Create a Flow Podcast

Are your subscriptions helping your creative workflow or silently draining your money and mental energy?In this episode of Create a Flow, Elesha Jacobs breaks down how to audit your creator stack using a simple, practical framework. Learn how to identify essential tools, cancel aspirational subscriptions, consolidate redundant platforms, and build a workflow that’s lean, intentional, and sustainable.In this episode, you’ll learn:The three real costs of creator subscriptionsWhy monthly fees are harder to evaluate than one-time purchasesThe four categories every tool falls intoHow Elesha cut her subscriptions from 15 tools to 6How to re-audit your stack every 90 daysYour tools should support your flow not create decision fatigue.CHAPTERS00:00 — The hidden cost of creator subscriptions01:15 — Why small monthly fees add up faster than you think03:00 — The three costs every tool creates03:15 — The 4 categories of creator tools05:15 — Aspirational tools and why they drain the most money06:45 — Redundant tools vs. broken systems07:00 — My 2026 creator stack audit08:35 — How I cut subscriptions from 15 to 609:30 — Using the Apple ecosystem instead of more tools11:00 — The 4-step action plan to audit your stack13:10 — The emotional resistance to canceling subscriptions14:00 — What my creator stack looks like now16:50 — Your audit assignment for this week18:00 — Final takeaway: tools should serve your flow This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

Apple’s new Creator Studio bundle has sparked mixed reactions across the creator community.In this episode of Create a Flow, Elesha Jacobs breaks down why creators are having completely different conversations about the same tool and why your stage in the creative journey matters more than price.Using real-world examples and industry history, Elesha explains who Apple Creator Studio is actually for, what creators gain and lose with subscriptions, and how to evaluate creative tools in a subscription-first future.In this episode, you’ll learn:👉🏽 Why Creator Studio feels valuable to some creators and frustrating to others👉🏽 The difference between ownership and access in creative tools👉🏽 What Adobe’s subscription shift teaches us about Apple’s strategy👉🏽 A 3-question framework for evaluating any creator subscription👉🏽 How to avoid tool overload and subscription fatigueYour tools should amplify the work you’re already doing not complicate it.Get your Productivity Cheat Sheet here.CHAPTERS:00:00 - Why creators are having different conversations about the same tool01:44 - Two creators, two completely different value propositions04:18 - What Adobe’s shift to subscriptions teaches us06:59 - What creators lose (and gain) with subscriptions09:53 - The 3-question framework for evaluating any subscription13:02 - Who Apple Creator Studio actually makes sense for14:06 - Why this is really about ecosystems, not apps16:18 - Your Creator Studio audit (this week’s action step) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

As the year closes, Elesha Jacobs shares the vision guiding her next season: flow.In this episode of the Create a Flow Podcast, she explores how systems, spiritual alignment, and seasonal planning shape a sustainable creative life.This episode sets the foundation for a peace-driven, purpose-aligned year ahead.What You’ll Learn:What it means to build systems around flow, not forceHow to simplify tools and routines for sustainabilityWhy seasonal planning creates clarityHow faith anchors long-term creative directionResources:Creator Flow Kit — Simplify, automate, and scale with peaceContent Creator’s Productivity Cheat Sheet — Plan your year with clarityStep into your next season with intention, not anxiety. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

Before the pressure to plan the next year kicks in, I want to invite you to pause.Not to quit.Not to fall behind.But to reflect.In this episode, I’m walking you through how I close every year as a creator and business owner using what I call the 3R Framework: Rest, Reflection, and Revenue.This isn’t about hustle or goal-setting.It’s about honoring what God already did, learning from what worked (and what didn’t), and preparing your spirit beforepreparing your strategy.This episode leans slower, softer, and more spiritual because clarity is born in stillness.In this episode, we talk about:✅ Why rest is a strategic act, not a reward✅ How to reflect on your year without judgment or shame✅ The difference between revenue that drains you vs. revenue that aligns you✅ How faith grounds your year-end review✅ What to carry forward and what to release“Stillness isn’t stagnation. It’s strategy.”What did this year teach you about your flow, your priorities, and your peace?Sit with it. Write it down. Pray through it.Before you plan what’s next, honor what’s been.🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Substack Audio. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

