Being an entrepreneur – you’re inherently taking a risk and betting on yourself to provide an income AND support the business growth. The “risk” of being an entrepreneur can be a lot mentally to take on. This is the #1 reason I see folks giving up on their businesses.

The way that you can mitigate that risk as much as possible is to make sustainable business decisions along the way.

While that risk will never go away, and you’ll always be growing in a way that stretches you (if you’re doing it right), there are some ways to feel more secure in your business and become sustainable.

Here are 3 questions to ask yourself to see if your business is sustainable and will support you for the long haul!

1: If you got run over by a bus, would your business still be OK?

From the get-go, you need to be making decisions that will allow flexibility in your business if something goes wrong in your life. Because… it will!

If you’re a solopreneur, this might look like:

• Building clauses into your contract to set up an expectation for what happens if and when you aren’t able to physically be there to do what you need to do in your business.
• Setting aside a certain percentage of revenue each month for a business emergency fund. When you have this you can pay yourself even when you need to take time off.
• Revamping your offers and your pricing to support your lifestyle even if you worked half the time you have available. This will support you in having the bandwidth to take the time off you need when you need it!

If you have a team supporting you, you’ll need to make sure that they are prepped if and when you need time off too. AND that they are supported when they need time off. This means:

• Setting up SOP’s
• Talking about sick time and vacation expectations up front so you know who covers what when things go down
• Doing practice runs to troubleshoot before you take extended time off (like for maternity leave)

2: Do I have a proven track record that shows that my business is sustainable?

Honestly, the feeling of being sustainable will take time. I usually feel like something is sustainable and something I can predict if it’s happened 3 times. This is actually a measurement that we build into all the milestones we support our students with as they scale to their sustainable 6-figures in their business!

I didn’t feel like $10k months were my baseline until it happened 3 times… Same with 6-figure years, and multi-6 figure years! Now – that’s all the norm and something that I feel is the baseline of sustainability in my business.

“Doing something 3 times allows you to know that it isn’t a fluke, and that whatever this is — 3 laptop free vacations with no client emergencies, or 3 years of reaching 6-figures, etc — is sustainable.”

Kelsey Kerslake

Something else that makes me feel sustainable? That I’ve proven I can handle really tough business situations. I’ve been through enough hard times to know that I’ll do whatever it takes to make it through. I’ve proven to myself that while it won’t be fun — I can make it work and bet on myself and the business to make it through to the other side.

3: Is the time and energy you’re spending in your business something you can see yourself sustaining 5 years from now?

You can’t hustle forever. You need time and space in your business so you can live the life you want. As an entrepreneur, it’s always going to be a fun blend, but overall, you should be enjoying your life in and outside of your business.

Does your business actually support the life you want to live with time, money, and energy? Making sure it does is key to long term sustainability!

The choices you make today add up and affect the life and business you’ll run in the future. If you’re not making sustainable decisions now, or don’t have a business model that is sustainable, you won’t last long!

So, is a sustainable 6-figure business something that you’re looking to have in your life to support the future you want (and deserve??)

I’m sharing exactly how you can make this happen in the next 12 months during a FREE training on Tuesday!

>> Click here to register for the free training!

I’ll be sharing sooo much in-depth info about exactly what it takes to make this happen in your business AND life. I’ll even break down in-depth examples of how you can make $30k months working 15h per week!

This might feel sooo out of reach to you right now, but I promise it’s closer than you think — you just have to go about it the right way. And, I’m showing you exactly how in this training!

>> Click here to register for the free training!

See you then!!

xo Kelsey

Blog post quickly written in 30 minutes? Posted.

Instagram stories pointing people to the link in my bio to book a call? Done.

Emails to past clients asking if they had any referrals for me? Sent!

It felt like I was throwing spaghetti at the wall hoping something stuck, every. single. day.

Over the years, I realized that there are SO many ways that work to generate leads, and you simply need the right strategy and platform that works for you to make this work over and over again.

Whether you’re an introvert like me (yes really!) or you LOVE being with people IRL and making friends that turn to clients, there is going to be a lead gen strategy that works for you when you are consistent with mastering it.

Here are the 5 ways you can generate leads for your online business:

1: Paid Ads

Paid ads are something that you can use to generate leads without spending a ton more time on your end. So many platforms offer this now too, you don’t have to rely on just Facebook and Instagram. You can try Google, TikTok, and even sponsorships on podcasts. You find what works best for you to put yourself in front of new ideal people without having to spend you time. This can get costly, but when you find the right strategy, it can propel you to crazy new revenue levels! When you’re getting into paid ads, make sure that you have an offer that has already been selling, and that you have the capacity in your business to take on the new clients that it can generate. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting money marketing an offer that hasn’t been validated, or you’ll have to turn down clients.

