(From Welfare to Multi-Millionaire – Without a Morning Routine or Magic Wand)
Let’s talk about habits – but not the Pinterest-perfect kind. Not the “green juice at 5am” or “buy a new journal and suddenly manifest $100K months” kind.
I want to share the real habits that transformed my life – from being a single mom on welfare to building multiple million-dollar businesses, hiring my husband, raising a family, and scaling without burnout (at least not every month).
These habits aren’t sexy.
They’re not always easy.
But they work.
And I’m not just saying that from the other side of success – I’m saying that because I’ve lived both ends of the financial spectrum, and these are the things that created real change.
Let’s dive in.
1. Study Marketing Like Your Life Depends On It (Because It Does)
Here’s what no one told me early on: the best product doesn’t always win. The best marketed product does.
When I was starting out, I was desperate to be “the best.” I thought if I delivered flawless results, clients would magically appear. But visibility beats perfection every time.
Once I started studying marketing like it was my job (because, well, it was), everything changed. I reverse-engineered viral videos. I followed the funnel trail. I tested what got clicks. I watched people who were winning – and then I built frameworks I could plug into my own business.
If you want a shortcut into this world?
⭐️ Download my [Copy & Paste Hooks to Go Viral] – it’ll help you reverse-engineer the psychology behind Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts that drive actual results: https://rachelpedersen.clickfunnels.com/squeeze-page1649350385522
2. Learn How to Price Like a Pro (Not an Amateur Guessing on Zoom)
One of the biggest breakthroughs I had was around pricing. Not just “charging more,” but understanding why clients pay more and what positioning gets you there.
Here’s what I see too often:
- People charging $300/month and needing 30 clients just to make rent.
- Then wondering why they’re drowning in work and never getting ahead.
The truth? The fastest way to a six-figure freelance business is learning how to confidently charge four figures and back it up with certainty.
Once I understood the math, I realized I didn’t need 100 clients. I needed the right 10–15 clients.
Want to see how your pricing stacks up (and what you should actually be charging)?
📊 Grab my [Freelancer Calculator] – it’ll show you what your true rate should be based on your goals, expenses, and time capacity. It’s like pricing clarity in under 5 minutes: https://rachelpedersen.clickfunnels.com/free-calculator
3. Protect Your Energy Like It’s Revenue (Because It Is)
I used to wear burnout like a badge of honor – 18-hour workdays, late-night hustle, saying yes to every opportunity because I was terrified the momentum would vanish.
But eventually, I realized: burned-out Rachel doesn’t show up powerfully. She doesn’t innovate. She doesn’t lead.
Now? Sleep, boundaries, and breaks aren’t luxuries. They’re part of the plan. I get 7–9 hours a night. I don’t work past dinner. I take slow mornings with my kids.
It’s not because I’m “lazy” or coasting. It’s because my brain – and business – work better when I’m not running on fumes.
If you’re secretly running on anxiety, caffeine, and guilt… it’s okay to slow down.
This brings me to the next one.
4. Build Before You Burn Out
So many people wait until they’re drowning to build systems. They scramble for help, duct-tape solutions together, and wonder why nothing feels sustainable.
I learned the hard way that the only way to scale without snapping is to start acting like the business owner you want to become – before you feel ready.
That meant:
- Documenting processes
- Automating what I could
- Hiring sooner (even if it was scary)
- Creating content in advance instead of winging it daily
One of the turning points? Learning how to batch and plan content instead of living in last-minute chaos.
If you’re in that cycle too, here’s the exact process I use to create 30 days of content in under 2 hours. No fluff, no guesswork, just clear systems that work: https://rachelpedersen.clickfunnels.com/30-min
5. Stay Rooted in Reality (But Obsessed with Possibility)
I didn’t get here by pretending life was perfect. I got here by holding a vision bigger than my current reality – and then showing up for it daily.
When I was on welfare, I still believed I could build a business. Not because I had proof. But because I chose to believe it was possible.
That meant showing up even when the bank account was low. Sending pitches. Learning new tools. Recording content with shaky confidence and dollar-store lighting.
I didn’t wait until I “felt like a millionaire” to act like one. I took messy action and made decisions my future self would be proud of.
And every step forward? Became a breadcrumb for the next.
6. Create Before You Consume
When I’m in my best season, I create before I scroll. I write, speak, think, plan before I check emails or scroll feeds.
It’s tempting to start your day reacting – but when your brain is fresh, that’s prime time to make things that move your business forward.
Your content, offers, pitches, ideas – those matter more than consuming what everyone else is doing.
Note: If you’re someone who gets stuck on what to say, or how to show up on video – I’ve got you.
🎥 Grab the 30 Faceless Video Ideas if you’re feeling camera-shy: https://rachelpedersen.clickfunnels.com/30-faceless-content-ideas
7. Track the Right Metrics (It’s Not Just About Likes)
You know what’s not a reliable indicator of success?
Likes. Follows. “Engagement.”
What matters?
- Leads
- Sales
- Retention
- Profit
- Energy levels
In the early days, I celebrated every follower. And while growth is exciting, it means nothing if it doesn’t turn into a business.
Eventually I started tracking:
- How many inquiries came in this week?
- How many were qualified?
- How did they find me?
- What content drove the most traffic to my site?
This helped me double down on what worked – and let go of the rest.
Pro tip: Track both revenue and energy. If a platform is performing but it’s draining the life out of you, it might not be sustainable long term. You’re allowed to pivot.
Final Thought: It Wasn’t the Big Wins – It Was the Tiny, Boring, Relentless Habits
The seven habits above? They didn’t create overnight miracles. They created slow, powerful, compounding shifts that changed my identity.
I went from “survival mode mom” to a confident business owner. From guessing to knowing. From hustle to harmony.
And if you’re somewhere in the messy middle right now – maybe unsure if any of this is working – I see you.
Just don’t stop. Keep stacking the small wins.
Because your life can look wildly different in 12 months. And it starts with what you do today.
Which habit hits the hardest for you?
DM me on IG or tag me when you implement – I live for seeing you win.
And if you want to go deeper? You already know I’ve got a library full of tools to help you grow your business faster, easier, and more sustainably. Pick one. Dive in. Let’s go.
