Emylee Williams is an experienced entrepreneur with over 14 years in the online business world. She co-founded a multi-million-dollar marketing and digital product company, leading a team of 27+ and driving six-figure launches. Despite her success, Emylee realized the high-overhead hustle wasn’t sustainable and made the bold choice to walk away from it all to honor her nervous system. She rebuilt her business with 90% less overhead, focusing on intentional, aligned growth.
Today, she helps service providers transform their expertise into high-value advisory offerings that increase revenue without adding more clients. With her unique blend of creative thinking (thanks to her art degree) and analytical approach to business strategy, she’s helped over 30,000 entrepreneurs see their businesses in a whole new light. Her data-driven approach combines strategic clarity with practical implementation to create growth that actually feels good—without forcing them into group programs, digital products, or complex marketing funnels.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day starts slow — coffee in bed (courtesy of my husband) and a quick 369 journaling session to set my focus and call in what I want that day to look like. Before I open my inbox or get pulled into other people’s urgency, I brain-dump what’s actually important to me that day and number the tasks based on what’s quick, urgent, or energy-matched. That sets the tone. I’m most productive in the mornings — whether I’m working from my office, my bed, or a coffee shop — so I keep that time meeting-free when I can. Afternoons are for calls, content, or checking in with clients. I like to wrap work by the time my kid gets home and give myself a little outside time to shift gears before the next part of my day begins.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I move fast on ideas, but only after I’ve given myself time to think deeply and talk them out. If I’m stuck, I’ll take a walk or jump in the shower — those are my idea-clarifying zones. From there, I need to verbal process. I’ll hop on Voxer or grab coffee with a biz friend and talk through the vision: what it should feel like, how it works, what I want it to do. I welcome people poking holes in it because I’d rather refine upfront than mid-launch. Once I’ve clarified the end result, I work backward — whether that’s shaping the brand vibe, building a system, or mapping a customer journey. Clarity first, execution second.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m really energized by the ongoing trend toward simplifying everything — offers, messaging, marketing, even how we operate behind the scenes. For a while, it felt like “more” was the answer — more bonuses, more platforms, more funnels. But what we’re seeing now is a return to depth, clarity, and intentional design. Businesses with clean, focused offer suites and clear messaging are thriving — not in spite of being simple, but because of it. And honestly, I hope that trend stays. It’s more sustainable, more profitable, and way more human.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
One of the habits that truly helps me stay productive is tuning into how I’m meant to be productive that day. I used to think productivity only counted if I was checking off a million to-dos, but over time, I’ve learned that strategy and creativity often need stillness first. Some days, deep work makes sense. Other days, the most productive thing I can do is sit quietly, go on a walk, or give my brain space to connect the dots. That intentional pause usually unlocks better decisions, stronger ideas, and faster execution later. So I’ve built the habit of asking myself, “What kind of work makes sense for me today?” — and giving myself permission to follow that answer.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I started my business at 18, and back then, I really believed it had to be everything — my identity, my self-worth, my success metric, my full financial safety net. If the business wasn’t performing, I made it mean something about me. It took years (and a lot of inner work) to separate who I am from what I do. If I could go back, I’d tell her: you are not your business. You can trust yourself to make hard decisions, to pivot when needed, and to always do what’s right for you. What’s good for you is good for the whole, and you’re allowed to build a business that supports you, not defines you.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
I don’t think digital products are necessary to scale, and honestly, I believe the push into 1:many offers has quietly bankrupted more businesses than it’s helped. Everyone talks about passive income and scalability, but they don’t talk about the cost: the team you need, the marketing budget, the shift in your audience, and how you basically end up building a second business from scratch. Most service providers don’t need a course, they need a clearer, more strategic way to sell what they already do. One-on-one work, when structured right, can scale. And in many cases, it’s more profitable, more sustainable, and less chaotic than the shiny 1:many path.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
