everyone else up
The Tim Show! and actually allow his talented team members to execute their own creative ideas and flourish
So, Tim started planning how he could make those changes. What he could not have planned on was how big his business was going to get during the transformation. The demand for Tim’s services exponentially increased and his plan for changing the way he ran his business so he could be home with his family more first and foremost, was at risk of imploding. Tim needed someone to help him stay focused, be organized, and get unstuck, just as he helps his client get unstuck with their ideas. His mentor recommended he talk to me about coaching and seven years later, here we are, still meeting together twice monthly for private business coaching sessions.
During our seven plus years together, I have become what Tim calls an “integral” part of his team. I work with his key management staff to ensure the business is running smoothly and Tim is able to continue achieving his goal of going home at a reasonable hour each night to be with his family. I’ve sat on the hiring committee to help him choose the right assistant out of 140 applicants. I love motivating Tim, helping him prioritize his ideas, and working with him to overcome his challenges as he continues to scale his business. We have accomplished a lot throughout our years working together (I say “we” because I partner with my clients in their success) and I am so proud of Tim for how he has transformed the way he runs his business and for what he has been able to achieve.
Since Tim started private coaching sessions with me, he has been ABLE TO:
Lead his team more effectively and stand tall in the visionary role of the company
Breathe and maintain a greater space to think and create
Go home a lot earlier to spend quality time with his wife and son
Hire more team members to reclaim time for focused design work
Take his son to school when he wants to
Take sick days and not be worried if his team is moving forward on projects
Successfully manage interruptions because there are far fewer these days
Not be stuck in the shop all day
Have a CEO Day once a week in which he does big picture planning off-site, away from distractions, and flushes out the steps to execute his vision and ideas
Deliver projects to clients on time
More readily step outside his comfort zone because he has the bandwidth to execute
Effectively manage his inbox, sales calls, and projects
Magically bounce between his CEO role and creative role in no time at all
Tim created his business because he loves to push the envelope and do things that haven’t been done in terms of design, and he wanted to share that passion with the world. Now that Tim’s much better equipped to navigate any situation that arises and run his business confidently, he is achieving his vision daily and actually enjoying the journey that once felt entirely too overwhelming and time-consuming. Top hats off to you, Tim!
*To discover the new projects Tim took on, the personal goals he smashed, and the successes he achieved since his initial interview, check out Tim’s Update Interview
Hear A Clip From
Vita Vygovska
"Knowing how goal-oriented, efficient, and productive I am, everyone thought I was crazy for wanting to hire a business coach. I figured that top athletes in the world have coaches to help them reach peak performance, so why shouldn’t I? The long hours and amount of work required to keep my business thriving had been wearing on me. I knew there had to be a better way so I made some hires to assist with the workload. New employees meant new challenges though. Amber stepped in to help me navigate some hiring changes and take my time management and productivity to new levels. My business is still thriving but now, it feels way less messy. My quality of life has also improved, I am more present with my family, I feel more balanced, and I have more time for self-care. I have evolved into a better version of myself (Vita 11.0)."
~ Vita Vygovska, Owner of Vitalia, Inc. WIndow Treatments & Awnings
Ever come to a crossroads in your entrepreneurial journey where you had to make a difficult choice between two paths that look and feel very different and lead to two very different places, both of which would be better destinations than where you currently are?
Vita Vygovska, the owner of Vitalia Inc. Window Treatments & Awnings, came to such a crossroads about 12 years after becoming a self-proclaimed corporate dropout and starting her own business as a solopreneur. It was just a few years ago that Vita came to the realization that she didn’t want to be doing a lot of her tasks anymore. She was working very long hours and the work was wearing on her greatly. Vita knew there were plenty of tasks she could delegate but just the idea of developing a team seemed scary - not on the financial level necessarily but just the high responsibility leading a team involved. She worried whether she’d have enough work for team members all the time as her business has a seasonality and ebbs and flows for other reasons as well.
Building a team seemed scary but Vita knew she didn’t want to continue as is either. As a solopreneur, she was maxing out on time, revenue, and net income. Sure, she was working at peak productivity but at the same time, she was feeling resentful for the amount of work she had to do and the amount of time she had to dedicate to her business to stay at that level. Vita was at a crossroads where she had to say no to some clients OR develop a team so she could continue to say yes to clients. The decision of which path to take took a lot of soul searching and journaling. It was somewhat of a tumultuous process for Vita but once she decided scaling up was the answer instead of scaling back, she pressed on full speed ahead.
Vita asked herself: How am I going to grow my team? How am I going to become version 11.0 of myself in order to support my team? Who is going to help get me there? Vita decided hiring a productivity coach was the next right step in scaling her business. Knowing how goal-oriented, efficient, and productive Vita is, everyone thought she was crazy for wanting to hire a productivity coach. Vita shared her analogy that Olympians have coaches even though they are the top athletes in the world. Why shouldn’t the best business owners have coaches to help them reach peak performance? As Vita said, “Having a coach is non-negotiable.” That’s where I came in.
I partnered with Vita on her entrepreneurial journey once she had already scaled her business to a team of five but I coached her through some necessary employee changes. Her revenue was at $500,000 as a solopreneur and now she’s exceeded $1 million two years in a row with a team of seven supporting her along the way. According to Vita, her quality of life has improved, she’s more present with her family, she feels more balanced, and she has more time for self-care. We restructured Vita’s day so her journey is more enjoyable and running her business feels less messy. She feels that she has evolved into a better version of herself (Vita 11.0) and loves that I held her accountable during our time working together. As Vita said, “When the chemistry is right, it’s amazing.” Vita truly is a great student who was willing to learn and change her actions to change her life!
Hear A Clip From
Michael Costantino
"I took a leap of faith when I hired Amber to be my coach and that decision is one I now know I’d make 100 times over, having experienced the results. Amber helped me surpass my annual revenue goal in February! We then started dreaming bigger and I’ve been upleveling my goals ever since, including building my team. That growth was made possible by Amber helping with the key areas where I struggled: delegating, time blocking, staying focused, creating SOP’s, work/life balance, reducing overwhelm, and implementing a time management system that could keep up with the growth. I no longer let every buzz, beep, and click distract myself but instead, use effective strategies to cut out the noise and use my focused time to intentionally get my best work done. Thanks for partnering with me Amber."
~ Mike Costantino, Co-Owner, President, and Principal Architect for Montebello Architecture & Design
As a business owner, sometimes we fall short of our goals.
Sometimes we overshoot our shot. Other times a change in circumstances or resources prevents us from hitting our goals or we simply don’t put in the required effort. Still, other times the opposite of falling short happens and we crush our goals in record timing. That’s what happened to Michael Costantino, the Co-Owner, President, and Principal Architect for Montebello Architecture & Design. Shortly after growing his team, he became a goal-crushing machine. His entrepreneurial journey didn’t exactly start out like that though…
After starting his business in 2018, Michael hired his first employee and felt like he was stumbling through figuring out how to lead a team. On the design side, he found it difficult to delegate tasks and decide which portions of projects he could pass off. On the leadership side, it was hard finding time to train his growing team while also navigating the many other challenges of being a business owner. Michael was also hellbent on providing exceptional service to his clients so he was making himself available all day long. That meant he allowed every buzz, beep, and click to distract him from what he was doing and therefore didn’t have enough focused design time. Michael was working long weekends to compensate and while his wife was fully supportive, he didn’t want to be away so much and miss out on quality time with her and his daughter. Michael sought support from business podcasts and stumbled upon my Productivity Straight Talk podcast. A year later, he took a leap of faith and hired me to be his coach.
After working together for some time, Michael and I set realistic revenue goals based on his previous year. We were optimistic he’d hit them but midway through February he had already surpassed all of the goals he had set for the entire year! That’s when we really ramped up what was possible and dreamed even bigger. Ever since, Michael has had to keep upleveling his goals as his team and business have grown.
So what had changed? Well, Michael had started running his business with a growth mindset, a better stocked tool belt, a great deal of intentionality, and a coach who supported him through building a team of three employees plus contractors and navigating tremendous growth in a short amount of time.
