The Truth About Passive Income: What You Must Do Before the Money Flows
Before the Freedom Comes the Fear: How to Push Through and Build Passive Income
We hear it all the time in the entrepreneurial world:
"Create passive income and you’ll be sipping smoothies on the beach while the money rolls in."
And while yes, passive income is a game-changer, there’s a BIG piece that often gets left out:
👉 Before your passive income starts flowing, there’s real WORK that needs to be done.
In my latest podcast episode, I sit down with longtime 1:1 coaching client Kelli Blinn, a Columbus, Ohio-based birth doula and childbirth educator, who just launched her first digital course Your Birth, Your Options. We discussed into what it really takes to turn a dream of passive income into a reality — and spoiler alert — it's not just creating a course and hoping for the best.
Here's a sneak peek at what we talked about — and what every doula (and birth worker) needs to know if you're dreaming of more freedom, more income, and less burnout:
1. You Have to Get Out of Your Own Way
Before Kelli ever hit "record" on her course videos, she had to face the internal hurdles that so many entrepreneurs struggle with:
Fear of tech
Fear of being visible
Fear of not being "good enough" or "ready"
The truth is, it's rarely the logistics that slow you down — it's the mindset.
Acknowledging this is the first step toward success.
2. Your Passion Has to Be Bigger Than Your Fear
When the tech feels overwhelming...
When recording yourself feels awkward...
When you want to quit...
Your passion has to carry you through.
For Kelli, her deep belief in empowering birthing people with education — and her dream of making childbirth education more accessible — was the fuel that kept her moving forward.
If you’re clear on your "why," the hard parts become stepping stones, not roadblocks.
3. You Must Be Willing to Stretch Your Comfort Zone
Kelly wasn’t a fan of social media. She didn’t love being on camera.
But she realized that if she wanted to reach more people (and sell her course), she had to show up — imperfectly, authentically, and consistently.
Stretching your comfort zone isn’t about being fearless.
It’s about being willing to act despite the fear.
4. You Can’t (and Shouldn’t) Do It Alone
One thing Kelly shares openly in our conversation is how working with a business coach (👋 hi, it’s me, Darcy!) fast-tracked her success.
She didn’t have to waste time second-guessing every move.
She had support, accountability, and customized strategy every step of the way.
✅ When she got stuck, she had someone to troubleshoot with.
✅ When fear crept in, she had someone to reconnect her to her bigger vision.
✅ When it was time to step into a bigger version of herself, she had a coach who knew exactly how to guide her.
Passive income isn't "set it and forget it."
It’s set it, commit to it, stretch yourself, and stay in the game — and it becomes easier (and a LOT more fun) when you have the right support in your corner.
✨ Ready to hear the full, honest, inspiring story?
🎙️ Listen to my conversation with Kelli Blinn — it's a must-listen if you’re a doula dreaming about passive income or a more sustainable business.
👉 If you’re ready to fast-track your success, cut through the overwhelm, and finally bring your big dreams to life, my 1:1 coaching program might be the perfect fit for you.
Let’s connect and get you moving forward — faster, smarter, and with a whole lot more fun.
Learn more about coaching here or book a Breakthrough Call with me — I’d love to hear from you!
