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289 episodes

Why Your Client Experience Is Costing You Money with Emily Mathis
19/2/2026 | 55 mins.
If your clients are quietly disappearing, not giving testimonials, or not buying again, there is a deeply rooted problem we need to address. In this episode, I sit down with Emily Mathis to talk about outsourcing, but not in the way you think. We didn’t talk about hiring editors, VAs, or handing off social media. We talked about the outsourcing you’re probably ignoring: your client experience.
Emily hasn’t outsourced much in her own business, and that’s exactly what makes her perspective powerful. Instead of defaulting to hiring help, she focuses on tightening the backend, improving delivery, and fixing what most business owners ignore: the messy middle.
If you’re always chasing new leads but ignoring the people already inside your container, this conversation might change how you grow your business.
Mentioned in this Episode
Breanna Owen: owenyourmark.com
Episode 256 with Breanna Owen: coliejames.com/using-human-design-to-transform-your-business-strategy-with-breanna-owen
Episode 224 with Ashton Whitmoyer-Ober: coliejames.com/how-the-enneagram-can-supercharge-your-self-awareness-with-ashton-whitmoyer-ober
Systems in Session: coliejames.com/systems-in-session
Connect with Emily
Website: emilymathis.co
Instagram: instagram.com/emilymathis.co
Build It Yourself and Own It Forever: Confidence in Your CRM with David Enloe
12/2/2026 | 36 mins.
When you're empowered to build your own process and be part of it, everything in your systems can change. While there is always the option to outsource your brain or hand your systems to someone else, it's even more valuable to learn how your systems actually work, build them with intention, and have the confidence to evolve them as your business grows.
In today's episode, I'm joined by David Enloe to chat through his experience inside of Systems in Session, the program that (as he puts it) empowers you to build your own process and be a part of it. We talk through how one conversation turned a vague idea into a structured offer, how David’s HoneyBook setup evolved, and why confidence is what most creatives really need.
Find It Quickly
01:05 - The Origin Story of Systems in Session
05:19 - Why Now? Timing the Workflow Overhaul
06:52 - Confidence Over Automation
08:17 - The Power of Strategic Prep Work
10:44 - Rebuilding After HoneyBook 2.0
12:59 - From Beta Build to Assistant Onboarding
18:20 - Should You Include Your Virtual Assistant?
21:31 - What Changed in David’s Business
24:48 - Evolving the Client Journey
26:58 - How the Program Has Changed Since
32:22 - Final Advice from David
34:55 - The 3 R’s: Reviews, Referrals, Repeat Clients

Mentioned in this Episode
Systems in Session: coliejames.com/systems-in-session
Episode 241: Systems in Session ft. Erin Belles: coliejames.com/done-with-you-dubsado-setup-case-study

Connect with David
Website: theenloecreative.com
Why Done-With-You Systems are a Game-Changer with Emily Sterne
06/2/2026 | 41 mins.
When I sent out a “why didn’t you buy?” survey after a slow launch, I didn’t expect one of those responses to turn into one of my favorite transformation stories. That’s exactly what happened with Emily Sterne, a long-time DIYer who needed guidance, but also didn’t want someone to do it all for her either.
What she really needed was a middle ground that offered support, accountability, and someone to walk alongside her. That’s what she found inside Systems in Session with me. Done-with-you gave her the clarity and confidence she was missing without giving up control.
284
Find It Quickly
01:02 - Meet Emily
04:52 - The Myth of Outsourcing
09:20 - Emily’s Systems Before Systems in Session
11:39 - Transition to HoneyBook
13:05 - What Emily Had Already Built (and What Was Missing)
14:10 - Pricing Comes First
18:42 - The True Outcome of Systems In Session
23:32 - 12 Sessions Booked While Moving
27:24 - Trusting Automations
29:35 - Systems Aren’t Set & Forget
Mentioned in this Episode
Systems in Session: coliejames.com/systems-in-session
Episode 241: Systems in Session ft. Erin Belles: coliejames.com/done-with-you-dubsado-setup-case-study
Why Pretty Proposals Close Sales Faster (But Yours Aren't Working)
04/2/2026 | 9 mins.
If you’ve ever thought, “If my proposal just looked better, this would be easier,” you’re not wrong — but that’s only part of the story.
In this solo episode, I’m breaking down why pretty proposals can close sales faster… and why they stop working when the system around them isn’t doing its job. Your proposal isn’t just an invoice — it’s a WOW moment. And when it doesn’t convert, it’s usually the first place your booking system is breaking down.
We’re talking about the difference between design and clarity, why proposals expose gaps in your client experience, and what actually makes a proposal feel premium, intentional, and easy to say yes to.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why “I just need a prettier proposal” is such a common (and understandable) belief
How proposals act as a gateway — not the fix — in your booking system
The difference between speeding up decisions and creating real clarity
What makes a proposal feel like a WOW experience instead of paperwork
Why pretty proposals only work when the system around them works

