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Laura Wifler: Turning the Page on a New Season in Business

APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY Seasons in business. As entrepreneurs we sometimes expect (and believe) that our business should live in an eternal spring. However, at some point we all realize that simply isn’t sustainable. In order to have the life and growth of spring, we must also have the quiet and reflection of winter. The letting go […]

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Hey, I’m Shanna Skidmore. Former Fortune 100 Financial Advisor turned Business Consultant. For the past 15 years I’ve worked in finance helping entrepreneurs around the world make more money and then manage it well. During that time I’ve unlocked the blueprint to building a profitable and sustainable business designed to align with the life you want to live.

Here’s the thing—the "business side of running a business" can be hard, and it’s not everyone’s best skill—but it *is* mine. I would be honored to come alongside you on your business journey.

Shanna Skidmore

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APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY

Seasons in business. As entrepreneurs we sometimes expect (and believe) that our business should live in an eternal spring. However, at some point we all realize that simply isn’t sustainable. In order to have the life and growth of spring, we must also have the quiet and reflection of winter. The letting go of fall and the inspiration of summer. In today’s episode Shanna chats with author and co-founder Laura Wifler on seasons of business, stewarding your work well, and navigating burnout.

Laura is an author, poet, and co-founder of the nonprofit for moms, Risen Motherhood. She has authored multiple bestselling, award-winning books for children and is the co-author of the bestselling Risen Motherhood book. Laura is also the founder of The KidLit Lab, where she guides writers in crafting captivating children’s books and navigating the publishing process. She lives in central Iowa with her husband and three children.

Press play for the full interview or keep reading!

Photo of Laura Wifler with caption: Turning the Page on a New Season in Business

In this Episode:

Growing up in an entrepreneurial family. 🖌️ [5:42]
The OG blogging days. ⌨️ [6:00]
Does God care what kind of diapers I use? 🍼 The questions Laura & Emily asked that led to the start of Risen Motherhood. [7:09]
“We’re pretty hillbilly around here” 🤠 As Risen Motherhood started to grow, Laura & Emily began receiving checks in the mail to help fund their mission (woah!). This was the turning point that led to Risen Motherhood becoming a nonprofit organization. [9:05]
Hiring their first team member 💰 As Laura & Emily both prepared for the arrival of their third babies, they knew it was time to bring on some help. [10:24]
God Winks 😉 The open doors and opportunities Laura’s had through her journey in business.
A female version of a hustler. 💅 Laura’s early days of entrepreneurship looked like early mornings & late nights— A self proclaimed hustler, if you will. For a season, that worked & served her creatively. Tune in for how things have changed since. [15:06]
Filling the gaps ✅ Writing books & filling the gaps where resources are needed in the world. [18:06]
The Kidlit Lab 📚 Laura’s new endeavor designed to help authors successfully write & publish children’s books. [18:34]
Impact Motivated 🧨 In my signature course The Blueprint model, we walk through the 4 core motivators & how this impacts the way you run your business. Listen in for how Laura finds her motivation by impacting others. [21:52]
I’m a words girl. ✍️ How Laura, despite being a words girl, has found the beauty in studying & following her business numbers. [22:41]
Standing on one foot.🦶 Harmony in work & life balance can often look like standing on one foot— Always shifting & correcting. [27:10]
The Venn Diagram. ⚖️ How a season of burnout led to creating a venn diagram with her sister-in-law to look at what she could set down in her life to make way for rest & healing. [29:12]
Finish Well. 🥇 The story behind deciding to close Risen Motherhood in April 2025. [31:35]
Starter or builder? 👷 Entrepreneurs can typically fall in two camps— Starter or builder. Which one are you? [36

Put’em on a Bumper Sticker. These Quotes are Pure Gold.

“We were talking about motherhood and how our faith applied to motherhood, and asking, Does God care what kind of diapers I use? Does God care how I potty train? Because if there is, like, a really, real way, I want to do it the best way possible.” [7:15]

“I think a lot of it was walking through one open door after another, and just very slowly, sort of peeking our head out, testing something, seeing it be successful, and then trying another thing.” 11:34

“Every book that I’ve worked on has just been what I really believe is gaps in the market. I think that’s one of the ways that God has gifted me, is that I can see areas where maybe a resource lacks, or there is something that moms need, and so each of my books have been something that I believe fills a gap in the market.” [18:06]

“I’m trying to be wise about how to grow in a really sustainable way.” [19:50]

“Numbers tell a story. They absolutely help in major ways for you to be able to accomplish the things that you want to do, and you have to pay attention. There’s just no choice. It’s almost like you could pay attention to the numbers and forget about the rest, and it might still run, but you have to pay attention to the numbers.” [24:18]

“I think what balance or harmony looks like, especially as a mom and an entrepreneur and business owner, is that you’re always kind of trying to find it. You’re constantly making adjustments and shifting and growing and not committed to one sort of system or one sort of plan for your day or month or life, but that you’re willing to constantly make tweaks.” [27:42]

“I carry some scars I believe that I will have for my entire life, because I pushed too hard in a season” [28:32]

“What would it look like to end well?” [33:43]

“God created seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter. And winter is a part of it, laying things down, letting things rest, letting things go.” – Shanna [36:08]

“God calls you to the work, not to the results.” [43:11]

“I’ve learned that my responsibility is to be faithful, to steward the work well and to do the best that I can with each project and each item that God has given me.” [43:44]

Laura Wifler

Laura Wifler is an author, poet, and co-founder of the nonprofit for moms, Risen Motherhood. She has authored multiple bestselling, award-winning books for children, including “Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer,” and “Like Me” and she is the co-author of the bestselling Risen Motherhood book. Laura is also the founder of The KidLit Lab, where she guides writers in crafting captivating children’s books and navigating the publishing process. She lives in central Iowa with her husband and three children. You can find her on Instagram @laurawifler, or at laurawifler.com.