We are thrilled to introduce Karolina Munns, a valued member of our community! Since joining the Systemize Your Life and Systemize Your Biz programs in April 2022, Karolina has completely transformed her busy, chaotic routine into a well-organized, efficient system to create work life balance.
By implementing a Communication Board for her family and MeisterTask for her bookkeeping business, Karolina has found a new level of clarity and balance in her daily life. She juggles being a mother, a business owner, and an active community member with ease, all thanks to the power of these systems.
Karolina’s story is a testament to how our programs can help you streamline your life, prioritize your needs, and achieve your goals. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and looking for a way to bring more order and peace into your life, keep reading or listen to the podcast for inspiration on how you can.
Listen Below For The Entire Episode On The Systemize Your Life Podcast
Balancing Family Life and Business: Karolina’s Journey
Chelsi Jo: Welcome! We’re excited for you to meet Karoline Munns, one of the most dedicated, sweet, gentle souls in our community. Say hi and introduce yourself, so we can get to know you! Tell us a little about what keeps you on the verge of overwhelm, but also makes you want to use systems on a regular basis. What do you have going on over there, Karolina?
Karolina: Hi, I’m Karolina and I’m a mother of seven children! Four adult children who are out of the house and 3 still at home. I am a wife of a farmer, so there are lots of things going on! Lots of activities. I joined Systemize Your Life because I wanted to have things more in order for me and my family, and everything that we do. Then I also joined Systemize Your Biz because I’ve had an accounting/bookkeeping business for 26 years. I work from home so there are always lots of things to keep in order and deadlines to meet, so it was also really helpful to go through the Systemize To Scale class with Chelsi Jo.
The Power of Preparedness: Ensuring Work Life Balance in Challenging Times
Chelsi Jo: Yes! So Karolina has been through Systemize Your Life, Systemize Your Biz, and Systemize To Scale. She experienced the whole progression with me. And as a student I think one of the most important things you can do when you’re trying to tame the chaos and the overwhelm, outside using systems, is to be consistent. We were talking earlier and you had expressed how there are ups and downs to it. We wanted to spotlight you and share your story BECAUSE you’ve had so many ups and downs. You also shared some things in our community that had happened recently in your family and in your life. Challenging situations happen to all of us that have the potential to derail us. But you had some great triumph and success through one of the downs in your life. It was just so incredible to see your dedication to this and hearing bits and pieces of your wins along the way. Then for you to share about something that had really been really helpful and impactful for you… You saw the fruits of your labor and THAT is what I wanted to see. I want to help you take a moment in your OWN life to really celebrate that kind of success, because you’ve been working really hard and been so diligent. And I’m sure there have been times where you wondered if this was even going to work!
Family Communication Board + Prioritizing Fundamental Needs
Chelsi Jo: The relentless pursuit of getting your business organized was a lot of work. What has that been like for you? We’re going to talk about you organizing your business, but let’s talk about what it’s been like organizing your home and getting systems in place. Because I know there have been some really beneficial systems for you, specifically your family communication board and getting your fundamental needs prioritized. Can you share a little about that?
Karolina: Yes! As you know, I started in Systemize Your Life and got the communication board and my daily planner set up. Meals are on my board, and what I like best about the communication board is that I have it up on the wall. Everyone in the family can see it, so it’s a way for us all to know what’s going on without me having to repeat everything. I know that’s part of it, reviewing your day with everyone, but I like that it’s already up there as a visual. Then what I like about the fundamental needs is physically writing it in my planner. At first it brings to my attention that these are what my fundamental needs are, and that I am taking care of myself. It helps to identify that certain things are just for me. That I’m not just doing things for everyone else, you know?
Switching from Asana to MeisterTask: Enhancing Work Life Balance
Karolina: I actually added my kid’s routines in MeisterTask on my computer since I was working in MeisterTask for the business portion. What I like about that is now it’s all in one place! I can just click to a different section on the left side and go into my routines. I don’t check them off, it’s just a place to list them and keep track of everything. I’d like to talk about the business side, too. Working with MeisterTask… I was using Asana, then Chelsi talked me into switching to MeisterTask in the Systemize To Scale course…
Chelsi Jo: I know! How long did it take to convert you OUT of Asana into MeisterTask?
Karolina: I signed up for the class, so I SIGNED UP. I signed up to do it, to try out your way, to go all in. At first I had to figure out certain things about MeisterTask. How it would work to put my client work in, since it’s all very recurring and deadline based. So I figured out how to get the due dates going and how to get the recurring tasks to repopulate, but once I got that I was like, “Wow! This is working!” So yeah, I appreciate it. I started your class in January and now it’s July and I’m still using it. And I’m planning to renew my subscription next year!
Create The Time You Need To Be A Loving Mom During Family Emergencies
Karolina: Then as you know, in May things were put to the test for me when I needed to go spend a week with my daughter in Texas who lost her baby… and I’m telling you. Everything. All the systems – business, personal, home – it all got put to the test. Because I wanted to go be with my daughter for a week. She’s my oldest daughter and she said, “Mom, I just need to know that everything at home is going to be okay before you actually book your ticket to come.” And I could say, honestly, that everything was going to be okay because I had everything in order. I’ve got systems in place. So I printed out my routines, then I called my people who I had notified about possibly needing to go and that I might need help. I texted those people because it was just an emotional time, and they were there for me. I had things printed out, had my communication board set up, and I knew my business was where it needed to be. All I had to do was look at my client page in MeisterTask and I just knew everything was done! And I knew what was coming up. Sorry… I’m getting emotional…
Chelsi Jo: Karolina is watching me over here just bawling my eyes out… Oh my gosh. Obviously, we’ve given our condolences to you in our student community, but we extend that out to you again. There are just so many things that I think about… You know, as a woman who has had a similar experience, and having my mom there with me through that moment in my life… Being able to be a small part of your story and you being able to be there for your daughter, is just extremely powerful. A mom is a mom forever… Your daughter is grown, has her own family, is a mother herself now, and she still needs her mom. I think mothering is just the coolest gift ever. And for those of us who are blessed and lucky enough to experience that on any level… sometimes we’re gifted that through biological or not biological children… But being able to serve in that capacity and still confidently say, “I’m going to be fine at home.” It’s not like you wouldn’t have left to be with her otherwise, but it would’ve been a lot harder.
