Going From Side Hustle to Structured Business Starts With Better Emails with Christi Dorsey
05/03/2026 | 44 mins.
What if your side hustle wasn't just extra income, but the most creatively fulfilling part of your life? In this episode, I’m sitting down with Christi Dorsey, a nutrition expert, food science consultant, and full-time government professional. We talk about what it really looks like to build a thriving consulting business alongside a 9–5. Christi isn’t new to entrepreneurship. She’s been running her consulting company, Taste Symmetry, for over a decade. But as her business evolved, her systems and client communication needed to evolve with it. That’s when she joined Email Like You Mean It to overhaul her customer journey and finally build backend systems that matched the elevated experience on her new website. Find It Quickly 00:24 - Meet Christi Dorsey 03:21 - From nutrition degrees to global food safety work 07:20 - The “1099 Queen” 10:18 - Why she decided to expand her business again 11:40 - Why she joined Email Like You Mean It 15:13 - Her Foundation Experience offer explained 23:00 - Rewriting her client emails from scratch 25:47 - The offboarding email and the power of repeat business 29:03 - What she’s working on next in her systems 40:05 - Why “my emails are fine” might be holding you back Mentioned in this Episode Email Like You Mean It Systems in Session Connect with Christi Website: tastesymmetry.com Instagram: @tastesymmetry LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/taste-symmetry Mentioned in this Episode Email Like You Mean It Systems in Session
Connect with Christi Website: tastesymmetry.com Instagram: @tastesymmetry LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/taste-symmetry
Why We Design First (and How to Decide Between Email Like You Mean It and Systems in Session)
03/03/2026 | 13 mins.
If you’re trying to decide between Email Like You Mean It and Systems in Session, this episode will help you make that decision. I get asked all the time where someone should start if they want better systems in their business — and my answer is never “pick a CRM” or “build workflows.” It’s always: design your client experience first. In this episode, I’m breaking down: Why mapping your customer journey comes before tools What happens when you skip client experience design How communication protects your boundaries (and increases revenue) The real difference between Email Like You Mean It and Systems in Session How to decide which offer is right for you right now
Whether you’re ready to build full systems or you need to start with planning and communication, the order never changes: Client experience design first. Client communication second. Systems and automation last. Resources mentioned: Client Experience Series (episode 195-198) Systems in Session → coliejames.com/systems Email Like You Mean It → coliejames.com/email
What Happened When I Turned Email Like You Mean It Into a Live Sprint
01/03/2026 | 12 mins.
I turned Email Like You Mean It into a 5-day done-with-you live sprint… and then immediately invited some of my Systems in Session clients to test it as pre-work. Bold? Yes. A little chaotic? Also yes. Worth it? 100%. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how the first sprint went — what surprised me, what I learned, what I’m keeping, and what I’m changing for the next round. We’re talking: Why your CRM doesn’t actually matter when mapping your client communication What happened when Systems in Session clients completed ELYMI before kickoff How daily live feedback changed the pace of implementation What I’m adding (and standardizing) for the April sprint Why I’m keeping this offer intentionally small (and intimate)
If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to build in public, test a new delivery model, or evolve an offer quickly — this is the honest behind-the-scenes. And if you want to join me for the next run of Email Like You Mean It, there are 10 spots available (and one is already gone). Details → coliejames.com/email
Why Every Creative Entrepreneur Needs Systems to Thrive with Megan Smith
26/02/2026 | 48 mins.
What if the only thing standing between you and sustainable growth in your business is your system? In today’s episode, we're diving into a Systems in Session case study with Megan Smith—a full-time teacher, mom of three, farm wife, and professional home organizer. Listen in as she shares what happened when she finally stopped hiding from her systems and built the structure her business needed. While she wasn't focused on getting more clients, she wanted more confidence and excitement around the experience she was delivering. Yet within 48 hours of installing one simple piece of infrastructure, she booked a client and earned back half her investment. Find It Quickly 00:32 – Meet Megan 03:32 – How Her Systems Held Her Back 09:31 – The ROI of Systems 11:57 – Building a Unique Booking System 18:55 – Creating Confidence 19:27 – Raising Prices 24:29 – Automations 27:34 – Expanding Offers by Duplicating Systems 30:06 – Marketing Meets Infrastructure 34:20 – No Quick Fix in Business 46:59 – The 3 R’s: Rave Reviews, Referrals & Repeat Clients Connect with Megan Website: megansmithstressless.com Instagram: instagram.com/megansmithstressless
Everything You’re Overthinking About Systems in Session
24/02/2026 | 15 mins.
Planning this episode felt like getting a dose of my own medicine. When I help clients build their five-minute booking process, I always tell them: your FAQs don’t belong buried on your website. They belong right above where someone is about to pay you. So today, we’re doing that for Systems in Session. If you’ve been wondering: Is this only for Dubsado users? Do I need this if I’ve had my CRM for years? Is this a course or true one-to-one support? How much time will this actually take? Can we build more than one offer? What if I’ve worked with you before?
This episode answers all of it. You’ll hear exactly what Systems in Session includes, how the 60-day done-with-you Dubsado setup works, and why most of my clients are not beginners — they’re experienced service providers who are tired of babysitting their backend. Because this isn’t about learning more tech. It’s about building high-touch, low-effort systems that make your premium offers easy to book, effortless to deliver, and impossible to forget. If you’ve ever: Checked Dubsado at 2am Hesitated to raise your prices because your backend feels fragile Avoided selling because delivery still feels manual Fantasized about sending a proposal and getting paid within minutes
This episode is for you. What You’ll Learn (AKA The Questions I’m Answering) Is Systems in Session only for Dubsado users? I’ve had Dubsado for years — do I still need this? Is Systems in Session a course, a group program, or true one-to-one support? How much time does this actually take each week? What happens if I don’t “finish” in 60 days? Can we build more than one offer inside this container? I’ve worked with you before — do I still need Systems in Session? How do I prepare before we start?
If you’ve ever: Checked Dubsado at 2am Hesitated to raise your prices because your backend feels fragile Avoided selling because delivery still feels manual Fantasized about sending a proposal and getting paid within minutes
This episode will help you decide your next move. Links Mentioned Systems in Session → coliejames.com/systems Email Like You Mean It Sprint → coliejames.com/email Episode 289: Is Systems in Session Only for Photographers?
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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