Listen Below For The Entire Episode On The Systemize Your Life Podcast

Getting To Know Polly On A More Personal Level

ChelsiJo: I am so excited for this wonderful guest episode of the Systemize Your Life podcast! Today, I have a near and dear friend, an incredible dreamer, and a stellar business owner, Polly Payne. Welcome to the show, Polly!

Polly: Hi! I’m so glad to be here, Chelsi! Yay, we have matching microphones and pop filters!

ChelsiJo: (laughs) Yes! So, tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re juggling on a regular basis.

Polly: I’m Polly Payne, the CEO and founder of Horacio Printing, and I also created Print School. At Horacio Printing, we make all sorts of beautiful planners, journals, and paper products. I’m a bona fide paper snob; I love thick, luxurious paper! We just turned ten this year, which is a huge milestone filled with so many fun moments and challenges. I’m also a wife and a mom of two kids—a nearly three-year-old boy and a five-year-old daughter. We live in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, which is close to Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m originally from Alabama and went to Auburn University. I started Horacio Printing when I lived in New York on Horacio Street. As for what I juggle, it’s a lot! I have my two businesses, two kids, and I’m trying to get healthy while dealing with a Dr. Pepper addiction!

Introduction To The Horacio Planner

ChelsiJo: (laughs) Well, there could be worse things in life for sure! The reason I wanted to bring Polly on today is that if you’ve been in my community for any time, you know I preach time management. My time management system is a hybrid of a paper planner and Google Calendar—no tricks necessary. Polly is the creator behind The Dream Planner, which I’m always talking about, so we’ll discuss why I love this planner, how it came to be, and the heartbeat behind Horacio in general. There are also so many incredible products that Horacio Printing offers. I first discovered Horacio Printing through an Instagram ad a long time ago with the Soap Notes Bible Study, and it changed my life. It transformed my Bible study practice during a tough and busy season, allowing me to study consistently.

Polly: That’s so sweet! I’m so glad it helped you!

ChelsiJo: After that, I found your paper planner. I’ve always loved planners, being a die-hard paper planner user back in college. When I first became a mom, I lost that practice during the hectic season of life. I realized that if I could bring that back, it could help me regain control amidst the chaos. I’d love to hear your story about how you moved to New York and started Horacio Printing. What was your journey like?

Polly: Funny enough, the word “Horacio” is Latin for “Timekeeper.” I moved to New York for a PR internship, planning to stay just for the summer. But I ended up living there for ten years, transitioning from marketing to sales. While my career was thriving, I felt something was missing inside. I was part of a party-heavy lifestyle due to my job, and I realized I wasn’t pursuing my dreams or my spiritual life. In 2013, I recommitted my life to Jesus, and I started to understand the importance of reclaiming my time.

I read a book called The Artisan Soul by Erwin McManus, which resonated with me deeply. It emphasizes that since we are created in God’s image, we are all artists, and our lives are our canvas. I realized I needed to stop doing things that didn’t serve me and focus on creating what did. In that moment, I knew I had to make a planner. I wanted it to be Christian-centered, despite not living a perfect Christian life at that time. It felt scary, but I felt called to do it anyway. I gathered two designers, created the first planner, and printed 1,000 copies, thinking, “Let’s see what happens.”

ChelsiJo: And how did that go?

Polly: Surprisingly well! The planners sold out by January, which was a huge affirmation for me. It was a year and a half later that I quit my job to focus on Horacio full-time. Since then, we’ve had our ups and downs, launched Bible studies, subscription boxes, and even big events. We’ve created notepads, journals, and our new vision board kit filled with inspiring scriptures. So many dreams have been birthed over the years, and I’m super grateful for the journey we’ve been on!

ChelsiJo: That’s incredible! Understanding the story behind a product makes me want to love it even more. It adds so much depth to know there’s a soul and a dream behind Horacio Printing. When I first looked at Horacio, I thought it was this massive company, but now I see the passion behind it. For those listening, we also have this episode on my YouTube channel, where I’ll be showing all of Polly’s incredible products. Make sure to check out chelseijo.co/planner to see my favorite planner and the new anniversary designs. So, Polly, how did you develop such an eye for design? Is it a gift you’ve always had, or did it come through your experience with Horacio?

