Welcome back to Create Systems with Laura, the space where we talk about building businesses, creative work, and lives that feel intentional, sustainable, and aligned with who we are becoming.

Today, I’m joined by Brian David Hall, author of Your Website Sucks: Here’s How to Fix It, conversion strategist, and a systems thinker in the deepest sense. But beyond website experiments and client funnels, Brian has quietly built a body of nonfiction work and a process for creating that work that’s rooted in clarity, consistency, and experimentation.

In this conversation, we explore:

- How Brian uses systems to move from idea to finished book

- What he learned from writing two abandoned manuscripts before publishing one that resonated

- How beta readers, newsletters, and daily rituals helped him finish what he started

- His experience writing in plain text editors (yes, in the terminal) and why simplicity helps him focus

- What it really means to write for someone who can’t afford your services, and why that shaped his voice

- The emotional side of authorship, including what it feels like to face failure and find your topic again

Brian also shares stories from his time teaching in Spain and South Korea, building online courses, and becoming part of the Useful Books community, a group led by Rob Fitzpatrick, focused on helping nonfiction authors write books that actually solve problems.

If you’ve ever struggled to get from a draft to a final product… or wondered how to keep showing up for your creative work even when no one is watching yet, this conversation will speak to you.

📘 Whether you’re a writer, a service-based entrepreneur, or simply someone who wants to create things that last, this episode offers a calm, honest look at how structure, feedback, and curiosity can help you bring meaningful ideas to life.

🔗 Connect with Brian David Hall

- Website & Resources: https://briandavidhall.gumroad.com

- Book: Your Website Sucks: Here’s How to Fix It

- Writing Tools: Useful Books by Rob Fitzpatrick

🤝 Episode Sponsor: Proprium Agency

We help service-based businesses replace chaos with clarity through smart tools, automation, and intentional system design.

Book a 15-minute discovery call:

👉 https://connect.proprium.agency/discovery-call

Join the Proprium Digital Network for founders and operators who want better systems, smarter workflows, and sustainable growth:

👉 https://proprium.agency/proprium-digital-network

🧠 Stay connected with Laura Plantak

- Website: https://www.lauraplantak.com

- Newsletter: https://lauraplantak.com/newsletter

- LinkedIn: Systems With Laura Podcast

💬 If this episode helped you think differently about creativity, failure, or writing as a long-term system, share it with someone you know who’s building something of their own. And subscribe for more slow, grounded conversations that make space for doing meaningful work.

🎙️ Behind the Book: How Marjorie Turner Hollman Systemized Self-Publishing Success

Welcome back to Systems With Laura 🎙️

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to move from a finished manuscript to a professionally published book, without getting overwhelmed by tech, tools, or the endless self-publishing advice online.

This week, I’m joined by Marjorie Turner Hollman, an author, developmental editor, and book shepherd behind MarjorieTurner LLC. Marjorie supports writers from the very first draft all the way to holding their finished, self-published book in their hands.

Marjorie shares how she built repeatable systems to guide authors through editing, layout, printing, and distribution, and why most people don’t fail at self-publishing because of writing, but because they don’t have a clear process to follow.

This conversation is both grounding and empowering, especially if you’ve written a manuscript but feel stuck, unsure, or intimidated by everything that comes after.

In this episode, we talk about:

- How Marjorie became a book shepherd and built her self-publishing service

- The step-by-step system behind turning a manuscript into a real book

- Why most authors get overwhelmed after finishing their draft

- How to structure your self-publishing workflow without burning out

- The most common mistakes first-time self-publishers make

- What Marjorie would do differently if she were publishing her first book today

🎧 If you’re sitting on a manuscript or dreaming of publishing your own book one day, this episode is for you.

📒 Grab a notebook, hit play, and let Marjorie show you how self-publishing can become a clear, structured system, not a stressful guessing game.

🔗 Connect with Marjorie Turner Hollman

- Website: https://www.marjorieturner.com

- Email: marjorie@marjorieturner.com

- Amazon Author Page: Available via her website

🤝 Episode Sponsor: Proprium Agency

This episode is sponsored by Proprium Agency, a business workflow & automation agency helping service-based businesses replace chaos with clarity through smart tools, automation, and intentional system design.

If your business feels overwhelming, overly manual, or dependent on you doing everything, Proprium helps you design systems that support sustainable growth, without burnout.

☎️ Want direct help from Proprium?

Book a 15-minute discovery call to explore how we can support your operations and client delivery with better systems.

👉 https://connect.proprium.agency/discovery-call

🌐 Join the Proprium Digital Network

A space for founders and operators who want:

- Better systems without unnecessary complexity

- Practical guidance on tools, workflows, and automation

- A clear path from messy operations to structured, scalable processes

👉 https://proprium.agency/proprium-digital-network

🔗 Stay connected with Laura Plantak

- Website: https://www.lauraplantak.com

- Laura’s Learning Lab Newsletter: https://lauraplantak.com/newsletter

- Instagram: @thelauraplantak

- LinkedIn: Systems With Laura Podcast

If this episode inspired you, leave a comment, share it with a writer who needs to hear it, and subscribe for more behind-the-scenes conversations on building sustainable, system-supported businesses.

Welcome back to Systems With Laura 🎙️

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to build a business that supports both your visibility and client pipeline, without burning out, going viral, or chasing every new platform.

This week, I’m joined by Anja Lordanić Mustać, a podcasting mentor, translator, and founder of Studio 22. Anja helps solopreneurs and small business owners launch strategic podcasts that position them as experts and bring in high-quality clients, without needing a massive audience.

Anja shares her journey from the world of translation and project management into podcasting and mentorship, and why podcasting isn’t just a creative outlet; it can be a smart, sustainable business system.

This conversation is both practical and encouraging, especially if you’ve been sitting on an idea but letting self-doubt or perfectionism get in the way.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Anja’s shift from translator to podcast mentor and entrepreneur

- Why podcasting still works, and how to stand out without shouting

- The systems behind running a podcast as a solopreneur

- Common fears freelancers face when launching (and how to move past them)

- How podcasting fits into a broader visibility and client strategy

- What Anja would do differently if she were starting over today

🎧 If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast or just want to build visibility that actually leads to clients, this episode is for you.

📒 Grab a notebook, hit play, and let Anja show you how podcasting can become a powerful system in your business, not just a content chore.

Connect with Anja:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-lordanic/

- Listen to Freelance Business Unlocked wherever you get your podcasts

🤝 Episode Sponsor: Proprium Agency (www.proprium.agency)

This episode is sponsored by Proprium Agency, a business workflow & automation agency helping service-based businesses replace chaos with clarity through smart tools, automation, and intentional system design.

If your business feels overwhelming, overly manual, or dependent on you doing everything, Proprium helps you design systems that support sustainable growth, without burnout.

☎️ Want direct help from Proprium?

Book a 15-minute discovery call to explore how we can support your operations and client delivery with better systems.

👉 Book here:

https://connect.proprium.agency/discovery-call

🌐 Join the Proprium Digital Network

A space for founders and operators who want:

- Better systems without unnecessary complexity

- Practical guidance on tools, workflows, and automation

- A clear path from messy operations to structured, scalable processes

👉 Join here:

https://proprium.agency/proprium-digital-network

🔗 Stay connected with Laura Plantak

- Website: www.lauraplantak.com

- Laura’s Learning Lab Newsletter: https://lauraplantak.com/newsletter

- Instagram: @thelauraplantak

- LinkedIn: Systems With Laura Podcast

If this episode inspired you, leave a comment, share it with a solopreneur who needs to hear it, and subscribe for more behind-the-scenes conversations on building sustainable, system-supported businesses.