We’ve all been taught that business is a battlefield, that someone else’s win means our loss. But that rule was never written for us. In this episode, I’m tearing down the competition rule and replacing it with something far stronger: collaboration, connection, and community.

I’ll share how choosing collaboration vs competition has shaped every part of my work, from running a wine bar and coffee shop to building a coaching practice rooted in generosity. You’ll hear how an abundant mindset creates more growth, more opportunity, and more real relationships. Because when women shift from competition to collaboration, we create space for being abundant and building something that lasts.

When women collaborate instead of competing, we grow stronger together. That’s how we build businesses that are both value-driven and sustainable. These are the kinds of business sustainability strategies that don’t just make money once; they build long-term trust, impact, and freedom.

Inside this episode:

• The mindset shift from scarcity to being abundant in life and business

• How to create partnerships rooted in trust and business confidence

• Why collaboration vs competition changes everything about your growth strategy

• Real-world business sustainability strategies that balance profit and purpose

• The power of building value-driven relationships that expand your reach

If you’re ready to stop competing for crumbs and start creating real success together, this episode will remind you that true business confidence comes from community, not comparison.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Blog Post: Rule 5: The Competition Rule — And How to Build a Better Sisterhood

The Grove

Female Founders Collective Meetups - Join us for FREE!

CONNECT WITH KATY RIPP:

Website: www.katyripp.com

Instagram: @katyripp

Pinterest: @katyripp

Facebook: @katy.ripp

Join my newsletter - where I flip the script on Mondays - transforming dread into momentum by setting clear, values-driven intentions for the week.

For decades, women have been told to stay polished, professional, and detached in order to be taken seriously. But the truth is, that old keep it impersonal rule never really served us. The new rules for women in business are about authentic leadership, connection, and humanity.

In this episode, I share lessons from building multiple brick-and-mortar businesses and how I discovered that workplace culture is one of the biggest game-changers in business. I’ll show you why building a positive workplace culture starts with leading as your real self, not a polished version of you. Because when you lean into your quirks, humor, and lived experiences, you not only strengthen your team but also prove exactly why culture is important in business.

Inside this episode:

• Why the keep it impersonal rule is outdated and ineffective
• How my approach to authentic leadership transformed my wine bar and coffee shop teams into true communities
• The surprising ways employees want to feel valued beyond money
• Why personal stories like burnout, motherhood, or failure are assets when building a positive workplace culture
• How to apply the new rules for women in business as a midlife woman entrepreneur leading with authenticity
• Why embracing imperfection proves that workplace culture and humanity go hand in hand

If you’re a midlife woman entrepreneur ready to stop sanding down your edges and start leaning into authentic leadership, this episode will give you the encouragement and strategies you need. Forget perfection – focus on building a positive workplace culture that lasts, because it’s the clearest example of why culture is important in business.

👉 If this episode hit home, you’ll love The Grove – my monthly membership where midlife woman entrepreneurs gather to rewrite the old rules of business together. From money to mindset to workplace culture, we normalize the conversations most people keep impersonal.

Or, if you’re looking for a weekly dose of strategy and real talk, hop on my newsletter for no-fluff insights to help you build the business you actually want.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Grove

Female Founders Collective Meetups - Join us for FREE!

CONNECT WITH KATY RIPP:

Website: www.katyripp.com

Instagram: @katyripp

Pinterest: @katyripp

Facebook: @katy.ripp

Join my newsletter - where I flip the script on Mondays - transforming dread into momentum by setting clear, values-driven intentions for the week.

We’ve all heard it: polite people don’t talk about money. But for women - and especially for the female business owner - that rule has fueled decades of money shame and silence. In this episode, I’m breaking the “don’t talk about money” rule wide open.

I share my own story of debt, secrecy, and money shaming, and why facing the truth out loud changed everything. Then, I’ll walk you through how female business owners can flip the script - moving from money shame and silence into power, freedom, and choice.

Inside this episode:

• Why women are taught to don’t talk about money and how that leads to money shame
• How I learned to stop hiding debt and start answering “what do you charge” without apology
• Sneaky ways money shaming shows up in your business as a female business owner
• Why saying your rates confidently (and not discounting) shifts your relationship with money
• Practical steps to turn money shame into self-care and growth

If you’ve ever wondered how to answer “what do you charge” or felt the sting of money shaming, this is your reminder: you’re allowed to want more, and you don’t have to stay silent.

