The Larkcast is an ongoing conversation about the God who revealed himself in Jesus and this thing we call life. Join us! Learn more at Larksite.com 

There’s a big difference between wanting a successful sleep consulting business and actually building one. Kari spent more than 20 years working as a nanny before deciding she wanted something different. She loved working with babies and families, but she wanted more flexibility, and the ability to work entirely from home. So she got certified as a sleep consultant and got to work. For Kari, that meant putting herself out there in ways that didn’t always feel natural or comfortable. She reached out to pediatricians and other perinatal professionals, booked meetings that made her nervous, and spent hours making connections and building relationships. She worked tirelessly to market herself before the referrals were coming in and trusted that the effort would eventually pay off. And it did. Somewhere along the way, Kari gained confidence in herself and in the value of the experience she already had. Tasks that once felt intimidating became easier simply because she kept doing them over and over again. In this episode of Becoming a Sleep Consultant, we talk about what it took for Kari to turn the career she imagined into the career she can be proud of. She's ahead of schedule!  Links:  Website: https://karipoppinz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karipoppinz_babysleepmagic/

There’s a really uncomfortable stage of building a business where you’re doing the work, putting yourself out there, and wondering when it's going to click. For Caralyn, that stage lasted a while. She graduated from CPSM, worked with a few families pro bono, and then went almost a year before booking her first paying client. From there, things grew slowly. One client here. Another client there. Enough to gain experience and build her confidence, but not necessarily enough to feel like she had real momentum. And then this month, she booked five paying clients! In this episode of Becoming a Sleep Consultant, Caralyn and I talk about what it feels like to build a business slowly, the temptation to compare your progress to everyone else’s, and the confidence that only comes from actually doing the work. Sometimes growth happens little by little, and then all at once. I loved this conversation, and I think it will be especially encouraging for anyone who is still waiting for momentum to build.  Links:  Website: https://www.sleep-skillz.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/sleep.skillz

You know God loves you. You know grace holds you. And yet you struggle to actually live in the freedom Jesus promised. In this episode, Russ unpacks what 10,000 hours of conversations have revealed — and why the way out isn't more knowing, it's something far riskier.  Learn more at Larksite.com

Alanna is a Boston-based mom of two, an occupational therapist, potty training consultant, and certified pediatric sleep consultant through the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management. For over three years, she has been helping families navigate their sleep journeys through her business, Big Picture Sleep Solutions. What began as a side hustle alongside her career as an occupational therapist has now become her primary focus. Alanna’s passion for baby and toddler sleep was sparked when her older daughter was an infant. Determined to support her own baby, she immersed herself in the world of sleep consulting and discovered a deep love for it. She is dedicated to creating a supportive space where families can learn about sleep in a flexible, non-judgmental, and personalized way. Alanna takes pride in her work and has helped hundreds of families achieve the rest they need to thrive. On this episode of the Becoming a Sleep Consultant podcast, Alanna shares: - Her initial goals for her business when she launched three years ago and how those goals have evolved over time - What it looked like for her business to gain momentum over time - Her thoughts on the secret to growing a successful sleep consulting business Links: Website: https://bigpicturesleep.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigpicturesleep