"I have a successful Etsy shop... do I really need a website?"

It’s the question I get asked most by makers and crafters. While Etsy is fantastic for getting discovered, relying on it 100% means you are renting your business on land you don't own and therefore are subject to algorithm changes, fee hikes, and competitors advertising right on your listings.

In this episode, I break down the Etsy vs Shopify dilemma. We’ll look at why Etsy is the perfect starting line, but why Shopify is the necessary upgrade for long-term growth. I’ll cover how Shopify acts as your "extra employee" with built-in automation, better SEO, and wholesale management. Plus, I share my favorite strategy for using BOTH platforms together to get the best of both worlds.

🛒 Ready to stop renting your success?

Start your Shopify Trial here: https://shopify.pxf.io/4eQxXn

Get your free Hometown Health Check here: https://www.calibratedconcepts.com/freebies

💌 Grab the Hometown Business Health Check: https://www.calibratedconcepts.com/freebies

Welcome to 2026! After taking a month off to rest and reset, I’m back in the office with a major update. I just celebrated my 8th business anniversary, and looking back, my journey from VA to web designer to systems strategist has been anything but a straight line.

In this video, I’m getting honest about why I’m pivoting my business model for 2026. For years, I’ve been torn between my love for building websites and my passion for backend systems. The truth? Selling "systems" is hard, and most business owners just want results.

That’s why I’m officially combining them. I’m no longer just building websites; I’m building High-Performance Engines. Think of your website as a Digital Employee—it shouldn't just look pretty; it should be booking clients, sending contracts, and recovering lost sales while you sleep.

I also share why this shift is crucial for my life here in Pendleton, Oregon, and introduce my new Growth & Maps Membership designed to help local businesses dominate search results without lifting a finger.

Does your brain always feel full? If you're stuck in "chaos mode" and feel like you have no time to be the CEO, you're not failing — you just need a solid foundation.

In this video, I break down the three key systems that every small business owner needs to create a scaffolding for their work. We're not talking about rigid, robotic rules. We're talking about systems that create flexibility, clarity, and the space you need to finally work in your zone of genius.

I cover:

✔️ Client Relationship Management (CRM): How to create a kick-ass, professional client experience that runs on autopilot (and stop wondering, "Did I send that contract?").

✔️ Project Management: How to build a "home base for your business" so you can stop shuffling papers and know exactly what to work on every day.

✔️ Marketing Systems: A simple 3-part framework to help people find you, nurture them, and become clients.

To help you get started, I created a free resource: The Calm CEO Starter Pack. It includes a guided video workshop, a journaling tool to find your vision of simplicity, and a 25% discount on my toolkits.

► Grab your free Calm CEO Starter Pack here: https://www.calibratedconcepts.com/freebies

Thanks for watching! Don't forget to comment and let me know which of the three systems you're focusing on first.