During our time working together, Michael specifically learned:
- He can ask for help in both his business and personal life which gave him greater balance
- How to time block effectively which helped him manage his time better and stay focused for longer periods
- How to trust his team and delegate more to them which freed up his time
- A new task management system that enabled him to keep up with the growth
- How to create SOPs and dummy proof their hiring process which minimized hiccups during scaling
- How to invest his best time into his best activities so he could continue achieving at a high level without constantly feeling out of balance and overwhelmed
Contrary to popular belief, it IS possible to not feel overwhelmed all the time in your business. Sometimes a decision just needs to be made, a system created, a process documented, a workflow shifted, boundaries maintained, or you simply need to stop overcommitting yourself to tasks and activities that don’t align with your goals.
Once we partnered up, I dove into Michael’s business, asked the tough questions, pinpointed what projects and tasks should be focused on, and helped him identify solutions that could work to overcome his challenges.
Asking for help is not a weakness. It’s giving yourself the opportunity to grow.
Hear A Clip From
Robyn Howard
"Working with Amber has been transformative. She helped me get clear on what type of client I wanted to serve which laid the foundation for niching down from four different types of clients to one. That radical change to my business model was the breakthrough that made everything else just click! I had far fewer “exception” clients so I was able to automate my systems and create SOP’s which made delegating much easier. I was able to serve more and better clients because I no longer had to create varied marketing to speak to four different types of clients. I reclaimed time for priority tasks and quality time with my kids. I also made major strides in finding my CEO voice which helped me lead my team more effectively and increase my business’ revenue. I owe so much of that growth and success to Amber’s guidance and support. Now that I'm intentionally working ON my business, I have reduced the amount of time I spend IN in my business from 6+ hours each day to less than 8 hours each week! Everything about my business feels better and I am so much less overwhelmed these days."
~ Robyn Howard, Owner at Top Level Content
Robyn Howard is as great of a coaching client as they come. She’s extremely coachable, actionable, and comes to every session prepared to unload and strategize so she can get the most out of the sessions and leave with action plans she’s excited to execute. Robyn finds so much joy and freedom in running her business these days but it wasn’t always like that…
A couple of years back, Robyn was running her successful blog content writing agency that supported SEO and digital marketing companies in sourcing blog content for their clients. She was also parenting her two children with special needs who had their own demanding schedules. Robyn was grateful for her full client load but at the same time, she felt like a duck, smooth sailing on the client-facing surface, but paddling for her life beneath the surface. That’s because Robyn was doing most of the work in her business herself and was therefore completely overwhelmed.
Robyn sought support in productivity podcasts, became a listener of mine, and went on to take one of my masterclasses, join my group coaching program, and then become a private coaching client. Together, we dove deep and got to the bottom of her overwhelm. Mainly, Robin wasn’t running her business efficiently and she wasn’t using her CEO voice. Instead of investing her time intentionally into the projects and tasks that needed to get done, she was operating in firefighter mode - running from fire to fire to fire, putting most out, getting burned by some. That incessant fighting was wearing on her mind, energy, and passion for her work greatly. She needed to catch her breath. So, we created goals to free up time so she could breathe, minimize the chaos, and reclaim time for marketing and sales so she could pursue her bigger goals.
One place Robyn and I worked on together to reclaim loads of time was in getting clear on who she wanted to serve. A self-proclaimed people pleaser, Robyn had been serving four different types of clients which had made automating her systems and processes difficult. It also made delegating incredibly challenging because there were so many necessary exceptions. She kept so much how-to knowledge in her head that she would constantly get interrupted by her team members asking her how to complete certain tasks or communicate with particular clients. Total time suck.
Once Robyn got clear on the type of client she actually enjoyed serving, she niched down from four different types of clients to one and radical, positive changes occurred. She had far fewer “exception” clients so she was able to automate her systems and processes. She was able to create SOP’s which made delegating much easier. She was able to serve more and better clients because she no longer had to create varied marketing to speak to different types of clients. She reclaimed time for priority tasks and quality time with her kids. She made major strides in finding her CEO voice which helped her effectively lead her team and increase the business’ revenue. Everything felt so much better after Robyn got really clear on who she wanted to serve and how she could best serve them.
And that was just one of the many areas Robyn and I worked on to alleviate her overwhelm. Robyn now creates her schedule guilt-free and puts out far fewer fires. She’s better able to adapt and reset when her plans get hijacked and she has the bandwidth to dream bigger for herself and her business. Because she’s now intentionally working ON her business, Robyn has reduced the amount of time she spends IN her business from 6+ hours each day to less than 8 hours each week. That change has been transformative. It has been such a pleasure to watch Robyn evolve as a business owner and make running her business more joy-filled. Her journey has truly been an amazing one to partner in, and it’s far from over!