👉 Come join me inside The Grove where we host monthly money meetings to normalize these conversations. Or hop on my newsletter for weekly no-fluff strategies to build the business you actually want.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Blog Post: The Don’t Talk About Money Rule – and How to Claim Your Worth Out Loud

The Grove

Female Founders Collective Meetups - Join us for FREE!

CONNECT WITH KATY RIPP:

Website: www.katyripp.com

Instagram: @katyripp

Pinterest: @katyripp

Facebook: @katy.ripp

Join my newsletter - where I flip the script on Mondays - transforming dread into momentum by setting clear, values-driven intentions for the week.

Are you tired of playing small in your business?

In this episode, I open up about how the “play small rule” has kept women like us stuck for decades - and how we can finally stop playing small, start overcoming self doubt, and stop apologizing for taking up space in our lives and businesses.

For years, I thought being agreeable and shrinking myself made me safe and likable. But the truth? It only kept me invisible, underpaid, and playing small.

If you’ve ever caught yourself apologizing before you even speak, calling your business “just a side hustle,” or playing small because you don’t want to seem “too much,” this one is for you.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Why playing small feels safe - but secretly keeps you stuck in fear and invisibility.
• The turning point when I realized I had to stop playing small, even if it meant losing people along the way.
• The subtle ways women apologize, shrink, and self-sabotage without realizing it - and how to finally stop apologizing.
• What it actually looks like when we start overcoming self doubt and step into the space your gifts were meant to take up.
• How rewriting this rule doesn’t mean steamrolling every room - it means showing up fully and unapologetically as yourself.

This week’s challenge for you: Find one area where you’ve been playing small. Maybe it’s the way you talk about money. Maybe it’s how you describe what you do. Maybe it’s holding back from sharing a win. Wherever you notice yourself shrinking - do the opposite. Say the thing. Claim the win. Send the pitch. Raise the price.

Then DM me on Instagram: @katyripp and tell me how it goes. I’d love to hear where you’re stepping out of the box.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Grove

Female Founders Collective Meetups - Join us for FREE!

Blog post: Rule 2: The Play Small Rule – and How We’re Breaking Out of the Box

Join my newsletter - where I flip the script on Mondays - transforming dread into momentum by setting clear, values-driven intentions for the week.

CONNECT WITH KATY RIPP:

Website: www.katyripp.com

Instagram: @katyripp

Pinterest: @katyripp

Facebook: @katy.ripp

What if I told you that hustle culture is actually keeping you from the very success you’re chasing?

We’ve been told that burning the midnight oil, sacrificing rest, and saying yes to everything is what it takes to “make it” in business. But in reality, that’s just toxic hustle culture talking - and it’s stealing your joy, your health, and your freedom.

In this episode, I’m sharing my personal story of how the “grind or die” rule shaped my identity as a business owner, why it doesn’t work (especially for women), and how I finally started working with my personal energy instead of against it. This isn’t about doing more, it’s about honoring your cycles, protecting your energy in business, and building something that feels like true sustainable work - not survival.

Here’s what you’ll hear inside this episode:

• Why hustle culture taught us to wear overwork like a badge - and the moment I realized I had just bought myself another job instead of building freedom.
• The hidden ways toxic hustle culture shows up in women-run businesses, and why it was never designed for us in the first place.
• How ignoring your personal energy leads to burnout, resentment, and exhaustion - and why tuning into your natural rhythms can change everything.
• A new rule for how to manage your energy in business daily, weekly, and even seasonally - so you stop forcing productivity and start creating flow.
• Practical shifts that turn constant grind into truly sustainable work, giving you back time, joy, and permission to actually rest.
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This episode is your reminder that you don’t have to prove yourself by running on empty. You can succeed by respecting your humanity, honoring your cycles, and letting your personal energy be the guide for how you show up in business.

This week’s reflection: What’s one new way you can work or rest to honor your personal energy in business this week? DM me on Instagram @katyripp and tell me.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Blog Post: Rule 1: The Grind or Die Rule – and Why We’re Quitting the Game

The Grove

Female Founders Collective Meetups - Join us for FREE!

CONNECT WITH KATY RIPP:

Website: www.katyripp.com

Instagram: @katyripp

Pinterest: @katyripp

Facebook: @katy.ripp

You know it as well as I do: hustle culture is toxic.

We’ve been told that if we just work harder, say yes to everything, and keep it “professional,” that’s how to build a business that lasts. But here’s the truth - I followed all those rules, and it left me exhausted, disconnected, and wondering if the problem was me. Spoiler: it wasn’t. The problem was the old playbook that was never designed for women run businesses.

