Have you ever wondered how some mums manage to build a six-figure business whilst working full-time, looking after kids, and somehow not completely falling apart in the process?
This week’s episode introduces you to Sam Hoyle, an accountant and founder of Harmony Accounting who did exactly that. We have a really honest conversation about what it actually takes to grow a service based business when you’ve got nursery pickups, a demanding day job, and approximately zero spare time.
When Sam started her business, she was working four days a week in corporate accountancy, looking after two young children, and building her business every single night after bedtime. Not glamorous, and definitely not sustainable forever, but strategic, focused, and incredibly effective.
Here’s what I want you to remember, running a business whilst working full time isn’t about having superhuman energy or some secret productivity hack. It’s about knowing exactly what needs to get done, using every pocket of time intentionally, and being ruthlessly honest about what actually matters. Sam got her business to the point where she could hand in her notice within six months, without taking a pay cut.
Through our conversation, Sam shares the practical tools that made this possible. We talk about task management for small business owners (hello, Asana), the “eat the frog” method for tackling tasks you’d rather avoid, and why finishing yesterday’s unfinished task first thing today changes everything. She also opens up about mum entrepreneur strategies that actually work, like treating the work you enjoy as a reward for doing the hard stuff first.
This episode is for anyone juggling business and motherhood who’s wondering if it’s actually possible to make it work without burning out.
Here’s what we cover:
- What motivated Sam to leave corporate and start Harmony Accounting (spoiler: a terrible job that turned out to be the best thing that happened)
- How she juggled childcare, a full-time job, and building a business without losing her mind
- Time management for business owners: why knowing what needs doing beats scrolling every single time
- Using Asana as your “external brain” to stay organised and sane
- The game-changing habit of finishing unfinished tasks first thing the next day
- Why doing your least favourite tasks first makes the rest of your day feel like a reward
- How work life balance for female business owners is about being strategic, not superhuman
- Money mindset shifts that opened Sam’s eyes to what’s actually possible
- The Inner Work Business Book Club and how Sam fits personal development into a packed schedule
- Why repetition matters, hearing the same advice again is often exactly what you need to finally implement it
If you’re a mum trying to build something meaningful whilst managing all the things, this conversation will show you it’s possible. Not easy, not always comfortable, but absolutely doable with the right systems and mindset.
If this episode resonates with you, pop over to Instagram and say hello. I’d love to hear what stood out and where you’re at in your own journey. And if you’re looking for an accountant who genuinely gets the reality of running an online service business as a mum, you’ll find Sam at @harmonyaccounting.
Grab a pen and paper, settle in, and let Sam’s story be the reminder that you don’t need more hours in the day, you just need to use the ones you have more intentionally.
Meet Sam Hoyle
Sam is a Chartered Accountant and Financial Strategist with over 20 years of experience helping female online service providers take control of their business finances. She specialises in simplifying numbers so business owners can make confident decisions without overwhelm. Through her company, Harmony Accounting, Sam supports clients in aligning their finances with their dream lifestyle while growing sustainable, profitable businesses.
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