Episode 026: From $100 and Pregnant to Multi-Six Figures with Tay Daniels
Listen, I am so excited to share this conversation with you. I've been following Tay Daniels for over a year now (you know how I feel about time, so probably longer), and she is absolutely incredible. This episode is going to challenge everything you think you know about working harder to make more money.
Tay went from being seven months pregnant with less than $100 in her bank account to becoming a multi-six figure agency owner and certified life and business coach. But here's what I love most - she now works only two days a week and makes more money than ever before.
If you're a neurodivergent entrepreneur struggling with the "hustle till you die" mentality, this conversation is going to be a game-changer for you.
The Real Story Behind "Work Less, Make More"
When Tay first started her business in 2016, she was the ultimate hustle girl. She had to be - she was a single mom who needed that money to avoid homelessness. But here's what's fascinating: every single time life forced her to slow down, her business actually grew.
"I married, remarried, so again forced to slow down because I had to take care of life, and as I did that my business started to transform and pivot and I started to make more money," Tay explained. "Every single time I made these pivots and transitions, which sometimes were out of my control, I ended up making a lot more money."
This is such a mind fuck for those of us who were raised believing that success requires grinding 24/7. But what Tay discovered is that when you give yourself and your business space, magic happens.
Why You Need More Than Just Business Strategy
Here's what I absolutely love about Tay's approach - she gets that you can't just fix one piece of the puzzle. You can't just learn sales strategies or just work on your trauma. Everything needs to work together.
"I think this comes in parts and this is where people are missing in the industry," Tay said. "We see business coaches, we see life coaches, we see trauma specialists, we see therapists, we see energy healers, but there's never this moment of it all needs to work together."
This is exactly what I've been saying! You cannot build a sustainable business if you're not actively healing your nervous system and working on your mindset. I used to think when I hit six figures, all my anxiety and stress would magically disappear. Spoiler alert: it doesn't work that way.
The Truth About Accommodating Yourself as a Neurodivergent Entrepreneur
We talked about something that I'm super passionate about - the difference between seeking a formal diagnosis versus just starting to accommodate yourself right now. And listen, this might be controversial, but Tay and I are aligned on this.
"Don't even get the diagnosis, don't get formally diagnosed," Tay said. "You know what your problems are."
I completely agree. Who benefits from you being formally diagnosed? Not you. You're going to get bandaid solutions that don't actually fix the root of your problems. Meanwhile, there are real consequences to having certain diagnoses on your record that nobody talks about.
Start accommodating yourself now. Figure out what your nervous system needs. Create boundaries around your work schedule. Stop waiting for external validation to give yourself permission to work in a way that actually serves you.
Why Community Matters More Than You Think
One thing that came up in our conversation is how the people you surround yourself with will directly impact your success. This includes family members who might not understand your entrepreneurial journey.
"I don't want to show up online because someone in my family will judge me. My friends will judge me. Who cares? These people are not paying your bills," Tay pointed out.
I remember when I was first starting out, working at the restaurant, and a coworker basically scoffed at my TikTok following. That moment was burned into my brain because it showed me exactly who was threatened by my success.
You are a threat to people's status quo. The sooner you accept that, the easier it becomes to distance yourself from anyone who isn't cheering you on.
The Magic of Living in "Delusion"
Both Tay and I are big believers in what we call living in delusion - fully embracing that you can have anything you want. When people bring up "the economy" as a reason why no one's buying, we're not buying into that narrative.
"That's interesting because I just made 17 grand last week on a presale," Tay said when I brought this up. "People are buying, people are spending money every second of every day."
If you want to sign up for my newsletter and get more insights like this delivered straight to your inbox, head to mindsetmelanie.com/newsletter. I share all my best strategies for building a business that doesn't burn you out.
Accommodations Are Everything
Here's what I want you to really understand: accommodations aren't just for people with formal diagnoses. They're for anyone who wants to work in alignment with their nervous system and energy levels.
Tay now works only Mondays and Thursdays, from 8am to 2pm at the latest. She doesn't run paid advertisements and has a very lean team. This allows her to know exactly when she's working and what she's focusing on during those times.
"When you have a life that is, or a business that stimulates the life that you want to live, it doesn't feel like you're always having to run away from it," Tay explained.
This is the goal, people. Building a life you don't need a vacation from.
Why Healing Has to Be Part of Your Business Strategy
If you take nothing else from this conversation, understand this: you will bring your trauma, your limiting beliefs, and your nervous system dysregulation with you to every income level.
"At every level and every income level, if you do not fix your mind and your body and your trauma and you don't work actively on healing your nervous system, you're going to bring your shitty thoughts with you at every level," Tay said.
This is why I'm so passionate about helping neurodivergent entrepreneurs understand that mindset work isn't optional. It's not some woo-woo add-on to your business strategy. It IS your business strategy.
The Bottom Line
Tay's story proves that you don't need a degree, wealthy family connections, or even significant startup capital to build a thriving business. What you need is the willingness to take risks, the commitment to heal yourself along the way, and the courage to accommodate your unique needs.
Stop waiting for permission to work differently. Stop believing that suffering equals success. And definitely stop taking advice from people whose lives you don't want.
Your energy is your power. The more magnetic you become, the more you'll repel the wrong people and attract the right ones. Yes, some of those people you're repelling might be loud about it, but remember - people doing better than you don't have time to criticize you.
Connect with Tay Daniels
Ready to learn more about working less and making more? Here's where you can find Tay:
Tay offers two main programs: Energy School, where she helps you build your first profitable group coaching program in six months, and a mastermind that opens four times a year to help you scale to six and multi-six figures in 12 months.
Remember, healing is a lifelong thing, but it's also the foundation of everything else you want to build. Figure out what your trauma responses are, create a plan to start actively healing, and watch your business transform along with your life.
