Ever sent a fifth follow-up email about an unpaid invoice and wondered if you signed up to be a freelancer or a debt collector? You did the work. You delivered the results. And now you're the one chasing payments. It doesn't have to be that way. This is the third and final installment of our automation series, and today we're closing the loop — building a payment collection system that runs without you. The goal is simple: standardize everything, automate the reminders, and remove every ounce of friction so your clients can pay you with zero effort on either side. Because you are not a bill collector, and the less time you spend hunting down payments, the more time you have for the work that actually matters. Highlights Why you should pick one payment tool and stick with it — no mixing Venmo, PayPal, and Stripe How to build a single invoice template you can send in under five minutes Turning on automatic payment reminders so the software does the chasing, not you Setting up recurring invoices for retainers so you never touch them again Testing your own payment flow to find and eliminate friction before your clients hit it Four free invoicing platforms compared — Zoho Invoice, Wave, Square Invoices, and PayPal Invoicing Why you should build credit card processing fees into your price instead of surprising clients Requiring deposits before work begins to protect yourself Using auto-pay and milestone payments for larger projects Automatic late fees as a tool for urgency — and how to waive them to lead with generosity Auto-filing receipts to bookkeeping and triggering referral asks after payment Chapters 0:19 — Stop Chasing Payments 2:03 — Standardize Your Payment Tool 3:12 — Invoice Templates and Reminders 5:04 — Recurring Billing and Links 6:05 — Test for Payment Friction 7:55 — Free Invoicing Software Picks 11:40 — Fees and How to Price Them 13:33 — Level Up With Deposits 15:06 — Late Fees and Urgency 16:43 — Bookkeeping and Referral Automations 17:28 — Recap and Next Episode Resources Zoho Invoice Wave Square Invoices PayPal Invoicing  Stripe Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dad Remember, build the business, but be the dad! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

Are you holding on to ways of doing things that no longer serve the second act of your life? The laws that govern business and life don't stop working just because we choose to ignore them — and the law of adaptation is quietly shaping your success whether you lean into it or not. This episode explores what it really means to adapt as a second act business owner: why your experience is your foundation rather than your limitation, how attachment to old identities holds you back, and how AI — yes, AI — might be today's version of the gas furnace your grandparents hesitated to adopt. You'll walk away with a simple four-step framework for adaptation and one practical experiment you can run this week to start leveraging the law of adaptation in your own business. HIGHLIGHTS The law of adaption is about willingness to change — not abandoning who you are, but applying your strengths, experience, and values in a way that fits your current situation What made you successful at 30 or 40 may not create success at 50 or 60 — your priorities, responsibilities, and the marketplace have all changed The biggest barrier to adaption isn't ability — it's attachment to an old identity, career, or routine A simple framework for adaption: Assess, Adjust, Act, Evaluate Your experience is your foundation, not your limitation — adaption makes it even more powerful The story of grandparents who removed a gas furnace because it felt dangerous, and how that mirrors our hesitation toward AI today AI isn't replacing anyone, but competitors who adapt with AI are responding to customers faster, creating content more consistently, and accomplishing more without immediately hiring Adapting with AI is not the law of laziness — you still apply your own judgment, intelligence, and experience A simple place to start: use AI to help write one email a day for the next seven days AI can amplify and multiply your experience — it doesn't diminish it CHAPTERS 1:30 — Introducing Adaptation 2:57 — Identity and Change Barriers 4:10 — Assess, Adjust, Act, Evaluate 4:54 — Experience, Not Limitation 5:20 — Gas Heat Adaptation Story 7:57 — AI as Modern Adaptation 8:47 — Using AI Without Laziness 10:32 — One Simple AI Experiment 12:40 — Wrap Up and Challenge Want to get more help from Lee with your business? Visit her website: https://leegray.actioncoach.com/ Identify your strengths and weaknesses as a second actor with our comprehensive Second Act Assessment. https://secondact.scoreapp.com This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network. For more information, visit ictpod.net.