In this week’s kickoff to Season 2 of #ActuallyICan, I’m breaking down exactly why the old rules don’t fit anymore and what it looks like to finally throw them out. If you’re ready to redefining success, stop playing small, and learn how to build a business on your own terms, this episode is going to feel like a breath of fresh air.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The surprising origin of the “rules” we’ve been taught to follow in business - and why hustle culture is toxic when applied to women balancing creativity, caregiving, and leadership
• The moment I realized checking every box of the old playbook wasn’t how to build a business that felt fulfilling - and what I did instead
• Why trying to please everyone actually dulls your spark and keeps you from creating the women run business you’ve been dreaming of
• The sneaky rules you might still be carrying (like don’t talk about money, grind harder, or keep it shiny) and how they hold you back from truly redefining success
• What this new season is all about: supporting you to build your business in a way that finally feels like it was written for you

Now I want to hear from you: What outdated rule are YOU done following? Send me a DM on Instagram @katyripp and tell me, “Katy, the rule I’m ditching is…”

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Grove

Female Founders Collective Meetups - Join us for FREE!

Blog Post: Why the Old Playbook Doesn’t Work for Us

CONNECT WITH KATY RIPP:

Website: www.katyripp.com

Instagram: @katyripp

Pinterest: @katyripp

Facebook: @katy.ripp

Are you running your business like you still have a boss?

If you’re still clinging to a rigid 9-to-5 mindset, it’s time to break free. In this episode, I’m sharing flexible work schedule examples that can help you avoid entrepreneurial burnout and create real time freedom.

We’ll dig into why traditional time management for entrepreneurs can feel so exhausting, and how redefining your work rhythm can transform not just your business, but your entire life.

If you’ve been feeling the pull for more boundaries in business, less guilt, and a business that actually fits your lifestyle, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• The surprising history behind the 9-to-5 workday (and why it’s failing entrepreneurs who are craving time freedom)
• How to find your “prime brain time” and build a custom schedule that maximizes your creativity and focus (flexible work schedule examples you can try this week)
• Why time freedom isn’t just about working less, but working smarter – and why that’s key to avoiding entrepreneurial burnout
• The truth about boundaries in business – how to set them, enforce them, and stop apologizing for them
• Why time management for entrepreneurs is more about energy than hours, and how to track your natural work rhythms for better results

What is one “guilt-inducing” habit you secretly enjoy as an entrepreneur? (Naps in the middle of the day? Cutting out early for a long walk? Turning off your phone for hours at a time?) DM me on Instagram @katyripp and let me know. I’d love to hear it!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Do Not Disturb Sign

Actually, We Can Community

Female Founders Collective

CONNECT WITH KATY RIPP:

Website: www.katyripp.com

Instagram: @katyripp

Pinterest: @katyripp

Facebook: @katy.ripp

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I manifest?” or wondered whether the Law of Attraction is just a little too woo-woo to work in the real world, this episode is for you.

Whether you’re manifesting parking spots, more clients, or your next big career move, I’m breaking down the real, practical steps you need to know.

These are the manifestation examples and stories that have helped me build businesses, hit big goals, and create the life I truly want. If you’re ready to learn how to manifest what you want, hit play.

Note: This is a special rerelease of one of my all-time favorite episodes. I’m revisiting it because the response was so strong, and I know you’ll find something new in it even if you’ve heard it before.

In this episode, I’m covering:

• How to manifest what you want – why defining your desires clearly can be the difference between daydreaming and actual results.
• Manifestation examples – the surprising way I used the Law of Attraction to score front-row parking spots (and how this small habit set the stage for bigger wins).
• How to manifest success – what it really takes to stay in the right energy, even when doubt creeps in.
• How do I manifest if I have self-doubt? – the mindset shifts that helped me move from skepticism to manifesting big outcomes.
• How to trust the process – why letting go of control and practicing gratitude is non-negotiable if you want your dreams to actually show up.

Your turn: What’s one thing you’re ready to manifest in your business this month? DM me on Instagram: @katyripp and let me know. I’d love to cheer you on!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Actually, We Can Community

Female Founders Collective

Midlife on Purpose: Workbook

The Secret

CONNECT WITH KATY RIPP:

Website: www.katyripp.com

Instagram: @katyripp

Pinterest: @katyripp

Facebook: @katy.ripp