Susan sits down with leadership and culture consultant Melissa Carson to tackle a challenge so many entrepreneurs face: digital tool sprawl.

Together, they unpack the overwhelm caused by scattered systems and explore how creating a single source of truth—your personal data warehouse—can unlock mental clarity and free up energy for more meaningful work.

Melissa shares her struggles with multiple overlapping tools (Google, Microsoft, Airtable, and more) and the mental load of duplicated content workflows. Susan guides her through the process of consolidating tools, designing for ease, and building a system that actually supports her business rather than drains it.

Whether you’re drowning in Google Docs, lost in Notion, or stuck juggling endless spreadsheets, this episode offers a roadmap to a calmer, more intentional business setup.

What You’ll Learn

• How a “personal data warehouse” can transform your content and client operations
• Why choosing the right tool isn’t about features, but about how it feels and supports your brain
• The power of building a single source of truth to reduce decision fatigue
• How to leverage automation to reclaim time and mental energy
• Practical first steps to start consolidating and simplify your systems

Learn More About Melissa

• Canopy Strategies Website
• Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn

Learn More About Susan

• Beyond Margins website
• Connect on LinkedIn

• (00:00) - The Power of a Centralized Digital Brain
• (01:51) - Meet Melissa Carson: A Case Study in Digital Overwhelm
• (02:30) - Diagnosing the Bottlenecks: Tools and Redundancies
• (04:37) - Strategies for Building a Personal Data Warehouse
• (21:37) - Consolidation and Efficiency: Steps to a Calmer Business

• Find out more about Calmer Brain by grabbing a copy of the Beyond Margins Services Guide
• Apply to be a guest on a future live diagnosis episode of Calm is the New KPI

This episode is part 2 of a 2-part conversation with Joe Casabona, a systems architect for solopreneurs and a self-described automation geek. You can catch part 1 over on the Streamlined Solopreneur feed here

What if the difference between a chaotic, scope-creeping project and one delivered calmly, on time, and on budget wasn’t just better estimating - but a totally different approach?

Joe shares how he used "vibe coding" - collaborating with AI as a coding partner - to rescue a complex nonprofit website project from spiraling out of control. You’ll hear how he navigated unexpected technical requirements, avoided burning weekends, and delivered a solution that protected both his business and his mental health.

This isn’t about working faster. It’s about designing a system that supports calm, margin, and intentional business choices.

What You’ll Learn

• How "vibe coding" can help consultants keep projects on track without endless late nights
• The importance of deeply understanding client needs (and what happens when you don’t)
• Why AI is a better "rubber duck" than a magic wand
• How to approach AI as a partner rather than a replacement
• Practical ways to use AI to reinforce your business values and protect your time

Learn More About Joe

• Joe Casabona’s website
• Streamlined Solopreneur podcast

Learn More About Susan

• Beyond Margins website
• Connect on LinkedIn

• Find out more about Calmer Brain by grabbing a copy of the Beyond Margins Services Guide
• Apply to be a guest on a future live diagnosis episode of Calm is the New KPI

What if the reason you're stuck isn't mindset—or even procrastination? What if you're just solving the wrong problem?

In this episode, I’m talking with Cat Mulvihill, creator of the Momentum Framework—a diagnostic tool that helps you figure out exactly why you’re stalled out in your business and what to do about it. Whether the block is a skills gap, an energy mismatch, or a lurking fear, Cat’s approach helps you pinpoint the true cause so you can move forward without forcing it.

We explore why momentum doesn’t need to be forced—and how understanding your method, mode, and mindset can make everything feel a whole lot easier.

What You’ll Learn:

• The three core bottlenecks that block momentum—and how to diagnose them
• Why systems that work with your brain create more sustainable progress
• The surprising downside of perfectionism and "Cadillac" tools
• How fear masquerades as procrastination (and how to call it out)
• Practical examples for redesigning your systems to match your energy and context

Learn More About Cat:
Website
Follow Cat on LinkedIn
The Momentum Formula

More from Susan:
Follow Susan on LinkedIn
💌 Get weekly calm business insights at beyondmargins.com/newsletter
🛠 Explore services: beyondmargins.com

• Find out more about Calmer Brain by grabbing a copy of the Beyond Margins Services Guide
• Apply to be a guest on a future live diagnosis episode of Calm is the New KPI