Designing Boundaries: Building a Business You Love Without Burning Out with Diane Whiddon

Empowered by AI

In this episode of Empowered by AI: The SLAI Effect, host Michelle Muncy-Silva sits down with web designer, strategist, and creative boundary-setter Diane Whiddon to talk about what it really takes to run a business that respects your energy and reflects your values. With over 17 years of experience helping creatives and coaches grow businesses they love, Diane brings clarity, candor, and actionable insights.

You’ll hear how she transitioned from burnout to balance, why your website should be your hardest-working team member, and how she's using AI (including Claude!) to scale sustainably without compromising her creativity.

This one’s for anyone who wants to lead with intention, work with ease, and protect their time like the precious resource it is.

⏱️ Timestamped Highlights:

[00:00] Welcome & Introduction

Meet Diane Whiddon, creative entrepreneur, strategist, and web designer with a storyteller’s heart.

[01:00] From Novelist to Designer

Diane shares her journey from writing novels to building a thriving web design business.

[03:00] Messaging Before Design

Why nailing your website copy is more important than picking the prettiest template.

[05:00] Websites That Pull Their Weight

Turning your site into your best employee—complete with systems and automation.

[07:00] Why Squarespace Still Wins

Diane’s favorite platform for ease, adaptability, and long-term control.

[08:30] How Automation Saves Time and Sanity

Creating boundaries using forms, FAQs, and AI to eliminate constant email tag.

[10:30] The $20K Rewrite

A story about how better messaging led to massive client growth—without a redesign.

[12:00] Redefining “Success” After Burnout

Diane opens up about her turning point and why she rebuilt her business from the inside out.

[14:00] No Calls, No Guilt

Rethinking what “good service” really means when you're protecting your bandwidth.

[16:00] Introducing the Designing Boundaries Membership

Helping designers communicate clearly, set expectations, and navigate tricky client conversations.

[19:00] AI as Creative Sidekick

Diane’s go-to tools and how she uses Claude to brainstorm offers and create content fast.

[21:30] Building a Freebie with Claude

How she uses AI to co-develop resources that meet client needs in minutes.

[24:00] The Fifth Grader Teaching the Fourth Grader

Why perfection isn’t required to be impactful—and why it’s okay to lead while still learning.

[28:30] What’s Next: Scaling Authentically

Diane shares her future vision, including how to grow without giving up what matters most.

[32:00] Final Thoughts & Free Resource

This conversation is a reminder that your business should work for you—not the other way around. Diane Whiddon brings honesty, experience, and a whole lot of wisdom for anyone who’s ever felt drained by their own dream. Her approach to boundaries, AI, and redefining hustle will leave you thinking differently about how you show up in your business—and how to protect your joy in the process.

You can connect with Diane on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClVjBFbXIblOIq5T-npyIIA

As well as her website https://swayrisecreative.com/

If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and grab free resources once you sign up at https://innovativeaistudio.com/podcast/