If your consistency depends on motivation, your goals are on borrowed energy.In this episode of the Create a Flow Podcast, Elesha Jacobs teaches her Creator Operating System — a simple, faith-rooted framework for building habits that outlast moods, energy dips, and distractions.Learn how to create structure around your creativity so you can show up with clarity, consistency, and peace.What You’ll Learn:Why motivation fails and what actually sustains consistencyThe 3 pillars of the Creator Operating SystemHow to design habits that support your callingThe role of faith and discipline in creative successKey Quote:“Treat your creative life like an operating system, not a to-do list.”Resources:Creator Flow Kit: Build systems that automate and support your creative lifeContent Creator’s Productivity Cheat Sheet: Plan your week with clarity and easeFollow Elesha Jacobs:Instagram → @EleshaNaomiNewsletter → eleshajacobs.substack.comBecause creativity thrives in structure, not chaos. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

Most creators track productivity but almost none track peace.In this episode of the Create a Flow Podcast, Elesha Jacobs introduces The Peace Dashboard, a transformational framework for managing your life, business, and energy with intention.Learn how to build a system that aligns your faith, focus, and daily habits so you can lead your life like a CEO without losing your soul in the process.What You’ll Learn:- Why peace is a powerful productivity metric- How to create a daily and weekly Peace Dashboard- How spirituality, self-awareness, and systems work together- The four areas every creator must review to stay alignedKey Quote:“When you protect your peace, clarity follows.”Resources:Creator Flow Kit: Automate your systems and build peace-driven workflowsContent Creator’s Productivity Cheat Sheet: Streamline your content and organize your weekFollow Elesha Jacobs:Instagram → @EleshaNaomiNewsletter → eleshajacobs.substack.comLead your life with peace, not pressure. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

Working with your partner can test every system you’ve built.In this episode of the Create a Flow Podcast, Elesha Jacobs reveals how she and her husband designed The Creative Sync System to blend marriage, business, and creativity without losing peace or productivity.What You’ll Learn:How to align creative rhythms in partnershipThe 4 pillars of The Creative Sync System (vision, visibility, roles, rhythm)How to protect individual flow while building togetherFaith-based principles for peaceful collaborationResources:Creator Flow Kit – Tools for creating and collaborating in flowCreator’s Productivity Cheat Sheet – Structure your workflow for peace and purposeFollow Elesha Jacobs:Instagram → @EleshaNaomi Newsletter → eleshajacobs.substack.com🎧 Because balance isn’t about doing everything together, it’s about flowing in the same direction. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

At one point, Elesha Jacobs had all the right tools, dashboards, and automations but something still felt off.In this episode of the Create a Flow Podcast, she shares how she rebuilt her entire workflow using The Rebuild Framework a three-step approach that brought her back to balance.What You’ll Learn:How to recognize when your systems stop serving youThe 3-step Rebuild Framework: Clarity, Structure, ConsistencyHow to simplify your workflows for more peace and focusThe role of Faith in finding sustainable balanceKey Quote:“Productivity without peace is just performance.”Resources:Creator Flow Kit: Build systems that sustain your callingCreator’s Productivity Cheat Sheet: Organize your workflow and rediscover peaceFollow Elesha Jacobs:Instagram: @EleshaJacobsOfficialNewsletter: eleshajacobs.substack.com🎧 You don’t need to work harder, you need to work faithfully, calmer, and smarter. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