Ever wonder what the difference between a fiddle and a violin actually is — or why Kansas has such a rich but largely undocumented fiddling tradition?  We sit down with Derrick Doty, the Flint Hills Fiddler, a musician, historian, and music teacher based in Manhattan, Kansas. Derrick is the 2023 Kansas State Banjo Champion, a former barber in Council Grove who turned barbershop stories into historical research, and — perhaps most unexpectedly — a coffin builder. He treats us to live fiddle and banjo performances, shares the story of a John Henning banjo from 1880s Emporia that may be the first built for steel strings, and even serenades us with a Pete Seeger song updated with his own modern verses. Along the way we explore Kansas's musical history from territorial Free-Staters singing "The Kansas Immigrant" to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, the Exoduster banjo players who toured the state, and why traditional music still matters today. Highlights Derrick explains the real difference between a fiddle and a violin (spoiler: it's mostly about how you use the word, not the instrument itself) The story of how "Flint Hills Fiddler" started as an email address and became a persona Derrick's great-grandfather fiddled for barn dances in Osage County, inspiring him to take up the instrument decades later Live fiddle performance on the podcast — a first in nearly 80 episodes Why Derrick uses black horsehair on his bow instead of white (it grabs the string better and costs less) The Kansas Immigrant: a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier set to the tune of Auld Lang Syne that became the anthem of Free-Staters traveling to Kansas How 12 years of cutting hair in Council Grove turned a fiddler into a historical researcher Derrick is the 2023 Kansas State Banjo Champion, winning with "classic banjo" style instead of the more common bluegrass or clawhammer styles The story of Link and Perry Lowery, Exoduster banjo players from Emporia who toured Kansas in the 1880s and '90s A rare John Henning banjo from 1880s Emporia with its fifth-string tuner on the tailpiece and a steel brace running through the neck — possibly the first banjo built for steel strings Three ensembles: Tallgrass Express String Band, Bodark (an old-time trio named after the Osage orange tree), and Grandpa Snazzy (a mandolin club recreation with a banjorine) Derrick builds handmade coffins — it started with a doll coffin replica from the 1850s and grew into a full-fledged side business A live performance of Pete Seeger's "What Did You Learn in School Today?" with Derrick's own updated verses about AI data centers and senators Maude Wagner of Emporia: the United States' first known female tattoo artist, born in Kansas in 1877 Chapters 0:00 — Auction Bass Case Mystery 2:14 — Today's Guest 4:01 — Meet the Flint Hills Fiddler 5:26 — Fiddle vs Violin Explained 7:03 — Kansas Roots and Learning Fiddle 10:26 — Fiddle Tradition and Dance Culture 12:47 — Derrick Plays the Fiddle 14:28 — Instrument Story and Bow Hair 18:42 — Music History in Kansas 21:18 — Barber Shop to Historian 22:53 — Banjo Champion Origins 25:19 — Banjo History in Kansas 27:01 — Banjo Performance and Gear Talk 30:47 — Teaching Roots and Routine 32:32 — Tallgrass Express Origins 33:48 — Bodark Old Time Trio 34:33 — Grandpa Snazzy Mandolin Club 36:10 — Mandolin Orchestra Revival 36:56 — Weirdest Gig Stories 38:13 — How He Builds Coffins 40:16 — Why Handmade Coffins 42:08 — Pete Seeger Song Performance 45:06 — Future of Traditional Music 46:44 — Episode Reflection 48:28 — Kansas Tattoo Pioneer Tale 52:11 — Kansas Would You Rather 54:16 — Bridge Counting Challenge 54:59 — Credits Resources An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge John Greenleaf Whittier Pete Seeger Humanities Kansas  Flint Hills Academy of Music  Tallgrass Express String Band Fili Creative  Everyday Lights Forge Podcast Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

Has your relationship with health and fitness become more about punishment than care? That's the question at the heart of today's conversation. Kendra Moody returns to the show—not in her role as COO of The Thread, but as founder of Restore Health Coaching—to talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable wellness lifestyle, especially for women navigating their second act. We cover why so many women put their health on hold, the mindset shift from punishing your body to nourishing it, and practical steps for eating more protein, moving daily, and staying hydrated. Kendra also breaks down GLP-1 medications and what women in their 40s and 50s should prioritize for longevity. HIGHLIGHTS Why women tend to neglect their health while raising families or climbing the career ladder—and when that pattern finally shifts The mindset shift from "how hard can I go and how little can I eat" to "how do I care for my body, not punish it" Why eating more protein (not less food) is one of the most common changes Kendra helps women make How meal prepping is really about making it easier for your future self to stay committed to your goals Why the all-or-nothing mindset is a trap—and how to enjoy treats without throwing in the towel Three priorities for women in their 40s and 50s: protein, movement, and hydration What GLP-1 medications actually do, why they aren't a forever solution, and why building foundational habits alongside them matters A rapid-fire round of "Do This, Not That" covering intermittent fasting, hard workouts, lifting weights, and rest days Why lifting weights won't make women bulky—and why it's essential as we age How to find 20 minutes you didn't know you had (hint: check your phone) CHAPTERS 1:38 — Why Health Gets Neglected 3:48 — What Wellness Really Means 5:35 — Mindset Shift to Restore 7:36 — Eat More Protein 9:00 — Meal Prep and Treats 13:32 — All or Nothing Trap 15:29 — Where to Start Today 17:57 — Protein, Movement, Hydration 21:51 — GLP-1s Explained 26:26 — Do This, Not That 32:19 — Find Restore Health RESOURCES MENTIONED Restore Health Coaching — Kendra Moody's health coaching practice  (also on Instagram at @restore.healthcoaching) Want to learn more? The Thread Be sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedIn This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network. Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.

Ever lost a potential client because you took too long to respond? While you're at your day job, at your kid's game, or just living life, leads could be slipping away — and the faster you reply, the more likely you are to win their business. Today we're building on last week's intake form setup by automating the next critical step: scheduling that first meeting with a new lead. No more email ping-pong. No more chasing. Just a simple, two-step automation that captures inquiries and gets them on your calendar — even when you can't pick up the phone. Highlights Why being the first to reply can make or break whether a lead becomes a client A simple two-step automation: form submission triggers an auto-reply email with a scheduling link Using Zapier or Make.com on their free tiers to set up the trigger-and-action workflow Choosing a scheduler app — Google Calendar or Calendly — both offer free tiers with a single meeting type Keeping your discovery call to 30 minutes and using the BANT framework (budget, authority, need, timing) to qualify leads Setting availability windows and linking your existing calendar so you're never double-booked Leveling up: adding screening questions to the scheduler, taking deposits for paid consultations Advanced automations: automated follow-up emails for leads who don't book, and no-show rescheduling emails Chapters 0:19 — Intro & Recap: Last Week's Intake Form 1:07 — Why Speed Matters When Responding to Leads 2:07 — Automating the Scheduling Process 2:36 — Setting Up Trigger & Email with Zapier or Make.com 5:31 — Scheduler Apps: Google Calendar & Calendly 7:01 — Setting Availability & Linking Your Calendar 8:15 — Why Automated Scheduling Is So Powerful 8:55 — Leveling Up: Screening Questions & Deposits 10:37 — Automated Follow-Ups & No-Show Emails 11:57 — Wrap-Up & What's Coming Next Week Resources Mentioned Zapier Make.com Calendly Google Calendar Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dad Remember, build the business, but be the dad! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.