Karolina: I felt the peace… I felt the assurity while I was gone for that week. You know, everything wasn’t perfect but everything went… and when I came home, my little ones had waited up for me until almost midnight. They just wouldn’t go to bed. I was actually gone over Mother’s Day and they just had to give me their Mother’s Day gifts before they went to bed. But they weren’t in this needy place, they were okay. They were taken care of… Because things were all lined up.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a systematic mom or not…
You’re still working relentlessly to care for your family and your home.“
Chelsi Jo: It’s so special because no matter what kind of mom you are… you’re working to serve your babies to make sure they are taken care of, no matter how old they are. To be the kind of woman that says, “I want to do this differently”. It doesn’t matter if you’re a systematic mom or not, if you’re organized or not. You’re still working relentlessly to care for your family, your home and your kids, right? You’re not doing it wrong if you don’t choose to do it this way, but it feels amazing when you ARE doing it this way. And as other people in my family would say, “What a feather in your cap.” You took the time to be proactive and be prepared to set your family up for success in those moments when you didn’t even know a challenge was coming. You had no idea your family would need this. But there you were dedicating your time all along to be so fruitful. Like when families choose to put money aside in a rainy day fund for when an emergency happens – this is how we contribute that as mothers.
Trusting The Process
Chelsi Jo: As much as we want our children to miss us, and they did miss you, they were okay without you. Because you had instilled in them this sense of grounding within their own home, their own day, their routines, their rhythms, expectations… It has allowed your kids to thrive. When you remove a little bit of that, it doesn’t shake them quite as much even when it’s Mom that you remove. That’s IT. That is the essence of what I have captured in my own life, and what I’m trying to lead other people to create. When I see someone else has captured that essence in their home and family, and they can articulate it… You felt it, saw it, experienced it, and it’s such a magical thing. I’m so grateful that you took the time to share with us.
Chelsi Jo: Not only today, but also in our community. I’ve had other accountants and bookkeepers come through the program, and now I can say, “Oh hey! Go chat with Karolina because she’s been there and she’s done that!”. So you get to be a leader in the community, too, which is just amazing. And that’s what happens when you stick it out long enough. I’m so excited and happy for you… I’m beyond grateful that you trusted me, my process, my community, and you also trusted the other coaching that was available to you… There’s just so much in there.
Fun and Flexibility in Making All The Pieces Fit
Chelsi Jo: What else do you feel has been FUN for you in this process?
Karolina: Well first, I want to say THANK YOU, for teaching us! You really put your heart and soul into it and that’s very evident.
Karolina: Okay, something fun in this process… let’s see… well, you know, everyone’s situation is unique. I’m sure you see that. I guess the fun part about it is figuring out how to make your exact uniqueness fit! For instance, my days don’t always go as I planned because my husband is a farmer. He might call to say he needs my help with transport, then before I know it, it’s been an hour! And I had something else planned, right? So I guess making the pieces fit. I want to help my husband…I want to be there. He can’t do it on a schedule so when he needs my help, he needs it! So finding a way to make my schedule work and still make the pieces fit has been fun.
Like It Or Love It
Chelsi Jo: I find that to be extremely fun! Especially when you have the pieces in front of you, it’s like, “Ooh! How do we make this jigsaw puzzle into a beautiful picture today?”. And sometimes we even get 3 days where we didn’t have to move any pieces around! And it feels like a reprieve. Let’s have some fun with what this job actually is. My husband’s favorite phrase is, “We can either like it or we can love it.” Those are our choices! We’re somewhere in between most days, you know?
Karolina: Yeah, why not laugh about it and have fun with it?
Chelsi Jo: Absolutely. Alright Karolina, thank you so much for coming on to the show. I’m excited to share more about your story. Current students in our community will get to celebrate with us as we circle back to this, and we’ll send an email about it, so keep your eyes open and help congratulate Karolina! Thanks again for being here!
Karolina: Thank you!
Join Us On The Inside For Support On Fitting Your Pieces Together
If you would like to find your own version of balance between home and business, please consider joining one of my student communities today. Systemize Your Life, Systemize Your Biz and Systemize To Scale are your paths to making all the puzzle pieces fit together, so you can turn your life into a beautiful picture.
If you’re looking for more on systems and work life balance from Chelsi Jo check out these other blog posts! Balancing Business Series: 3 Steps to Maintain a Work Life Balance and Be Successful in Business, Work Life Balance: The Hacks I Used to Grow My Business, and How to Have a Massively Successful Work Life Balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the key to achieving results with your systems?
The commitment to consistently using the systems is what brings results. Just like maintaining physical health requires regular exercise, managing your home and business efficiently requires sticking to these systems. Even if you’re not naturally organized, the systems I provide will keep you on track. If you’re ready to go from overwhelmed to organized in home and business I highly recommend jumping into Systemize Your Life as a VIP student, which includes Systemize Your Biz.