Burnout doesn’t start when you’re tired it starts when you ignore the first signs of imbalance.In this episode of the Create a Flow Podcast, Elesha Jacobs shares how she reframed rest as a power tool for creativity and peace.Learn how to build a routine that restores your energy, resets your systems, and allows your creativity to flow again.What You’ll Learn:👉🏽 The mindset shift that turns rest into a productivity strategy👉🏽 How to create a 3-step Rest Reset Routine👉🏽 Why faith and rest belong at the center of your workflow👉🏽 How to recharge your systems without losing momentumKey Quote:“Rest isn’t a pause in your progress it’s part of it.”Resources:Creator Flow Kit: Simplify, automate, and protect your peaceContent Creator’s Productivity Cheat Sheet: Streamline your content creation processFollow Elesha Jacobs:Instagram: @EleshaJacobsOfficialNewsletter: eleshajacobs.substack.com🎧 Take a deep breath. Let’s talk about the rest that fuels the work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

After years of building systems that helped her thrive as a solo creator, Elesha Jacobs realized those same routines were failing her in a new season of partnership and change.In this episode of the Create a Flow Podcast, Elesha shares how she rebuilt her systems around balance, energy, and connection not control.You’ll learn how to recognize when your workflows stop serving you and how to design structures that evolve as your life does.What You’ll Learn:The 4 signs your system needs a redesignHow to align your structure with your new season of life or businessHow Elesha and her husband sync creative flow in marriage and entrepreneurshipThe framework for creating systems that sustain both peace and productivityKey Quote:“The systems that got you here may not get you there and that’s not failure, it’s growth.”Resources:Creator Flow Kit: Automate your content with clarity and easeContent Creator’s Productivity Cheat Sheet: 5 steps to create without burnoutFollow Elesha Jacobs:Instagram: @EleshaNaomiNewsletter + Substack: eleshajacobs.substack.com🎧 Listen, reflect, and rebuild your systems with peace. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

Ever hit a wall with your routines, your business systems or even your mindset? In this week’s episode, I share the real, raw moment when I realized my systems weren’t working anymore… and what I did next. You’ll learn my 10-step framework for redesigning your workflow from the inside out, and why healing, grief, and creativity all play a role in rebuilding sustainably.This one’s for anyone who’s ever had to start over on purpose. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

What happens when your creative process evolves so much you don’t even recognize your own work? In this episode, I share the raw truth about facing a creative identity crisis while transitioning from solo creator to creative collaborator and how I’m learning to find my voice again in the midst of it all. If you’ve ever felt lost in your own growth, this one will feel like a deep breath and a mirror. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

In this heartfelt episode of Create a Flow, Elesha opens up about how getting married transformed her creative rhythm and daily habits. From grieving her solo creative identity to learning collaboration and new routines, she reflects on what it means to build a creative life that honors both growth and partnership. Whether you’re navigating a major life change, evolving as a creative, or simply redefining your rhythm, this episode will inspire you to embrace transition with grace, honesty, and flow. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

In this powerful behind-the-scenes episode, I'm pulling back the curtain to share the untold story of why Create a Flow exists and where we're heading. This podcast was born from watching talented creators burn out in real-time on social media, and I created it to prove that sustainable success is possible without sacrificing your sanity. I'm sharing how you my incredible community have been implementing systems from our episodes on Sunday Reset routines, energy management, and productivity strategies, with so many of you reporting life-changing results that prove there's another way beyond hustle culture.Looking ahead, Create a Flow is evolving into something bigger than a podcast, we're building a counter-culture movement that challenges the "work harder, sleep less" mentality dominating the creative industry. I'm announcing exciting plans including behind-the-scenes content showing the messy middle of business building, my YouTube podcast channel launch, monthly Q&A episodes, and community spotlight features where I'll share your success stories. This isn't just about productivity tips; it's about redefining what success means for creative entrepreneurs and proving that systems, boundaries, and sustainable growth strategies are superpowers that lead to more fulfilling outcomes than traditional hustle culture approaches.You can connect with me on instagram, EleshaNaomiGrab the Create a Flow Kit here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

What if I told you the biggest productivity lie is that you need to be productive every single day?In this episode, I'm sharing the personal flow formula that completely transformed how I work and why I now accomplish more in 3 days than I used to in 7.Grab the Creator Flow Kit mentioned in the episode, templates to help you design your week around energy, not against it.One thing i want you to take away from this episode is that the most productive thing you can do today might be to do less tomorrow.Let me know in the comments, What's your biggest productivity challenge right now? And which energy type resonates most with you - Focus, Admin, or Connection?Subscribe for more strategies to create your sustainable creative flow! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

