What if the career you’ve spent years building—one that looks perfect on paper—leaves you feeling unfulfilled? For Rachel Ligon, that question became impossible to ignore. After years of producing news for NBC and ABC affiliates and working behind the scenes on blockbuster productions for Disney and Amazon Studios, Rachel realized she was helping everyone.
In this interview, Rachel shares her journey from the relentless pace of the newsroom to building a business that offers true freedom of time, location, and purpose. Discover how she turned personal challenges into a blueprint for entrepreneurs seeking productivity, clarity, and a business that works from anywhere. If you’ve ever wondered how to create a life and business on your terms, Rachel’s story will inspire and guide you.
Background & Motivation
Question 1: Rachel, you transitioned from a successful career in TV news to founding your digital business academy. What was the defining moment that made you take that leap?
Before I became an entrepreneur, I had what most people would call a good career. I worked as a television news producer for NBC and ABC affiliates, and I worked behind the scenes on major productions for studios like Disney, Amazon Studios, and Tyler Perry Studios. On paper, it looked impressive, but I wasn’t fulfilled. I felt like I was always helping other people’s visions come to life while putting my dreams on the back burner.
Then, life forced me to face that. I became a caregiver for my mother while I was transitioning from employee to entrepreneur. And let me tell you, that season changed me. I had to choose between showing up at work or being present for my mom at doctor’s appointments, hospital visits, and just being there for her. It broke my heart to feel torn, and I realized: this isn’t the life I want. I wanted location, time, and financial freedom. I wanted a business that could support me and let me be there for the people I love, no matter what.
So I invested in myself. I spent over $50,000 on mentorships, courses, and learning how to build an online business. Yes, it was expensive — but it saved me years of trial and error. I learned how to take what I knew, my gifts, and my story, and turn that into a business that gives me freedom, and now I teach others to do the same.
When my mother passed, it became part of my mission: I help entrepreneurs avoid the common mistakes I made at first — things like trying to do too much at once, lacking clarity, or following strategies that weren’t aligned. I help them build businesses that fit the life they want, so they’re not stuck in survival mode or sacrificing what matters most.
I show people — whether they’re coaches, service providers, digital product creators, or those who want to build personal brands — how to create an online business they can run from anywhere. A business that’s aligned, profitable, and sustainable. Because I know firsthand what it feels like to not know how — and now that I do, I’m passionate about helping others use proven systems to automate their business and create that freedom for themselves.
Question 2: What challenges did you face early in your transition, and how did you overcome them?
Oh, plenty! The biggest one was battling overwhelm — I had so many ideas, but no clear roadmap. I kept asking, Where do I even start?
The way I overcame that? I stopped trying to “do it all” at once and focused on building one brick at a time. I invested in mentors, programs, and faith, and created my frameworks so I could stay focused and avoid shiny distractions.
Question 3: Many entrepreneurs struggle with fear or self-doubt at the start. How did you manage the emotional side of such a bold career change?
I leaned hard on faith and mindset work. I had to reprogram how I saw myself, not just what I did. That’s why I always say, “You don’t need a new strategy. You need a new identity.” I prayed, journaled, and surrounded myself with people who spoke life into me. And I took action — because clarity comes through motion, not before it.
Productivity, Habits & Self-Management
Question 4: Describe your typical workday. Do you follow a specific morning routine or productivity ritual?
Absolutely — I’m big on how you start your day sets the tone. I usually wake up around 5:30 am. I pray, journal, exercise, review my goals, and visualize where I’m headed. Then, around 8 am, I tackle my top priority before I let emails or DMs pull me in a million directions.
Question 5: How do you prioritize your tasks when everything feels important, especially as a founder and mentor?
I ask: What moves the needle toward my vision? And I’m not afraid to let go of “good” tasks that aren’t aligned with my bigger mission.
Question 6: What systems or tools (digital or analog) do you use to stay organized and productive?
Google Calendar runs my life. I also love ClickFunnels 2.0 to automate my sales funnels, I use Hubspot to manage my projects, and I’m old school — I still like to write things down in a physical planner… even though I have everything linked to my Google calendar.
Question 7: How do you balance working on your business vs. in your business?