2: Relationship Marketing

Do you love making friends and meeting new people? Well good news – you can use that skill to generate leads! Relationship marketing is when you collaborate with people and share your business with their audiences in some way.

You can do a guest expert session for someone’s program, do a list swap, speak on stage, meeting people at a networking event, etc.

The goal here is to build a deeper and more genuine relationship with the people you are marketing to and collaborating with so that when people think about your industry – you’re the go-to person they think about or share with others!

This isn’t something that always works asap, but as you build relationships and actively ask for audience-sharing partnership things… it will naturally turn into clients over time!

3: Content Marketing

Love to share your expertise? Are you kind of an introvert? This might be the best lead gen for you!

Here you’re going to create content that will be found, liked, and shared by your ideal clients. There are so many platforms and ways to do this, but you’re either trying to get shared and in front of new people by creating content that is trendy and can go viral.

OR! You’re playing the long-game and focusing on SEO on different platforms and creating content that is the answer to what people are searching for. FYI, SEO is more than just google. Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube are search engines too! When you position your content as the answer to things that people are looking for, you will generate new leads over time that will seriously add up!

4: Affiliates and Referrals

Have friends or clients that love what you do and have had a great time working with you?

They’re going to be your best advocates! When you actively set up a referral fee and let your people know about this, you can generate leads over time with more ideal clients. Setting up an affiliate program could be another great way to generate more leads by having your affiliates actively share about your offers.

You’ll have to set up some material to give to them and continually work with them to share about the offers or specials you have going on. If your ideal clients have an audience of more ideal clients, this can be a great way to generate leads!
5: Outreach

Ahhhh the dreaded cold DM  This is a strategy that you can use (with consent along the way) to generate leads when you have more time than money and are looking to do something proactive to generate leads.

Outreach doesn’t always have to be cold either — you can reach out to past clients, friends of friends, and other people that you’ve been in chats with to see if they are in a place where your offers could support them.

When done supportively, outreach is an amazing way to generate leads where you have a lot of control over the process. Other ways of lead gen can take some time or some serious upfront funds to get going — this one only requires YOUR EFFORT, so it’s a great one to master when you’re looking to make some big impact quickly!

So — which feels like the one you’d like to master? Send me a DM on Instagram

Hope you’re having an amazing day, and I can’t wait to hear from you about your lead gen!

xo Kelsey

How do I make MY online business stand out from the crowd? 

You have a passion and vision that can truly help people. 

You are working on building up your business to be sustainable for you and your clients. 

You are turning your dreams into reality. 

But you are not the only one. There are other designers, photographers, coaches, virtual assistants – the list of online business providers is endless- out there who have similar ideas and passions to you. No matter what industry you are in, you will face competition. The great news? Competition is a good sign that your idea is good and there are clients who need the service you offer! So, how do you stand out from that competition? 

Through your Core Values.

Core Values are the foundation of your business. Sure, there are other businesses out there who offer similar services to you but the things that are super important to you, are shown in every piece of work, and are the bedrock of your business? Those are the values that make you unique and attract your ideal clients. 

These core values should be in everything that you do. From building your website, to marketing efforts, and in every conversation you have about your services, your core values should be the central focus. Sharing the ‘whys’ gives people a way to connect with you and understand the guiding principles you have set for how you do business. You can use them in your marketing, content creation, and in every decision you make for the direction of your business. Your values need to be in your central messaging because that is how you attract clients who align with your values. 

So, what are your core values?

If you haven’t taken the time to write them out – or even decide what they are – now is the time! Brainstorm what is important to you and what makes you different from other people in your industry. Take the time to write out 3 values that align with who you are as a person and what you want your business to represent. Write them down somewhere you can see them everyday as a reminder to yourself and start sharing them with the world!

Need support defining your core values and aligning them in your business practices? Learn more about the Aligned Business Academy Here!

Pinegate Road Podcast Episode 97

Aline Hoss helps entrepreneurs create and launch websites and online courses in Squarespace and Kajabi. Her number one passion is to help overworked and burnout entrepreneurs create personal and financial freedom so they can do more of what they love with the people they adore – all with the power of launches!

Aline is also a superstar entrepreneur and mom, and she joins me today to talk about how she was able to accomplish starting and scaling a business while raising a toddler at the same time (without childcare!) and what prompted her to leave her senior corporate job and forge her own path after maternity leave. We also dive into the many ways that Aline helps others create their course so they can build an audience, why it’s not true that you have to have an audience in place before launching your course, and talk about how Aline tapped into the power of delegation to scale her business. She is a perfect example of taking imperfect action before you’re ready, and I’m excited to share her story with you!

Topics we cover:

• How Aline got started in online business.
• The catalyst for Aline’s passion for course creation.
• How Aline scaled her business. 
• How she leveraged delegation to scale her business.
• How Aline helps course creators strategize, launch, and monetize their product.
• What is next for Aline!

Tweet it!

Life will never settle down until you choose and take action to get where you want to go. – Kelsey Kerslake @pinegateroad

If I had not made the investment back then, I would not have the business I have today. – Aline Hoss @pinegateroad

It’s totally ok to just outsource what doesn’t bring that joy. – Aline Hoss @pinegateroad

It’s one month working with me, but then you have an asset that you can sell over and over. – Aline Hoss @pinegateroad

I love everything I am doing and I love the clients I have right now. – Aline Hoss @pinegateroad

If you want it bad enough, you can do it. – Aline Hoss @pinegateroad

Podcast Links:

• – Digital Course Academy

Connect with Aline:

• Website
• Pinterest
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Book a Discovery Call

Connect with Kelsey:

• Instagram

Connect with Pinegate Road:

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Are you interested in becoming a client? Get in touch about working with Pinegate Road to build your brand foundation!
• Calling First Year Business Owners? Click to learn more about First Steps to Freelance: Crafting your Plan to Wild Success

Pinegate Road Podcast Episode 96

Brittney Lynn is the founder and CEO of The Human Connection Agency, a PR agency that serves purpose-driven entrepreneurs worldwide. She’s also the host of The Human Connection podcast where she dives deep into the topic of how entrepreneurs and small business owners can be better at building real, authentic relationships with their audience. She has over 10 years of experience working in the online marketing industry and has a passion for helping others grow their reach, revenue, and impact through strategic PR.

Brittney is also a really good friend of mine, and she joins me today to talk about why she and her husband decided to sell everything, build a van, and travel the country. We also dive into the specifics of getting your business set up (think health insurance!), the weirdness of entrepreneurship, and how to push through your fear to make all of your big, wild dreams happen. I have no doubt that you will be inspired by this episode, so get comfy and listen in!

Topics we cover:

• What prompted Brittney to sell everything and travel the country.
• How Brittney and her husband made the leap to van life.
• How she worked out health insurance as an entrepreneur.
• What it was like building out her van (and home).

Tweet it!

The least risk adverse thing is to be an entrepreneur because you know that you can create something and sell something and you don’t have to rely on somebody else to give you the job. – Brittney Lynn @pinegateroad


We were willing to pay more for our health insurance to have the freedom that we could do whatever we want. – Brittney Lynn @pinegateroad

We are trying to have no ego in this. – Brittney Lynn @pinegateroad

If you want to make it work, you can do it. – Brittney Lynn @pinegateroad


We’ll know, intuition-wise, when we’re not supposed to be doing it anymore. – Brittney Lynn @pinegateroad

Podcast Links:

• Life with the Lynns on Instagram
• Life with the Lynns on YouTube

Connect with Brittney:

• Website
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Podcast
• Free Pitch Templates

Connect with Kelsey:

• Instagram

Connect with Pinegate Road:

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Are you interested in becoming a client? Get in touch about working with Pinegate Road to build your brand foundation!
• Calling First Year Business Owners? Click to learn more about First Steps to Freelance: Crafting your Plan to Wild Success

Pinegate Road Podcast Episode 95

Bria is a Human Design Expert and Business Alignment Mentor.  She helps rising leaders elevate their success while trading stress, overwhelm, and burnout for joy, ease, and flow. She has an intimate understanding of how each individual’s energy is designed to thrive, and she empowers her clients to make aligned decisions, leverage their energetic gifts, and (finally) leave the hustle behind.

In this episode, we are demystifying all things Human Design, including what it is if you’ve never heard of it before, what the different types are, and how you can use it as a tool to live an aligned life (and business). If you’re kind of into the woo, or really into the woo, this is an episode that is going to be really fun for you!

Topics we cover:

• What Human Design is.
• How you can use Human Design as a tool in life and business.
• What the five types are that make up Human Design.
• How to find out what type you are.
• How emotions play into Human Design.
• How to dive deep into Human Design (beyond just your type!)

Tweet it!

It’s important for us to understand what is most natural to us. – Bria Lear @pinegateroad

There’s a difference between being out of alignment and resistance because it’s something new. – Bria Lear @pinegateroad

The heart centre is one of the most interesting centres in the entire body graph. – Bria Lear @pinegateroad

How can I lift other people along this journey and pave the way? – Bria Lear @pinegateroad

Human Design allows people to accept who they are and accept who other people are, and embrace our gifts and our differences. – Bria Lear @pinegateroad

You’re never free until you’re being who you really are. – Bria Lear @pinegateroad

Podcast Links:

• MyBodyGraph.com
• Genetic Matrix

Connect with Bria:

• Instagram
• Freebies and Work With Bria

Connect with Kelsey:

• Instagram

Connect with Pinegate Road:

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Are you interested in becoming a client? Get in touch about working with Pinegate Road to build your brand foundation!
• Calling First Year Business Owners? Click to learn more about First Steps to Freelance: Crafting your Plan to Wild Success

Pinegate Road Podcast Episode 94

Lucy Liu is a global business strategist and certified life coach helping high achieving women in life transitions unstuck, kiss overwhelm bye, cultivate rockstar confidence, see clarity, reach dream goals, and live a joyful fulfilling life!

She is an unshakable optimist, wife, mother, easy-going entrepreneur, certified #IamRemarkable women empowerment workshop facilitator, and international motivational speaker. She also inspires as the host of her weekly podcast The Lucy Liu Show, which is the fueling station for your mind, business and life.

You may also have noticed that she shares the same name as another famous Lucy, and in this episode we talk about what it’s like to grow up and claim a famous name for your own, the mindset shift that completely changed her life, and how what could have been a barrier has actually become a joy.

Lucy also shares how she shifted from living a life that left her feeling unhappy and unfulfilled to a life that is truly aligned and fulfilling, the journey that she took to get there, and we dive into all of the mindset stuff that we deal with as entrepreneurs – including how to break through those limiting beliefs we all have!

Topics we cover:

• Lucy’s journey to a truly aligned life.
• How Lucy got into coaching.
• What is next for Lucy in her life and career.
• The first step to getting started on the journey to an aligned life.

Tweet it!

We don’t want to just survive, we want to live a thriving life. – Lucy Liu @pinegateroad

I made really big bold moves in my life to live a fully aligned life. – Lucy Liu @pinegateroad

You are the soul of your business. – Lucy Liu @pinegateroad

Circumstances are always neutral. You get to decide whether those circumstances will rigger your negative thoughts or your positive thoughts. – Lucy Liu @pinegateroad

Mindset is a moment to moment shift. – Lucy Liu @pinegateroad

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. – Lucy Liu @pinegateroad

Connect with Lucy:

• Website
• Podcast
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Freebies
• #IAmRemarkable Workshop

Connect with Kelsey:

• Instagram

Connect with Pinegate Road:

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Are you interested in becoming a client? Get in touch about working with Pinegate Road to build your brand foundation!
• Calling First Year Business Owners? Click to learn more about First Steps to Freelance: Crafting your Plan to Wild Success

The Aligned Business Podcast · Episode 93: Grow a 6-Figure Audience with Michelle Vroom

Pinegate Road Podcast Episode 93

Michelle Vroom has made half a million dollars from her Facebook group…and counting. So when she says she knows how to grow an audience that makes you 6-figures, she means it! 

With a 15-year background in marketing and public relations, she has the skills and knowledge to help other entrepreneurs get to 6-figures in their business. She has a no-nonsense, tough love approach that helps her clients get results FAST and gives them the freedom and security to live life on their terms.

In this episode, we’re diving into so many goodies: the importance of being honest about the mindset challenges that go along with entrepreneurship (no matter what stage you’re at!), why it’s ok to not know everything about your ideal client all the time, and some of the reasons why you might not be attracting high-ticket clients.

We’re also talking about the dark side of success and the narratives that we tell ourselves that are so often NOT talked about when you’re scaling your business, and Michelle shares why she is so passionate about helping women cultivate a thriving and engaged audience.

Topics we cover:

• Why it’s important to analyze your success.
• Where your focus should be before the $50k revenue mark.
• Why it’s ok to not know everything about your ideal client.
• Where you can find – and how you can attract – high-ticket clients.
• Why you might not be attracting high-ticket clients.

Tweet it!

I truly believe that every single woman in business should be able to make money whenever she wants. – Michelle Vroom @pinegateroad

We are always learning about our people. – Michelle Vroom @pinegateroad

I don’t think you can truly break what you’ve built. – Michelle Vroom @pinegateroad

Success leaves clues. – Michelle Vroom @pinegateroad

We have to look at the unprecedented opportunity we have to reach people in this day and age. – Michelle Vroom @pinegateroad

Confidence builds each time you take action. – Michelle Vroom @pinegateroad

How many people are actually marketing in a way that brings them joy? – Michelle Vroom @pinegateroad

Connect with Michelle:

• Website
• Podcast
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Market Like a Boss: Female Entrepreneurs Growing to 6-Figures Facebook Group
• Your First 100

Connect with Kelsey:

• Instagram

Connect with Pinegate Road:

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Are you interested in becoming a client? Get in touch about working with Pinegate Road to build your brand foundation!
• Calling First Year Business Owners? Click to learn more about First Steps to Freelance: Crafting your Plan to Wild Success

Pinegate Road Podcast Episode 92

You have probably heard of a birth plan, but what about a postpartum plan?

