We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carlyn Bushman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carlyn below.

Carlyn, appreciate you joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

If I could go back in time and start my business sooner or later, I honestly wouldn’t change a thing about when I launched. But not because it was perfect timing—far from it. (Progress OVER Perfection)

I didn’t land in this business all at once—it was an evolution. I left a corporate career, took a much-needed pause, and in that quiet space, I realized how deeply I craved more meaningful, purpose-driven work.

From there, I began testing the waters—first through consulting, then by launching and running an e-commerce handbag brand. Each chapter brought its own lessons (some glamorous, some… not so much), but every hurdle and challenge led me here.

Back then, I thought conditions had to be ideal to start a business: more time, more money, fewer distractions. But guess what —life doesn’t roll out a red carpet for your dreams. At some point, you’ve just got to start walking in the direction of your vision and trust that the rest will catch up (which can be really hard!).

Do I ever wonder what might have happened if I’d started sooner? Of course. I probably would’ve made a few more mistakes, lacked the network I have today, and maybe burned through a lot more cash. But I also believe I would’ve built confidence earlier—and more importantly, I could’ve served even more fabulous female founders. I would’ve learned sooner that entrepreneurship isn’t about knowing it all. It’s about being resilient, resourceful, and vulnerable enough to ask questions.

Starting later? Now that’s the scary thought. I think I would’ve waited myself right out of it. I am a ‘planner’ and love to be organized! Waiting might’ve meant missing out of so many opportunities to connect with so many talented people!
So no, I wouldn’t change a thing about when I started. Because when I started taught me everything about why I started: to own my time (sometimes), create something meaningful, and show my kids that it’s never too late—or too early—to bet on yourself.

If you’re sitting on the edge wondering if it’s the “right time,” let me offer this: The timing isn’t what makes it right. Trusting yourself does.

Carlyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi! I’m Carlyn Bushman—business strategist, profitability partner, and trusted advisor to ambitious, bootstrapping female founders of product-based businesses.

Today, I work with pre-launch and early-stage female founders who are sitting on incredible product ideas but are overwhelmed by the financial, operational, and marketing chaos of getting them off the ground.

These are smart, driven women—many juggling families or full-time jobs—who’ve taken bold first steps but are unsure how to turn hustle into healthy margins and real momentum.

That’s where I come in.

Spreadsheets are my LOVE language!

Through consulting, group programs, and AI-enhanced strategy tools, I help founders master their numbers, streamline their systems, and build sustainable, profitable brands. Together, we take the guesswork out of pricing, production, marketing, and delegation—so they can stop spinning their wheels and start scaling with confidence.

What sets me apart is my commitment to data-driven decision-making with a deeply human touch. I’m not just here to give advice—I’m here to walk alongside you, helping you make sense of the messy middle, optimize every dollar spent, and step into your role as CEO with clarity and confidence.

I’m most proud of the transformations I get to witness—when a founder goes from second-guessing her every move to owning her numbers, making strategic decisions, and hitting that first million in revenue. It’s not just about profit (though we love profit!)—it’s about freedom, legacy, and building something that lights you up.

If there’s one thing I want potential clients and followers to know, it’s this: You don’t have to figure it all out alone. There is a smart, strategic, and sustainable way to build your product business—and I’m here to help you make it happen.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in my life came fast and uninvited.

I suddenly found myself out of corporate, a single mom, staring down the unknown with a mortgage, a young son to support, and no real safety net. There was no roadmap. No “perfect plan.” Just me, a whole lot of determination, and the reality that I needed to rebuild—quickly and smartly.

I had to figure out what came next, not just for survival, but for sustainability. For us.

That’s when everything changed.

I started with what I knew best from my corporate background and launched my first consulting business, MedMetrics, helping physicians navigate complex systems and operations.

I had no idea how to do this on my own. No team. No blueprint. Just the sheer will to figure it out, because I had to. Every day was a crash course in entrepreneurship—from setting up legal structures and pricing services to building client relationships and managing all the behind-the-scenes logistics. It was scrappy, it was scary, and it was one of the most defining seasons of growth in my life. I also did the WORST THING EVER – overcommitted to so many clients because I needed the revenue which led to terrible service. I thought I could do it all – alone.

It was embarrassing. It was my reputation.

I failed. I had to acknowledge that I had to start over again. This required more quiet time. Quiet time is really hard when you are in financial scarcity mode.

This ultimately lit a fire in me: I didn’t want other women to feel as lost and unsupported as I did in that moment of pivot. I wanted to create the kind of partnership I wish I had—someone who could simplify the steps, cut through the noise, and help ambitious women turn their ideas into real, profitable businesses.

That pivot didn’t just change my life—it defined my purpose.

Now, I help other female founders navigate their turning points—with data, strategy, empathy and heart.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been the long game: patience, presence, and people.

It didn’t happen overnight. And despite what Instagram might suggest, it rarely does. I’ve had to remind myself—often—that this is *my* path, not a copy-paste version of someone else’s. I have my own life, my own demands, and my own definition of success. Trust me – I do not walk this talk everyday – it is so easy to get caught up in comparison.

Comparing yourself to someone else’s highlight reel is the fastest way to feel like you’re behind, when in reality, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

What’s worked best for me is getting deeply intentional about my relationships. Truly speaking to—and with—amazing communities like the Entreprenista League has been a game changer.

Not just for exposure, but for connection. It’s not about “networking” in the traditional sense. It’s about building meaningful, mutually respectful relationships. Listening more than I talk. Supporting where I can. And always nurturing the connections that align with my values and vision.

And here’s the lesson I had to learn the hard way: don’t overcommit. I’ve done that—and paid for it with my energy, my bandwidth, and my reputation.

It’s easy to think that saying “yes” to everything will lead to growth, but in reality, it can lead to burnout and blurred boundaries.

So now? I grow with purpose. I connect with intention. I let relationships evolve naturally—and I respect the time it takes to build trust, both with my audience and myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carlynbushmanconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlynbushmanconsulting/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlynbushmanconsulting/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlynbushman/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@carlynbushman7958

Image Credits

Tammy Zelez Photography
https://www.instagram.com/tammyzelezphotography/