Hear A Clip From
Jessica Risko Smith
"I brought my challenges to my sessions with Amber and she brought the hard truths of what habits I needed to change and what actions I needed to take to be a better, more impactful business owner. But -- she did so with empathy and compassion that set the stage for me taking strategic, determined action. I had so many ah-ha’s working with Amber and was able to navigate some of my greatest challenges in business because of them. Having a coach who understands the intricate challenges business owners face and who is able to support you in overcoming them made all the difference."
~ Jessica Risko Smith, Owner at Jessica Risko Smith Interior Design
Before launching her business, Jessica Risko Smith had a long career at Gensler where she worked with Fortune 500 companies. Jessica was able to gain a full range of experience at the worldwide corporate design firm, especially in business systems and processes. She eventually took what she learned and opened her own firm in Santa Barbara, choosing to specialize in residential interior design.
Jessica was a one-woman show for a couple of years as she built her clientele and residential portfolio. She didn’t have the support of a large team but drew on her background at Gensler who had a well-defined team for everything. After she had her second child and moved to a new office space, Jessica decided it was time to grow. She first brought in a bookkeeper then kept adding others to her team. As a budding business owner, Jessica was a natural but as a lifelong learner intent on honing her craft, she constantly attended conferences and listened to podcasts. Over a decade and countless satisfied clients later, Jessica was still doing a lot of listening and absorbing but she had gotten to a point where she couldn’t implement what she was learning in a way that felt supported. She recognized that her team, although awesome, simply didn’t see the business the way she saw it and they couldn’t help her navigate her biggest challenges:
Hiring
Being the kind of boss she wanted to be
Deciding when to wear each of her many hats
Knowing what tasks to prioritize each day
Managing self-criticism
Celebrating her wins in a compassionate way
Recognizing her own capacity
Creating efficiency systems
Her all or nothing attitude
So… Jessica took action and entered my world as a coaching client. I commended Jessica for investing in herself. I also let her know that in order to see the changes she desired, she’d have to be brave and vulnerable. And boy, was she ever! Jessica willingly poured out her life, business, setbacks, and ideas during our sessions which allowed us to deep dive into limitless possibilities for positive changes. Together, we continuously reflected on what she already accomplished… is in the middle of… made decisions on already… tried that hasn’t worked… tried that has worked… and discussed how her wins can empower her to make decisions on what’s next and where to invest her time. Now equipped with a sounding board and supportive strategies backed by a coach who understands the intricate challenges business owners face, Jessica began investing her time more intentionally. She even dug more design time into her foundation which paved the way for more joy-filled work and higher profitability.
According to Jessica, I gave her the hard truth in areas where she could improve but with empathy and compassion that set the stage for determined action. Jessica is now working more efficiently, touches things less, judges herself less, systemizes more parts of her business so they can practically run themselves, leads her team more confidently, moves through decision making more quickly, and is no longer kicking the can down the road indefinitely because she creates realistic goals for how much she can get done. Instead of setting impossible goals and feeling bad about the 80% of her tasks she couldn’t accomplish as planned, Jessica now schedules only 20% of her work - her most important work that moves the needle forward - and if she is able to accomplish more, great!
Jessica absolutely loves owning her business because it merges her passion for interior design which allows her to be creative and her passion for business which challenges her to grow. She especially loves owning her business now that she’s ironed out many of the challenging kinks. Jessica’s journey to become a better, more impactful business owner has been remarkable to watch - and this chapter of growth all started when Jessica realized she couldn’t go farther on her own and took action to get support via private coaching.
Client Testimonials:
I now have a clear path!
Amber helped me with next steps. I was feeling so overwhelmed with my accounting before our strategy session. Amber helped me to see how my reluctance to dig into the finances was holding me back in my business. She gave me actionable steps and held me accountable to some goals. I am still doing the work, but I now have a clear path and my finances are more organized than ever!