The Importance of Design & High-Quality Materials

Polly: I think there’s something about recognizing good design. You may not be able to design yourself, but you know when something is aesthetically pleasing and when it’s not, even if you can’t articulate why. I hired exceptional designers, especially after experiencing the top-notch design at my church in New York. Often, the word “Christian” can carry a negative connotation, especially when it’s an adjective. For example, you might hear “Christian band,” “Christian movie,” or “Christian planner,” and unfortunately, it may suggest that it’s subpar, implying that the creators likely had a low budget. But I believe that if something is Christian, it should be of even higher quality than its secular counterparts.

When we created our first planner, I was adamant that it be made of the best materials. I insisted on using 140gsm paper, which is akin to cardstock. The printer told me it was unusual and costly, but I didn’t care. I believed that we only get one chance to make a great impression. I wanted the planner to feature ample margins and white space, promoting clarity and organization—many planners are overly colorful and cluttered, but I wanted something clean and simple. We need that margin in our lives.

ChelsiJo: That’s my favorite thing about your planner! The high quality really sold me on it. I’m willing to pay a bit more for something that stands out, especially when the paper quality is this incredible. The margins allowed me to integrate my home management system, which is why I continue to use it. Just look at this collection—I have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 years of planners right here! This year, I’ve been using the black leather-bound one, which is vegan leather.

Polly: It’s super durable! If you’re concerned about fingerprints or dirt, that one holds up incredibly well.

ChelsiJo: It really does! Even after a year of heavy use, it still looks brand new, despite some water damage from my backpack! And speaking of exciting new releases, the planners for 2025 have just come out!

Polly: Yes! We released our limited edition anniversary planner, which I call “The Gatsby” because it has beautiful gold accents with a chevron tile design.

More Than Just A Planner: Trainings & Extras Included!

ChelsiJo: I was initially going to go for the book-bound version but I’m definitely leaning towards the spiral bound now because of that design! When you purchase a paper planner from Horatio Printing, you’re getting so much more than just a planner. Yes, the price might seem shocking at first, but if you use code Chelsi20, you’ll get 20% off your Horacio Planner, which is fantastic.

Not only do you get a planner, but you also gain access to additional resources, including some QR codes that link to training sessions with Polly. Polly, could you elaborate on what trainings come with the Horacio Planner?

Polly: Absolutely! When you purchase the Horacio Planner, you gain access to the Dream Planning Essentials Course 3.0. This course includes multiple lessons designed to encourage and empower you to dream big for the upcoming year. We walk through setting up your planner page by page, create a bucket list together, conduct a heart check to let go of what no longer serves us, and even plan for generosity. We address fears by writing them down and matching each with a scripture to help overcome them. Chelsi also contributed to this course by teaching about fundamental needs, personal growth, and time blocking—her expertise truly shines through!

ChelsiJo: This planner is a dream planner, and I love how Polly has helped me learn to dream bigger over the years. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, even encouraging me to start my YouTube channel.

You also get a couple of fabulous gold pens, adorable sticker sheets, and a planner that features pockets for organization. The planners also have monthly praise report pages to reflect on the previous month and a seasonal refresh each quarter to rejuvenate your goals.

Polly: And if you’re looking for different designs, we have classic options like black leather, as well as blush and white marble.

New Vision Board Kits & Print School

ChelsiJo: I started with the white marble design and have loved how the Horacio Planner has evolved over the years! And this year, you’re also introducing something new that I’m incredibly excited about: the Faith-Filled Vision Board Kit.

This kit offers a beautiful way to visualize your goals and dreams with a faith-based perspective, avoiding the new age influences often found in typical vision board kits. It includes a corkboard, push pins, and a magazine filled with inspirational images, quotes, and scriptures.

Polly: Yes! This magazine has pages designed for you to create a personalized vision board. At the back, there are blank boxes where you can jot down your own goals and dreams, because we all have unique visions. This year, I made my vision board during a retreat, incorporating my own dreams and fundamental needs.

ChelsiJo: It’s such a meaningful process, especially when done in community. We’re designed to dream big because our dreams matter!

For those looking to create their own gorgeous products, Polly, could you share how they can connect with you through Print School?

Polly: If you consider yourself a “paper snob” who desires to create a devotional, journal, planner, or any printed product, Print School is where I guide you through my dream printing method. We’ve had hundreds of students go through this program and successfully bring their products to life.