If you told me a year ago that I’d be running my business full-time, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Back then, my business was just a little side hustle I worked on during late nights and weekends. I had big dreams, but no real plan. I thought if I worked hard enough, success would “just happen.” Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
I was creating content when I had time, sending random emails, and hoping people would find my products. My income was inconsistent, and honestly, I felt stuck. I was working so hard but not seeing results and it left me frustrated and exhausted.
Everything changed the moment I decided to treat my side hustle like a real business. I stopped guessing, stopped “winging it,” and created an actual system to plan, track, and grow my business. And the tool that made it possible? My Digital Babe Business Planner.
This planner became the backbone of my business and I want to share exactly how I used it to go from a small side hustle to a thriving full-time income.
Step 1: Getting Crystal Clear on My Goals
One of my biggest mistakes in the beginning was not having a clear direction. I’d tell myself, “I just want to make more money” or “I want to grow my audience,” but those goals were too vague to act on.
When I started using my planner, I wrote down my first real monthly income goal: $5,000. It felt scary at first, but then I broke it down into smaller, doable steps using the Revenue Goals Tracker inside the planner.
I asked myself:
- How many products do I need to sell each month?
- At what price point?
- How many people do I need to reach to make that happen?
Suddenly, the big picture didn’t seem so intimidating. Instead of chasing random goals, I had a clear roadmap. And every time I hit one milestone, I’d set the next slowly building the foundation for replacing my 9-5 income.
Step 2: Creating a Content Strategy That Actually Works
Before, I was posting content whenever I felt inspired, but there was no strategy behind it. Some weeks, I’d post every day; other weeks, nothing at all. And because I wasn’t consistent, my audience wasn’t growing and my sales were stagnant.
I used the Monthly Content Calendar in my planner to change that. I started mapping out my content weeks in advance so I knew exactly:
- What I was posting
- Where I was posting it
- How each piece connected to my business goals
For example, if my focus for the month was selling my planner, I’d plan posts about business organization, goal setting, productivity hacks, and behind-the-scenes looks at how I use the planner in my own business.
That shift changed everything. My content finally had purpose and it started driving real results. My Instagram engagement grew, my Pinterest traffic exploded, and people were clicking through to my website. More traffic meant more sales, and suddenly, my side hustle income was climbing.
Step 3: Tracking My Numbers and Staying Accountable
One of the hardest parts of growing a business is staying on top of your numbers. For a long time, I avoided looking at my sales and expenses because I didn’t want to face the reality of inconsistent income. But once I started tracking everything inside my planner, I finally understood where my money was going and where it was coming from.
Using the Revenue Tracker and Expense Log, I could see exactly:
- Which products were performing best
- Which marketing channels were driving the most sales
- Where I was overspending
For example, I discovered that most of my sales came from Pinterest even more than Instagram so I doubled down on creating optimized pins and driving traffic from there. Tracking my numbers also helped me set realistic budgets for marketing, tools, and outsourcing, so I could grow without overspending.
When you have your numbers in front of you, it’s easier to make smart, confident decisions instead of constantly guessing.
Step 4: Building Systems That Made Growth Easier
One of the biggest differences between having a side hustle and running a full-time business is the systems you put in place. My planner became the hub where I built all of mine.
I used it to:
- Plan product launches in detail
- Schedule my email campaigns
- Track affiliate collaborations
- Plan my content months ahead
- Set deadlines and stay on top of them
Having everything in one place stopped me from bouncing between a dozen different apps and notebooks. I finally had a clear, organized system that kept me focused on what actually mattered. And when your systems are solid, scaling becomes so much easier.
Step 5: Making the Leap to Full-Time
The first month I hit my $5,000 goal, I cried. It was the moment I realized this wasn’t “just” a side hustle anymore it was the foundation of my future. But I didn’t stop there. The next month, I aimed for $7K. A few months later, I hit $10K.
By the time I consistently replaced my 9-5 income, I knew it was time to take the leap into my business full-time. It was scary, but I had confidence because I had a system that worked. I wasn’t guessing anymore I had a planner that helped me track my numbers, plan my launches, and stay on top of my goals.
The Planner That Made It All Possible
Turning my side hustle into a full-time business wasn’t about luck or working harder — it was about working smarter. And the Rich Girl Business Planner gave me the clarity and structure I needed to grow with intention.
It helped me:
- Set and hit realistic income goals
- Plan and organize my content strategy
- Track revenue and expenses effortlessly
- Build systems that supported my growth
- Stay focused, consistent, and accountable
If you’ve been dreaming about taking your side hustle full-time, you need more than motivation you need a plan. The Rich Girl Business Planner here is the exact system I used to scale my income and create the business I always wanted. And if it worked for me, it can work for you, too.