Made a real impact in my life and business
Before doing the program, I was working very long hours and feeling like I accomplished very little at the end of my days 80% of the time. I felt exhausted, frustrated, and a bit resentful some days. On productive days, I felt like a million bucks and knew I wanted MORE of that! Since taking the program, I have made some really beneficial changes and my mornings are much more enjoyable. I still have a long way to go but I feel like I now have a plan and tools to achieve my goals.
The Time Management Made Simple program flowed very well and made a real impact in my life and business. I got so much value out of the training and was grateful the content was broken down into bite-sized pieces that I can implement. Some of the concepts were new and some not new but they were all delivered in a way that really spoke to me.
You really can have it all
Working out had been a non-negotiable for me six days a week. Once I started my podcast, all that time got sucked up as well as other personal time for my husband and passions. I was okay with that for a time because this huge, new project was so gratifying. I strongly believed I could produce an amazing podcast OR live a fulfilling personal life, but definitely not do both. Amber disagreed. She stepped into my life as a coach with different perspectives, knowledge, and strategies that helped me transform my mindset and realize what was possible. I let go of the notion that only I could do certain tasks in my business, made a new hire that has worked out brilliantly, and adopted an AND mindset that allowed me to reclaim what I’d lost in my personal life when I started my podcast. You really can have it all. Amber helped make that possible.
Increased staff's ability to handle a greater workload
I hired Amber for her coaching and training services. She helped design new and more efficient systems for my staff and, as a result, increased their ability to handle more workload. I highly recommend her company and services!
Exponentially increases the time you have
You won't regret working with Amber but you will regret it later if you don't work with her. Working with Amber exponentially increases the time you have available to invest in other areas of your life and business.
I had been operating at a breaking point
I didn’t think I needed Amber as a business coach. I listened to her podcast religiously though and referred other people to her. I was doing well, after all. I had built a legacy of high-level service and profitable operations. Looking back now, my business had been operating successfully but I had been operating at a breaking point. I was a one-woman show wearing all the hats which came at a steep cost. I was at full capacity working weekends and starting my days early just to keep up. Sure, I was consistently servicing my clients but behind the scenes, my hair was on fire. I was constantly consumed by the daily crises of vendors, installers, and client communication. I hired Amber and she helped me transform my mindset, navigate hiring, and create strategic systems which have helped me grow my team and start replacing myself in my sales and design roles. As such, I have been able to take guilt-free time off and spend more quality time with my loved ones.
Small changes that made a HUGE impact.
She helped me to organize my schedule and prioritize my day. Many of her suggestions were small changes that made a HUGE impact. I highly recommend Amber to anyone.
Challenged my professional AND personal growth
With Amber’s guidance, I have implemented an abundance of new processes, hired a new staff member, and opened a new office. I am also working on a potential partnership with another professional and she is playing an integral part of that process. Amber has challenged not only my professional growth, but also my personal growth. I am looking forward to working with Amber for some time to come!
Changed my life!
Before being coached by Amber, my business was thriving but running it didn’t feel good. I was a slave to my inbox, struggled with my ADD, had difficulty prioritizing, and my mind and body weren’t in a healthy place. I felt like I was short-circuiting. Amber gave me strategies to turn all that around AND make more time for my family. She helped me form a game plan to transform my business so it fits in with the life I crave and empowered me to make the necessary changes to see results. I wanted to change my life and with Amber’s help, I did!
Thorough and practical program that makes a big difference
I’d been experiencing difficulty with managing tasks and projects, creating a model week, energy management, and general overwhelm.
I was familiar with the concepts from Amber’s podcast but this tied everything together and made it applicable to me. I am using all of the thorough and practical information I learned and it is making a big difference. Amber has a gift for figuring out roadblocks to productivity and solutions to those problems.
Now, I am tweaking my model week, using morning, evening, start up and shutdown routines, implementing a task management system, keeping my emails at inbox zero, and focusing on profit producing metrics. Thanks Amber!
Overdelivered and transformed my business!
Amber’s group coaching and training experience was amazing! She definitely over-delivered far more than I expected. She helped transform my business, all the way from the foundation through growing my team. She gave us all the tools we need for everything in between those two stages. I have definitely seen a huge increase in my productivity and revenue. I am now confident with my business plan and goals ahead. I no longer overcomplicate areas of my business and have a clear agenda each day. This experience has given me extra time in my schedule and less to worry about. I would highly recommend Amber De La Garza, The Productivity Specialist for all business owners and entrepreneurs. You cannot go wrong with her.
