The Anti-Hustle Welcome: Why Systems Really Grow People (And Why I'm Back Writing)
Systems that support the business — and the human behind it.
Welcome to Systems Grow People
Let me start with this:
You don’t need a bigger to-do list.
You need a better way to run the one you already have.
And you definitely don’t need another “10x your revenue in 30 days” guru breathing down your neck.
That’s not what this space is for.
But here’s what it is for, and why I’m finally writing again.
👋🏼 A little context (spoiler: I never really stopped writing)
For the past few years, I’ve been in a long “sacrifice season”.
The kind where your hobbies gather dust. The kind I justified it with “If not now, when?”. And in a way, I was right. That season helped me grow my career as a Digital Business Manager and strategist. But it also dried me out a little.
The version of me that used to stay up late writing fiction stories on Wattpad? Gone.
The one who ran a beauty blog & YouTube channel just for fun? Gone.
The one who participated in writing challenges in writers Facebook groups? Also gone.
But not really. The truth is, writing never left.
Somewhere between writing, posting, and learning, about ten years ago, I stumbled into marketing. I wrote social media captions, client presentations, strategy decks, scripts, emails, social media posts, outlines, launch copy… You name it. Even when it wasn’t my job, I was the one saying "Want me to take a look at that?".
Then, about five years ago, I discovered broken business operations and couldn't help myself but dig in. It wasn't a strategic career pivot; it was a compulsion. I kept finding myself untangling chaotic systems, piecing together scattered workflows, and optimizing the backend no one else wanted to touch. It became clear that the biggest bottlenecks weren't strategy or marketing, but the hidden operational messes. I have a lot of stories from back then, fun times.
Recently, thanks to a client I deeply admire (hi,
👋🏼), I discovered Substack. A whole world of creators building thoughtful things in public. A place that didn’t ask for clickbait or perfection, just clarity, consistency, and voice.And after a lot of thinking, rethinking, and definitely overthinking, I decided:
I’m bringing writing back into my life.
Not just as another task on my to-do list, but as a tool. To rediscover myself. To reflect. To connect. To make sense of the messy middle. And to help others get through theirs, too.
That’s how Systems Grow People was born.
🧠 Why this name?
Because structure changes people.
I’ve seen it firsthand in myself, and consistently in the founders I work with. I’ve watched them go from frazzled to focused, not because they suddenly became “disciplined”, but because they finally had a system that respected how their brain works. That honored their energy. That made growth feel doable.
This newsletter is about that transformation.
It’s about what happens when you stop duct-taping your business together and finally start building something that can support you.
🧭 What this space is about
As a digital business manager, I see endless paths and strategies, and believe me, I could map out a dozen monetization routes right now. But this isn't that kind of space. This isn't about chasing every trend or optimizing for growth at all costs. Instead, this is a place where I think out loud for people who are building something real, but feel a little stuck. It’s for the founders who feel like they’re drowning in decision fatigue, whose personal systems are just as messy as their business operations, and who have scaling dreams but no time to “just take a week off to fix it”.
It’s also for me.
Because while I’m growing my own career and stepping into bigger roles, I still can’t help but be drawn to the early stages. I love seeing someone reclaim their energy and momentum. I love helping people build from the ground up.
🫶 Who this is for
I’m writing this for small business owners, solo-ish founders, and thoughtful builders who want to grow, but feel like they are losing themselves in the process.
The ones feeling overwhelmed. The ones who’ve grown just enough to feel the cracks forming, but not enough to step back and rework it all. Perhaps you know that untangling your business also means untangling a bit of yourself.
Maybe you’re a solo founder, or maybe you’ve got a small team. Maybe your backend is a beautiful mess, and your personal systems feel just as chaotic. Or maybe you’ve already tried a dozen systems, but none of them really stuck.
If that’s you — welcome.
This space is for people who want to feel more supported by their systems, not trapped in them. For people who are tired of being told to “just outsource” or “just be more consistent.” For people who want structure, but also space.
🧩 What to expect
Every week, I’ll be sharing:
The backend systems that quietly run healthy, human-first businesses
The patterns I’ve noticed after working with founders in the thick of it
The tools I’ve tested (and why most don’t matter as much as you think)
The invisible friction — the mindset gaps, the resistance, the re-learning
The emotional side of systems: clarity, shame, burnout, energy, fear
(Reading the about page might be helpful)
Some weeks will be tactical. Some will be softer. But all of it will be honest, quietly strategic, and written like I’d send it to a friend who’s halfway through their third coffee, trying to get unstuck.
Either way, my goal is the same: To help you build a business that feels more like you, and less like a reaction to everything around you.
💡 Bottom line
If you’re building a business, and a version of yourself who can handle more, I think you’ll like it here.
I don’t have all the answers. But I’ve got frameworks. Empathy. And a deep obsession with systems that grow people.
Thanks for being here,
Mara
💌 PS
If you want to support me, it’s free to forward it to a friend who’s trying to grow without burning out.
Or hit reply and tell me where you’re stuck. I’d love to hear from you.
PPS: Maybe it’s over coffee. Maybe it’s late at night. Either way, I hope reading Systems Grow People becomes part of your weekly ritual. 😇