In this episode, I break down the biggest lie we tell ourselves about entrepreneurship that it's all about freedom from structure. I reveal why the most successful entrepreneurs actually have more systems than corporate employees, they just designed them to work for their goals.I share insights on the myth of freedom in entrepreneurship and why structure creates freedom, not restricts it. Learn practical systems that changed everything for me and how systems save mental energy for creativity and strategy.Your action step: Pick one area of your business that needs a system (not more hustle) and create a simple structure around it this week.Resources Mentioned:* Creator Flow Kit (templates for business and creative systems) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

In this raw and honest episode, I share what it's really like to hit the wall after 12 weeks of non-stop working in Q2. No polished advice or productivity hacks – just real talk about burnout, guilt, and learning to prioritize sustainability over hustle culture.What You'll Learn:* Why feeling guilty about being tired is holding you back* The difference between being dedicated and being obsessed* How to recognize when your systems are serving you vs. controlling you* Why rest isn't lazy – it's strategic* Practical steps to rebuild your work approach for long-term successResources Mentioned:* Upcoming Newsletter: "Building Sustainable Creator Businesses Without Burning Out"* Connect with me: Instagram* Join my newsletter: Create a Flow Newsletter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

In this episode, I share the game-changing business decision that saved my sanity and dramatically improved my results: abandoning the "be everywhere" social media strategy for a focused three-platform approach.What You'll Learn* Why spreading across 5+ platforms was draining my business instead of growing it* The real cost of trying to be everywhere your audience is* How to build an "owned ecosystem" that energizes instead of exhausts you* The three-platform rule and how to choose your platforms strategically* Why depth beats breadth every single time in community building* How to make your platforms work together as one cohesive ecosystemThis episode challenges conventional social media wisdom and offers a practical framework for sustainable, authentic online presence that actually drives business results.Continue the conversation and share which three platforms you're choosing in my weekly newsletter community on Substack, Join here: https://eleshajacobs.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

Are you giving away your best work for free while struggling to pay the bills? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive deep into the "serve-first trap" - why good intentions can lead to bad business decisions, and how you can create sustainable income without sacrificing your values, rest, or productivity.Key Takeaways:The Serve-First Trap: Giving everything away for free isn't generous - it's unsustainable and ultimately serves no one well.Money as a Tool: Revenue isn't about greed; it's about creating the resources needed to serve sustainably and reach more people.Stewardship Over Service: Your talents and gifts require responsible stewardship, which includes valuing them appropriately.Boundaries Create Better Service: When you charge appropriately, you can be selective about clients and show up as your best self.Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more entrepreneurs who need to hear this message about sustainable monetization. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com

We've all been there—staring at a blank page, feeling uninspired, questioning if we even have anything valuable to create. In this raw and practical episode, I'm sharing exactly what I do on those tough creative days when motivation feels non-existent.This isn't about toxic positivity or forcing inspiration. It's about real strategies that work when you're in the creative trenches, feeling stuck, and need to show up anyway.What You'll Learn* Why motivation isn't a prerequisite for creativity (and what is)* The 10-minute rule that transforms overwhelming projects into manageable tasks* How changing your environment can shift your creative energy* The power of giving yourself permission to create badly* Why "maintenance days" are just as important as breakthrough days* When to recognize it's time to rest (and how to do it productively)Key TakeawaysThe 10-Minute Rule: Start with just 10 minutes of work to overcome creative paralysisEnvironment Shifts: Change your physical space to change your mental statePermission to Suck: Embrace imperfection to overcome perfectionism paralysisInspiration Banking: Create a collection of your past wins for tough daysMaintenance vs. Breakthrough: Not every day needs to be your creative peakIf this episode resonated with you, please share it with another creator who might need to hear it. We're all figuring this out together.Rate & Review: Your reviews help other creators find this podcast when they need it most. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eleshanaomi.substack.com