Extracted the roots of my issues
Amber demonstrated such a gift of intuition and the ability to quickly get laser-focused on the specific problems that were getting in the way of being productive. During our strategy session, she put me at ease with her warm personality, extracted the roots of my issues, and provided an actionable plan for helping me implement the strategies we discussed (so long, sticky notes and redundant notepads!). She knows her stuff, and the passion she feels for her work shines through when you work with her.
Packed with step by step digestible information!
Amber's masterclasses (and podcasts) have improved my day to day productivity while chiseling away the overwhelming feelings of being an entrepreneur. Packed with straight forward, step by step, and digestible information, her teaching has allowed me to immediately implement activities I've been wanting to improve for years. Thank you Amber, I wouldn't be making this progress without you!
Amber helped me evolve
Knowing how goal-oriented, efficient, and productive I am, everyone thought I was crazy for wanting to hire a business coach. I figured that top athletes in the world have coaches to help them reach peak performance, so why shouldn’t I? The long hours and amount of work required to keep my business thriving had been wearing on me. I knew there had to be a better way so I made some hires to assist with the workload. New employees meant new challenges though. Amber stepped in to help me navigate some hiring changes and take my time management and productivity to new levels. My business is still thriving but now, it feels way less messy. My quality of life has also improved, I am more present with my family, I feel more balanced, and I have more time for self-care. I have evolved into a better version of myself (Vita 11.0).
Amber is the "real deal"
I was stuck and overwhelmed trying to manage my time and being successful demanded more effort than I had time. I needed to learn how to work smarter! After listening to Amber’s podcast, I knew she was the "real deal" when it comes to mastering time and productivity, things I really wanted to transform.
Amber's expertise, coaching, and tools helped me get clarity on what actually needs to get done each day and implement the best productivity and time management interventions for me! Our 1:1 sessions were always focused on my real concerns and ended with clear actions and next steps. Since starting coaching with Amber, I have changed my behaviors, implemented helpful task management programs and time tracking tools, and greatly improved my time management and productivity which has resulted in much less stress and overwhelm!
Offered solutions that fit me and the way I work
I was overwhelmed with how to do my tasks in a simple and efficient way, that didn't take more time than it was worth. Amber lasered in with her insightful, ever so helpful way, got to the root of my specific issues, and offered solutions that fit me and the way I work. Her insights, tips, and recommendations have been invaluable and have prevented much gnashing of teeth and migraines. Not only did she solve a bunch of challenges I was having, she made it totally and completely doable and dare I say fun! Working with Amber is top notch problem solving and pain relief.
Took my production to the next level
Amber is thorough, highly detail oriented, personable, and extremely competent at what she does. She was able to guide me through each of the steps to step up effective systems for MY business, not a cookie cutter system that is used over and over. She took the time to understand my goals and establish more efficient and effective business systems to take my production to the next level.
Created the results we needed.
Amber provided training and created the results we needed. Her knowledge is what we lacked, her skills where exceptional, and the value was so worth it.
Business running smoother, with less stress and increased revenue
Amber has become a valuable and trusted member of the team. She has helped us pause and think through our processes and change many aspects of how we run our business and client relationships. In doing so, we have greatly improved our efficiency and productivity. Our business is running smoother and with less stress. Our staff is more focused and organized. Our calendar, reviews, systems, travel, etc. all has been greatly improved and more productive. We have increased our business revenue as well as peace in the office. We will continue to work with Amber as a trusted and valuable resource on an ongoing basis.
A solid growth decision
Being an avid Productivity Straight Talk Podcast junkie for the past 4+ years, and having dabbled in a few of her free mini-courses, I finally took the plunge and reached out to Amber for a free discovery call last year! It was a solid growth decision. I have loved working with Amber one on one and having her help me dive into my business-specific hangups.
Amber has a wonderful way of helping me to focus on what is truly important to get my business to the next level. She has business insight that helped me see the big picture of how to move forward with both my personal and business goals. She takes a holistic approach in her coaching, knowing that one's personal life is as important as one's business life and she knows how to encourage and motivate her clients to move forward.