From 8-11 am, I block time each week for CEO thinking and Prospecting — not just client calls or content creation. That time is sacred.
Question 8: What’s your approach to managing distractions, especially when working remotely or while traveling?
Distraction happens when you don’t know your priority. Which is why I’m so big on planning my day. So I get it clear first. And I give myself permission to log out, silence the noise, and focus deeply.
Question 9: How do you recharge or prevent burnout while running a purpose-led business?
Faith, rest, and boundaries. I honor the Sabbath, I protect my peace, and I remind myself: this is a marathon, not a sprint.
The A.D.O.R.N. Method & Business Strategy
Question 10: You created the A.D.O.R.N. Method — can you walk us through what it stands for and how it helps aspiring entrepreneurs?
Absolutely! A.D.O.R.N. stands for:
- Assignment — Know your deeper purpose
- Discover — Uncover your gifts + story
- One Step Ahead — Overcome self-doubt with action
- Research — Understand your audience + market
- Niche Down — Specialize so you can serve powerfully
It’s clarity + strategy combined — because clarity is the new currency.
Question 11: What are the biggest mindset shifts you help your clients make before they start selling online?
That selling isn’t begging — it’s serving. And that clarity in their message is what gives them confidence. Also, people want a solution to their pain. If you can position whatever it is that you are selling as the solution to their problem, then your audience will most likely purchase from you.
Question 12: In your experience, what’s one productivity habit entrepreneurs often overlook but need?
Reflect and analyze your data. They move fast but don’t stop to evaluate what’s working — and what’s not.
Question 13: How do you integrate faith and mentorship into your business practices without compromising strategy?
To me, faith and strategy go hand-in-hand. Faith gives me vision, and strategy gives me steps. I show clients how to align both so they can move with integrity and clarity.
Leadership & Mentorship
Question 14: What’s one leadership principle you live by — and how has it shaped the way you grow your business and community?
Lead by example. I can’t ask my clients or community to be bold, consistent, or authentic if I’m not living that first.
Question 15: How do you keep yourself accountable as a solopreneur or small business leader?
Set public goals, and I have mentors + peers who check in on me. And I check in on myself, too.
Question 16: How do you evaluate whether a new opportunity aligns with your mission or is just a shiny distraction?
I ask: Does this move me closer to my God-given assignment? If not, it’s a no.
Inspiration & Legacy
Question 17: Who or what inspires you when you hit a low point or feel stuck?
My faith. My mother’s legacy. And honestly, my clients. Seeing their wins keeps me excited, but also knowing I have people who are trusting me to help them with marketing their business motivates me to keep showing up even on the days I don’t feel like it. In reality, you won’t always have good days. But there’s something about accountability that pushes you when you don’t have the strength on your own.
Question 18: What advice would you give to high-performing professionals looking to start a side hustle or pivot careers?
Start before you’re ready. Clarity comes through action, not before it.
Question 19: What legacy do you hope to leave through Adorn Boss Business Academy and your overall mission?
That I helped people become who they were called to be — not just make money, but make an impact.
Question 20: Finish this sentence: “Success, to me, means…”
… living in alignment with your purpose and leaving people better than you found them.
BONUS (Optional) Questions
Question 21: What’s one book, podcast, or quote that transformed your thinking about productivity or business?
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear — small, consistent actions do change your life.
Question 22: If our readers only remember one thing from this interview, what should it be?
That clarity is your greatest productivity tool — get clear, and everything else flows.
Conclusion
Rachel Ligon’s journey is a testament to the power of choosing purpose over convention and designing a business—and a life—that truly fits. Her story reminds us that productivity isn’t just about getting more done, but about aligning our work with what matters most. By investing in herself and learning from her challenges, Rachel has created a path to freedom that she now shares with others, empowering entrepreneurs to build businesses that support their dreams, not just their schedules.
Whether you’re a coach, creative, or aspiring digital entrepreneur, Rachel’s insights offer a roadmap for building something sustainable, meaningful, and mobile. Her experience proves that with clarity, the right systems, and a willingness to invest in your growth, you can create a business that works for you, wherever life takes you.
Want to book a free strategy call with Rachel Ligon? Book a call here.
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