This is my hill to die on: you do not need a one-to-many offer to scale. Especially if you’re already running a one-on-one, done-for-you service — there’s so much money on the table if you just refine your delivery, your support structure, and your capacity. People think hitting big financial goals requires a course or group program, but that path often splits your business in two. New avatar, new messaging, new systems, more overhead. It’s doable, but most don’t realize how much it demands. You can absolutely hit $500K, $750K, even $1M with a 1:1 model if it’s structured right. Just because you haven’t been shown how doesn’t mean it’s not possible.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I’m overwhelmed or spiraling in overthinking mode, the first thing I do is step away. I shut the laptop, silence the notifications, and do something not tied to work — take a shower, read a book, sit outside. I’ve learned that clarity doesn’t come from forcing focus; it comes from creating space. Sometimes I just need 30 minutes. Other times, I need a full lazy day to reset. Either way, when I give myself that pause, I always come back clearer, calmer, and way more motivated than if I had tried to push through the fog.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
One of the strategies I’ve used over and over — especially during pivots — is launching a low-ticket, easy-entry offer like an audit, assessment, or playbook. It gives me a behind-the-scenes look at what my ideal clients are struggling with in real time. Instead of guessing what offer to build or who to serve, I use these containers to test ideas, spot patterns, and validate where people actually need help. I get to diagnose, deliver value, and gather insights — all while being paid to research. After 5, 10, or 50 of these, I have crystal-clear data to create a refined, results-driven offer that actually sells. It’s fast, lean, and always helps me move forward with clarity.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
One of my biggest failures, if you want to call it that, was building my so-called dream job: a 7-figure business, a full team, big launches, tons of credibility. On paper, it looked perfect. But I woke up one day and realized I actually hated it. I had created something impressive, but not something I enjoyed living inside of. The title, the metrics, the external validation… none of it mattered if I felt disconnected from the day-to-day. That moment forced me to get brutally honest. Success isn’t just what it looks like. It’s how it feels while you’re doing it. Since then, I’ve built everything with that filter in mind: ease, alignment, sustainability. I know firsthand that scaling something you don’t love just takes you further from yourself.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I’ve always wanted to build a SaaS tool that replaces the need for complicated project trackers and agency dashboards. It would be designed specifically for service providers — super visual, client-friendly, and focused on what actually matters: revenue, capacity, client progress, and bottlenecks. No fluff, no “integrate 12 tools” nonsense. Just the data you need, in one place, to make smart decisions fast.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Otter.ai is one of my favorite tools for staying productive. I use the mobile app to verbal process ideas when I’m out walking or in between tasks. Whether it’s messaging ideas, strategies for a client, or objections I want to work through later, I can just speak into it and it transcribes everything. The best part is their built-in AI lets me chat with the transcript to explore my thoughts even more. It helps me clear the mental clutter so I can focus on my actual priorities instead of letting ideas bounce around in my head all day.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
I recently upgraded my at-home coffee bar and it was worth every penny. I bought bottles for homemade syrups, nugget ice trays, really good beans, and a cold foam frother. Making lattes at home has become this little meditative ritual. It slows me down and makes the whole morning feel intentional. My setup is getting dangerously good.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
Built to Sell is one of the most impactful books I’ve ever read. I picked it up years ago and it completely changed how I think about service-based work. Even if you have zero interest in selling your business, the way it walks through productizing your services and simplifying your delivery model is gold. It helped me see how structure creates freedom and how clarity in your offer can completely shift your business. Highly recommend.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Yellowjackets. So good. My friends and I did weekly watch parties and played the classic “which character would you be?” game. Spoiler alert: there are no winners in that show. It’s wild, dark, and absolutely addictive.
Key learnings:
- Success isn’t just what your business looks like, it’s how it feels to run it.
- You don’t need a course or digital product to scale. A refined 1:1 offer can take you all the way.
- Clarity comes from action, not overthinking. Start small, test fast, and let the data guide you.
- Build a business around your energy, not against it. Rest, reflection, and rhythm are strategic tools.
- You are not your business. Detaching your self-worth from performance is the real power move.