How to Keep Your Membership From Burning You Out

Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast app:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Podcasts | Pod.link / Pick Another App

Disclaimer: Please note this post may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a commission if clicked at no extra cost to you. Though the opinions remain my own

Table of Contents

Podcast Description

This one’s a little more personal (and a LOT more real) because I’m taking you behind the scenes of what it’s actually like to run a membership long-term.

Not the shiny launch. Not the fancy promo graphics.

But the honest, ongoing work it takes to keep things running smoothly month after month… especially when you’re juggling everything else in your business too.

After running two memberships over the past two years (Productive Entrepreneurs Club and Systems Savvy Society), I’ve seen where strong systems can be a lifesaver, and where outdated or missing systems nearly led me to burnout.

In this episode, I’m sharing the unfiltered truth about:

The not-so-glamorous truth about maintaining a membership long-term
Why your systems might be secretly sabotaging your sanity
The signs it’s time to revamp your workflows
How I knew it was time to realign my Systems Savvy Society offer
Why evolving your systems is a natural (and necessary) part of business growth

This is the first part of a new mini-series, and if you’ve ever felt like something in your business is heavier than it should be, you are so not alone.

Links Referenced in Episode:

▶ Free Private Podcast

▶ Systems Savvy Society

▶ Productive Entrepreneurs Club

Connect with me:

Website | Instagram

Episode Transcript

(Note: This is a formatted AI-generated transcript to make it easier for you to read through, but is not an optimized blog post. Please excuse any spelling or grammar errors and filler words – it’s just how I speak LOL)

Episode Intro

Okay, I’m feeling a little extra chatty today because this episode is super real, super behind-the-scenes, and honestly, it’s something I don’t think we talk about enough as online business owners… what it’s actually like to run a membership long-term.

Not just the shiny launch. Not the fancy sales page. But the day-in, day-out realness of showing up month after month to serve your members, create content, manage tech, and keep the whole thing from falling apart.

And today, I’m spilling the tea on my own experience—what I’ve learned after running memberships for two years (I have the Productive Entrepreneurs Club and the Systems Savvy Society), where systems saved me from burnout, and where the lack of systems definitely made things harder than they needed to be.

So if you’ve got a membership, are thinking about launching one, or even if you’re just trying to stay consistent in your business without losing your mind… this one’s for you.

The Glamorous Start vs. the Ongoing Grind

So let’s start with what it’s like to launch a membership. You know, you get that fresh energy vibes of wanting something new.

You’re creating this thing that’s super new, super exciting. Maybe you like the idea of supporting members consistently without overloading your calendar or your schedule, you know, helping multiple members versus that one-to-one client. Maybe that’s something that excites you. Maybe it’s the idea of it being recurring revenue.

There’s so many things that get talked up whenever you’re trying to get ready to launch a membership.

Because running a membership isn’t just about the launch. It’s about everything that comes after the cart closes.

It’s about the monthly content creation. The tech upkeep. The customer support. The community platform. It’s about keeping members engaged, handling questions, dealing with churn, evaluating what’s working and what’s not, making decisions on what to do next—and doing it all while running the rest of your business too.

And let me tell you… the shiny wears off quick when you realize this is now something you have to maintain on top of everything else. Especially as a solopreneur.

Where Systems Saved Me (and Where Lack of Them Didn’t)

It didn’t take long for the reality to set in—especially during months when I was in a launch for something else, or just had life things going on. Suddenly, the idea of having “monthly deliverables” didn’t feel so freeing. It felt like a lot.

Which brings me to my biggest lesson: systems either save you or sabotage you.

There were definitely times when I was SO grateful I had even a basic system in place.

Like when I had recurring content templates. Or automated member onboarding. Or my Trello board already outlined with what needed to happen each month—those have been lifesavers nad have given me breathing room and reduced my overall overwhelm of running two memberships.

But then there were times—whew, let me be honest—where I was dragging myself to the finish line. Creating content the day before it was due. Trying to remember what I promised last month. Realizing a tech link was broken because I hadn’t updated it since version one.

And that stress? That last-minute scramble? That’s when I felt the consequences of not having even stronger systems.

But here’s what else is true—it wasn’t just about not having enough systems. This is also when I started noticing something deeper: I had actually outgrown some of the systems I had already built.

And I don’t just mean the tech or tools I was using… I mean the energy I had when I built them wasn’t the same anymore. The structure that made sense in Year One didn’t quite match what I needed in Year Two.

Some of the workflows felt clunky, some automations felt like more work than help, and honestly, even my thoughts around certain parts of the membership had shifted.

The Real Reason Behind the Revamp

And that’s when it really clicked. It was time for a change. Not just a system upgrade—but a bigger shift. It was time to rethink one of my core offers too… the Systems Savvy Society.

Systems and offers, especially memberships, aren’t something you “set and forget.” They have to grow and evolve with you. What worked in Year One may not work in Year Two—or even six months later—because your business, your capacity, and your audience’s needs are constantly changing.

If your systems don’t keep up? You end up feeling like you’re working against them instead of being supported by them. And honestly, that’s the space I found myself in… and why I knew a full revamp was necessary.

Because I didn’t just want to maintain the Systems Savvy Society—I wanted to make it feel aligned again. I wanted it to feel light and streamlined and valuable for both me and my members. And I couldn’t do that by piling new ideas onto an outdated foundation.

So that’s where I am now—revamping the entire experience from the ground up. I’m revisiting the systems, the structure, the content delivery, the community support, all of it.

And in this new mini-series, I’m taking you behind-the-scenes of that process.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in something you built—whether it’s a membership, a program, a workflow, or even just a weekly content schedule—you are not alone.

We all evolve. And our business systems and offers have to evolve with us.

So if you’re feeling like something in your business is heavier than it should be… if you’re constantly tweaking things on the fly or avoiding parts of your business because they just feel messy or outdated… take this as your sign.

Your systems might just need a refresh. And that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. It means you’ve grown—and that’s a good thing.

Episode Wrap-Up

Now, if this episode hit home, I’d love for you to do two things:

First, go sign up for my free private podcast if you haven’t already. It’s where I dive deeper into how systems can support your business behind the scenes, without adding more to your plate. It’s super bite-sized and actionable—perfect for busy solopreneurs like you. The link is in the show notes.

Second, come follow me over on Instagram @cheerstoproductivity. I’ll be sharing more real-time updates as I go through this membership revamp so you can see what’s working, what I’m testing, and how I’m rebuilding smarter.

And if you’re curious about Systems Savvy Society and want to be the first to know when the new version drops or how I’m supporting my members through it all—make sure you’re on my email list. You can get on it by signing up for the free private podcast so win-win.

Alright, that’s it for today, friend. Thank you so much for being here and letting me share this more honest, messy middle stage of the journey.

I’ll see you in the next episode, where we’ll start diving into the actual steps I’m taking to rebuild the membership systems—and how you can use those same steps to simplify your own business too.

Episode Wrap-Up

Thank you so much for listening to the Cheerful Productive Chats Podcast with me, Lucy Reyes. To view the full transcript and all the links mentioned in today’s episode, visit cheerstoproductivity.com/podcast. And before you go, make sure you follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening so that you know once the next productive chat is released. Talk soon and cheers to your productivity and success!