The postpartum period can be intense, and it’s often a time that is overlooked when it comes to preparing for a new addition to a family – especially for busy entrepreneurs.

Liz Winters (she/her) is a chocolate-loving nutritionist, pre & postnatal coach, doula, mom, and birth nerd. She is the founder of the online education and lifestyle brand, Liz Winters Wellness, and lives in Oregon with her 3 dogs, 2 cats, amazing partner and kiddos.

She helps career-driven millennial parents cut through the BS of mommy-marketing and pinterest perfection so they can have an empowered and healthy pregnancy and postpartum experience and build a life they actually love.

We’re chatting all about thriving in the fourth trimester, balancing entrepreneurship and parenthood, and how to wrap your head around being a business-driven person AND a parent – all at the same time. 

Topics we cover:

• The importance of having the right support system available in the postpartum and planning for all the scenarios.
• The shifts that are needed to accommodate entrepreneurship and parenthood.
• How to plan for your postpartum journey.
• How to get comfortable asking for help.
• The importance of checking in with your partner after a baby.

Tweet it!

If you haven’t gone through it before it’s really hard to anticipate what it might be like. – Liz Winters @pinegateroad

There was a lot of pressure to just show up perfectly. – Liz Winters @pinegateroad


It’s both a blessing and curse of having this flexible lifestyle. – Liz Winters @pinegateroad

No matter how much planning you do, there will always be the unknowns. – Liz Winters @pinegateroad

Turn a meal train into a chore train. – Liz Winters @pinegateroad

Connect with Liz:

• Website
• The Badass Birthers Club
• Instagram
• TikTok

Connect with Kelsey:

• Instagram

Connect with Pinegate Road:

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Are you interested in becoming a client? Get in touch about working with Pinegate Road to build your brand foundation!
• Calling First Year Business Owners? Click to learn more about First Steps to Freelance: Crafting your Plan to Wild Success

Pinegate Road Podcast Episode 91

Alyssa Houseknecht is the CEO and Creative Director of Lyss House Creative,  where she helps influential entrepreneurs design confident brands using her 5-step framework that incorporates brand strategy, design, and mindset. She is also one of the very first Aligned Business Academy students and has been featured on numerous global summits and top-rated podcasts. 

Listen in as Alyssa shares her story from the corporate world at a successful multi-million dollar company in New York, to spinning her wheels at freelancing, to finding the Aligned Business Academy and jumping into the CEO role. We talk about the importance of embracing the future version of yourself, how COVID was in many ways a blessing, and Alyssa details the tangible things that really helped her step into her power as a business owner. 

Topics we cover:

• How being let go from a corporate job opened up the world to Alyssa.
• One of the most vulnerable and pivotal moments of Alyssa’s entrepreneurial journey.
• Why Alyssa decided to join the Aligned Business Academy.
• The mindset shifts Alyssa made to make her business happen.
• The importance of breaking the cycle of the “hustle” mentality.
• The one thing that has made all the difference in Alyssa’s business journey.

Tweet it!

I was living on other people’s timelines and agendas and schedules. – Alyssa Houseknecht @pinegateroad

All of the dreams I had had the word “some day” in them. I had a wake up call: when is someday? – Alyssa Houseknecht @pinegateroad

I realized I could start living the life I wanted right now. – Alyssa Houseknecht @pinegateroad

Something that is going to be aligned for somebody else might not be aligned for you, and that’s ok. – Alyssa Houseknecht @pinegateroad

We’re all people, we’re all messy. – Alyssa Houseknecht @pinegateroad

COVID allowed me to end business relationships that weren’t working for me. – Alyssa Houseknecht @pinegateroad

Our definition of our dream life is our own. – Alyssa Houseknecht @pinegateroad

Podcast Links:

• Grab the Confident Brand Workbook

Connect with Alyssa:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

Connect with Kelsey:

• Instagram

Connect with Pinegate Road:

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Are you interested in becoming a client? Get in touch about working with Pinegate Road to build your brand foundation!
• Calling First Year Business Owners? Click to learn more about First Steps to Freelance: Crafting your Plan to Wild Success