What if success isn’t about doing more…

But about choosing less?

In this episode of The Moxie Movement, I’m sitting down with Erika Clarkson — Melbourne artist, mum of two, and Done By Three Club member. Who went from breastfeeding with 47 business ideas and zero focus… to earning $1,500 before 2pm drawing on shop windows.

And still making school pick up.

This is the real story of what happens when you stop glorifying hustle, start asking what you actually want, and build a business that fits your life.

Not “overnight success.”

Just consistent action, brave decisions, and a whole lot of belief shifts.

✔ Why having “too many ideas” is actually fear in disguise

✔ The lie about success that keeps women stuck

✔ How scheduling her time changed Erika’s income and her nervous system

✔ The mindset shift that helped her stop undervaluing her work

✔ Why consistent action beats big bursts of motivation

✔ How she went from reactive chaos to calm, aligned growth

✔ What it really looks like to earn well and still be present at school pick up

The Belief Shift

After being knocked back for a big job, Erika found herself crying and questioning everything. Not because she wasn’t capable but because her entire sense of success was tied to someone else saying yes.

That had to change.

For years she believed success was for “other people.”

Not for someone sensitive.

Or with ADHD tendencies.

Or with a brain that moves fast.

Sound familiar?

She had to drop the belief that success wasn’t for her and replace it with one simple truth:

You have to believe you can do it before you’ll take the steps.

The system that changed everything.

Scheduling.

Not a colour-coded Pinterest fantasy.

Actual time ownership.

Instead of walking into her office asking “What should I do today?”

She decided in advance.

She schedules:

1. Sales
2. Life admin
3. Date night
4. Self-care Friday
5. School pickup space

And she deleted her to-do list.

That shift alone moved her from reactive to proactive, from overwhelmed to aligned.

The money shift.

Erika stopped:

1. Overdelivering for free
2. Taking whatever paid
3. Hoarding money in the business account “for safety”

And started:

1. Valuing her time
2. Charging for the extra mile
3. Paying herself properly

Now?

She’s had $1,500 days finishing at 2pm.

Drawing koalas in Christmas hats on shop windows.

(Yes, the police once stopped her to check she was “sanctioned.” 😂)

The biggest truth in here?

You can have it all.

You just can’t do it all at once.

And you don’t need to sacrifice being a mum to make serious money.

Erika earned well last year and still made 80–90% of school pickups.

That’s what alignment looks like.

If this episode hit home:

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If you’re an overwhelmed business owner who says she wants help… but still struggles with delegation anxiety, this episode is for you.

Because task hoarding in small business doesn’t look dramatic.

It looks like:

Doing payroll from a hospital bed.

Working when you’re sick because “no one else can do it properly.”

Redoing your team’s work at 10pm.

Micromanaging because it feels safer.

This isn’t about being bad at leadership.

This is about identity, control, and learning how to delegate without losing control.

And for female entrepreneurs — especially mums running businesses — this pattern is incredibly common.

✔ Why delegation anxiety in small business isn’t a character flaw

✔ The identity shift from “doer” to CEO leadership

✔ How to delegate in your small business without micromanaging

✔ The 80% rule of delegation (and why it unlocks momentum)

✔ How to choose low-risk tasks to delegate first

✔ Why business growth without burnout requires backup

When you stop delegating because it feels uncomfortable, you create:

1. A business that only works when you’re working
2. Constant mental load
3. No backup during school holidays or sickness
4. Burnout disguised as “high standards”

Being indispensable feels powerful.

Until you realise it means you can’t step away.

If your nervous system goes into fight-or-flight every time life happens, that’s not a systems problem.

That’s a delegation problem.

Here’s the shift:

Delegation isn’t about someone doing it your way.

It’s about someone doing it well enough so you don’t have to.

80% done by someone else is more powerful than 100% done by you.

Because leadership in small business isn’t execution anymore, it’s direction.

If you want to scale your business without burnout, you must move from task hoarder to leader.

If you’re wondering how to delegate in your business without blowing it up:

Start with low-risk tasks.

Admin.

Accounts.

Repetitive prep work.

Follow-ups.

If the business won’t collapse if it’s done imperfectly, it’s safe to hand over.

And instead of micromanaging steps, define outcomes:

“What does done look like?”

Clarity reduces anxiety for you and for them.

🎧 Subscribe or follow The Moxie Movement Podcast for weekly episodes on delegation, leadership, business systems, and growth without burnout.

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Stay Moxie.

WORK WITH SARAH:

// The Done By Three Club: The only business model for Mum’s with an established business wanting to be Present Before 9, Done by 3 and Profitable in between. Learn more: https://go.themoxiemovement.com/the-done-by-3-model

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