If you are on the fence about getting into coaching, no matter your profession, I would highly recommend jumping on a Discovery Call with Amber, to see how she can help you successfully grow your business and take your business to the next level! I have also enjoyed the insight, tips, and road map laid out for my business, being an active member of Leverage Lab.
Invaluable, eye-opening experience
Very quickly Amber was able to point out activities in my day that are monopolizing my time and help me to develop strategies to address those in a more effective way. Amber realized that I had one foot in my new role as an entrepreneur and one foot in my former role as support staff. That realization alone was an "eye opener" for me to lean on the support staff that I have, trust them to do their tasks effectively, and confidently focus my energy on the responsibilities and opportunities within my new role. Thank you Amber, this experience has been invaluable!
My business has truly been transformed!
Despite years in business, my business wasn't operating at its full capacity and it certainly wasn't providing me with the things that I originally set out to achieve as an entrepreneur. Through months of tracking, small tweaks, reviewing and generally getting back to basics, not only is my company growing rapidly, but in a direction that fulfills more of my personal goals as well.
My coaching experience with Amber was extremely valuable. Her guidance, persistence, and experience gave me greater insight into my business, as well as confidence to make the decisions that needed to be made. As with all things, I am sure I left things on the table simply due to time and resource constraints, but my business has truly been transformed!
Full of unique ideas
I hired Amber to help me get back on track with my business. I was lacking organization in my back business. She helped me focus on income-producing activities and work on a day-to-day schedule that allows me to be successful. Amber is full of unique ideas, taking you from the norm to outstanding in my industry.
I have progressively increased my volume year over year and have worked on my business in the most basic sense. I found myself thinking everything had to be perfect before rolling out my drip campaigns, my presentations, or websites. She has made me realize that growing my business is always evolving and that over time the simple daily tasks will get me the results I desire and deserve. I highly recommend Amber and know she is there with me every step of the way!
Helping me cut through the clutter
I own a few different businesses with a whole lot of moving parts and I had listened to Amber on a podcast and I wanted to see if she could help me cut through the clutter. We got started and she has been great with helping me focus on what's most important. I have learned a lot from her and I'm thankful for all my time spent.
Helped with the key areas where I struggled
I took a leap of faith when I hired Amber to be my coach and that decision is one I now know I’d make 100 times over, having experienced the results. Amber helped me surpass my annual revenue goal in February! We then started dreaming bigger and I’ve been upleveling my goals ever since, including building my team. That growth was made possible by Amber helping with the key areas where I struggled: delegating, time blocking, staying focused, creating SOP’s, work/life balance, reducing overwhelm, and implementing a time management system that could keep up with the growth. I no longer let every buzz, beep, and click distract myself but instead, use effective strategies to cut out the noise and use my focused time to intentionally get my best work done. Thanks for partnering with me Amber.
My mindset of who I am has improved
I am a longtime listener of Productivity Straight Talk who has worked hard to implement the tips Ambers talks about. Although I was seeing small improvements in my productivity, I was seeking a greater impact. I felt frustrated because I was great at planning but had a hard time actually implementing my "great plans." I had a mile long to-do list and couldn’t find the time to complete my tasks. I joined Leverage Lab to further develop my productivity skill sets and truly create work/life balance. The support has exceeded my expectations and I really appreciate the group coaching aspect. I love hearing about the struggles others are having and realizing I'm not the only one experiencing those same issues. I also love being able to ask for support on my own business issues and my personal issues related to them. I have been implementing the tactics I’m learning and ironing out the challenges I’m facing. Now, each week I have a plan of action that's actually doable. I've learned to say "no" to things that cross my boundaries and have the space to say "sure" to things I'm happy to do. My mindset of who I am as a business owner, wife, and mother has greatly improved, knowing my focus and time is spent on the things most valuable to me.
A productivity "Sherpa"
I had considered 1 to 1 business coaching for years, and I did the research, but just couldn't seem to find a coach that resonated with me and what I felt I needed. By chance, I met Amber through a friend and fellow design entrepreneur that was already working with Amber. Amber's professional but friendly personality immediately clicked with me and I quickly realized she was an expert in her field. I also appreciated the fact that her podcasts packed a ton of info into short segments - after all, who has time to waste on weak content?