If you want your proposal to stop working so hard — and start shining inside a clear booking process — this episode is for you.
✨ Ready to build a booking system you trust?
Learn more about Systems in Session at coliejames.com/systems-in-session
3 Things Making Your Dream Clients Ghost You
02/2/2026 | 10 mins.
Ever had a dream client inquire, seem excited… and then disappear?
No reply.
No booking.
Just silence.
In this episode, I’m breaking down why ghosting usually isn’t about your price or competition — it’s about what happens after someone raises their hand to work with you.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing “all the right things” but still losing leads, this episode will help you zoom out and see where the breakdown is actually happening.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
The three core elements of your inquiry + booking process that directly affect conversions
Why fixing your systems in isolation creates leaks you can’t see
How your instant inquiry response can either build momentum or quietly stall it
Why a “pretty” proposal doesn’t automatically lead to bookings
How follow-up emails help clients finish decisions they already wanted to make
When a sales call replacement video can work better than a live call

Related Episodes Mentioned:
Episode 225: Instant Inquiry Response Red Flags
Episode 198: How to Create a 5-Minute Booking Process
Episode 108: The Magic of Follow-Up Emails
Episode 280: Stop Overthinking Your Follow-Up Emails

If you’re tired of guessing which part of your booking process is broken, this is exactly what we design inside Systems in Session.
➡️ Learn more at coliejames.com/sis

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About Business-First Creatives

Business-First Creatives is a podcast for photographers and creative service providers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business without drowning in admin work, client experience chaos, or systems that let you down. This show delivers clear, actionable conversations around marketing, CRM workflows, client communication, Dubsado and Honeybook automation, Airtable systems, and workflow strategies, giving photographers and creative entrepreneurs the systems that scale, operational clarity, and strategic, human-first client experiences they need to build streamlined, referral-worthy business operations that don't require working 24/7. If you're tired of babysitting your inbox, chasing down contracts, or watching your workflows break the moment you look away, this show will help you move beyond "figuring it out as you go" and toward a creative business that brings you joy and a paycheck. This podcast provides answers to questions like: How do I automate my client journey without losing the personal touch? What CRM workflows do photographers and creative businesses need? How can I use Dubsado or Honeybook to streamline my client experience? What systems do photographers need to save time and deliver exceptional client experiences? How do I reduce admin time in my creative service business? Why do my workflows keep letting me down (and how do I fix them)? How can I build a profitable creative business that brings me joy and a paycheck? What's the best way to communicate with clients throughout their journey? How do I create systems that work even when I'm not babysitting them? How can I map my client journey to convert more inquiries into bookings? Hosted by Colie James, a Dubsado Certified Specialist, Honeybook Educator, and Workflow and Automations Guru with 10+ years helping creatives systemize their businesses—this show delivers practical, no-BS guidance for photographers and creative entrepreneurs who are ready to streamline their client journey, automate their operations, and make money from their craft. If you're done dropping balls and ready to build a business-first creative operation with systems that scale, you're in the right place. Find out more about Systems in Session ➡️ https://coliejames.com/systems-in-session

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