Through my individual sessions with Amber, I have established methods of best practice that are sustainable. She breaks things down and tailors them to her client, because she really gets to know her clients through thought-provoking questions and exercises. I use her suggestions every day in my work and highly recommend her for any small business owner who needs a productivity 'Sherpa' that can help them navigate the unpredictable waters of day to day business operations.
My life has substantially improved in all areas
(Before working with Amber), I was juggling a multitude of people, projects and processes and not necessarily doing ANY of them well. While working 12-14 hours a day often 6 days a week, I spent my days running from one fire to another, missing deadlines and accomplishing very little. I managed my “to do” list by handling the most pressing items in my email box and the hottest fire. Every aspect of my personal and professional life was suffering.
After coaching with Amber, both professional and personally, my life has substantially improved in all areas.
My organization is improved, my business has grown, I have systems and methods that work. I have been able to execute on many aspects of my business plan. The new focus has allowed me to be more successful. I have clear goals and most importantly, I have boundaries. I prioritize my tasks and accomplish more in my days. My friends, co-workers, and family recognize the change in me personally. I am more accomplished, peaceful with a larger degree of life balance.
Amber is a mastermind when it comes to organization and productivity. Amber talks you through what needs to happen, and holds you, the client, accountable. Learning a new skill is not easy. It requires constant re-directing and discipline. Amber did not fix me. I fixed me – with new tools that Amber provided. Changing habits takes so much effort and work; however, the results are fantastic!
I am getting more done now than I have in years.
I have always considered myself extremely organized but I found myself never having enough time. I was frustrated and overwhelmed. After my first meeting with Amber, I knew I had found my solution. She helped me put systems in place to be more efficient and productive. I am getting more done now than I have in years.
Doubled my business from last year!
I doubled my business from last year and feel so much more grounded! I also finalized a few projects I hadn’t gotten to before.
Guaranteed to prosper and expand your business
I am so grateful for Amber’s mentorship through her group coaching program. She helped me learn how to focus more on running my two businesses and become more organized in my personal and professional dealings, especially in my office. I gained great momentum and was able to quickly finish my vision board. I also had a great time working with the other professional individuals in our group. I encourage you to invest in your business by enrolling in Amber’s program because you are guaranteed to prosper and expand your business.
Amber De La Garza, is my hero!
Amber De La Garza, is my hero! Her two-part masterclass Dominate Your Calendar & Conquer Your Email has proven to be an excellent investment for my business. Understanding the difference between checking email and actually processing email has been a game changer for me and a huge time saver. Finally, I now have effective techniques to tame my inbox, resulting in more time to grow my business. I love starting each day with a cup of coffee and a manageable email inbox—thanks, Amber!
Solutions to my roadblocks
As a coach, Amber has a no-nonsense approach and a strong ability to hold you accountable. She called me out when necessary and never failed to dive deep into the nitty gritty to find solutions to my roadblocks.
My calendar used to be a mess and I was never able to keep up with the deluge of work. I had so much on my schedule that I worked late nights to get it all done. Amber helped me differentiate between what tasks needed my attention and what tasks just ate up my time that I could offload or just weren’t important. I started prioritizing, delegating, and creating white space for what matters most.
Amber provided all the tools to effectively manage my time and be a productive business owner. Now, when I come across something that I instinctively want to tackle right away (like an email that requires more than a simple response), I ask myself, ‘does this really need to be addressed right now? If not, can it wait until my Power Hour later in the week?’ That one habit keeps me on task and gives me so much more freedom!
Created a better business plan
I highly recommend Amber’s group coaching & training program to anyone who wants to improve their productivity and get out of that busy cycle of not getting their tasks done. With her strategies, methods, and accountability, I’ve been able to spend more time where I belong - in business development, leadership, sales, and marketing. She also helped me reevaluate my systems so I can create a better business plan that will take me and my business to the next level.
Have time now to create new products and services!
I kept getting frustrated with my unpredictable schedule and how to grow my business when I felt like I didn't have time to focus on activities that moved the needle. I'd done nearly everything (Amber) recommended on her show but when I finally sat down with her for a coaching session, she helped me see the time block that I had in my schedule each week that would allow me to focus on growth. Since our session, I was able to do a big product launch that I never would have considered in the past. I'm months ahead in content scheduling and have time now to create new products and services that are going to help me diversify. Thanks Amber!