Meet a Mom: On Task with Ronna Belinky from Workflows by Ronna!

Introducing to the Chicago North Shore Moms community, Buffalo Grove mom of two, former TV sitcom production coordinator, including the hit show Will & Grace, master planner, and founder of Workflows by Ronna, Ronna Belinky!

Those of us who have been lucky enough to meet Ronna and know her have discovered her superpower: helping individuals, solopreneurs, and small businesses design custom planning processes to minimize stress and maximize daily, monthly, and even yearly productivity. She does this through personalized time-management tools so simple that upon implementation you can literally feel weights coming off your shoulders (more on that later). As Ronna explains, “I teach people that taking the time to plan ahead not only reduces stress and overwhelm, but it also allows them to do the things that really matter.” From stand up paddleboard yoga on Bang’s Lake in Wauconda to empowering clients through her Notebooks with Ronna workshops, Ronna leads by example through balance, intention, and productivity with a whole lot of heart. Get to know this superwoman – welcome, Ronna Belinky!

 

 

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Hi Ronna. Please introduce yourself. Where are you from originally? What city do you live in now? What brought you here?

Hi! I’m Ronna Belinky. I’m a mom of two and the founder of Workflows by Ronna. I’m originally from Northbrook. After college at UW-Madison I moved to Los Angeles and lived there for seven years. I met my husband there, a Los Angeles native, and now we live in Buffalo Grove. What can I say? I missed the Midwest!

 

Tell us about your children.

I have an 18 year-old daughter who is a freshman at UW-Madison. She’s majoring in Psychology and Statistics in the Letters & Science Honors Program. She has been known to gather a group of friends and lead them through conflict resolution. It’s unbelievable. My 14 year-old son is a freshman in high school. He’s a travel baseball player and amazes me with his resilience. Both of my kids really know how to be a good friend, which to me, is the most important thing. They are also very independent, which I think is such an important life skill.

 

 

What are one or two fun facts to know about you? 

My original career was in TV sitcom production in Los Angeles. I worked on a total of six series, nine pilots, and one special, including three seasons of Will & Grace and the Dick Van Dyke Reunion Special. I used to never talk about it unless someone asked me, so some friends have been very surprised when I share it.

What everyone who knows me definitely knows is that my favorite hobby in the summer is stand up paddleboard yoga, which I’ve been practicing for 10 years with Stand Up and Flow on Bang’s Lake in Wauconda. My Friday mornings are blocked off all summer long for class, and it’s a non-negotiable part of my weekly schedule. Rest and taking care of yourself to recharge make you more productive!

 

 

What are your favorite local places, spaces and eats to frequent?

There’s nothing like Ravinia in the summer, and I’ve been going with the same group of women for many years. Anytime there’s live music, I want to be there, whether it’s a local festival, venue, or a concert.

I love sitting at Lindy’s Landing in Wauconda and watching the water at Bang’s Lake, especially since it’s where I launch my paddleboard in the summer.

Taco Vida in Deerfield is always a go-to. And, I’ve been going to Blind Faith Cafe in Evanston since I was a kid.

 

What are you reading and watching?

I always read a nonfiction book at the same time as reading fiction. Right now I’m reading A World Without Email by one of my favorite productivity experts Cal Newport. I know – controversial! He writes about the intersections of technology, work, and the quest to find depth in an increasingly distracted world. I just finished reading Sandwich by Catherine Newman. It really resonated with me with the stage of life I’m in.

For TV, I’m watching, The Summer I Turned Pretty. I love a good summer getaway show.

 

What’s one piece of advice you’ve gotten that’s guided you? Maybe this ties into your current line of work?

A supervisor said to me years ago, “When you say no to others, you say yes to yourself.” I used to feel so guilty about saying no to people and projects. After hearing her say this, I’ve gotten so much better, but it’s not easy!

At Workflows by Ronna, I help women recognize that every “yes”’ takes time and energy. By learning to say no to commitments that don’t align with our priorities, we free up time to say yes to what really matters, which leads to sustainability instead of burnout. My goal for my clients is to feel in control instead of overwhelmed.

 

Let’s get down to business. Tell us all about your small business, Workflows by Ronna!

If you’re juggling a million things and think planning is too complicated and time consuming, Workflows by Ronna can help you! I launched Workflows by Ronna two and a half years ago, and I help busy people create personalized systems to manage their time and to-dos with clarity and intention.

 

Photo credit: Nicola Levine Photography

 

Through hands-on Notebooks with Ronna workshops, private 1:1 sessions or presentations to groups and teams, my productivity and time-management tools will simplify your life and help you be proactive. I build planning processes that work for you, minimizing stress and making more time for things that make you happy. I also create custom Workflows for personal and professional events and projects to ensure they are efficient, goal-oriented and successful. I coach you to create tools and processes custom to your needs. I help make accomplishing everything you’re tasked with more manageable. I make your life proactive and not reactive.

 

 

It’s so needed but truly a unique business model – what was the impetus behind starting Workflows by Ronna?

When I started my career in TV sitcom production, I created processes and systems to get my work done. I always say that I was told what work I needed to do, but nobody taught me how to do it. So I came up with my own systems that I then taught to the people who worked for me. With each episode, we did the same things, so I created and implemented a repeatable process.

When I transitioned into the nonprofit sector, I found myself creating systems again. Nonprofits have some of the same characteristics as television, instead of episodes, they have repeatable programs, events, and fundraising campaigns year after year. I felt like we were reinventing the wheel each time we did the same projects and worked on the same tasks. So I started Workflows by Ronna because I saw a big need to automate these repeatable processes in a simple way in Google Sheets. I said to myself: “I love doing this work, and I’d love to help others simplify their work and stop wasting so much time.”

 

Workflows are not just for small-business owners. How can a Workflow help busy parents organize their family?

When I launched my business, I never imagined that I would teach my personal planning process. Ten years ago, when my children were four and eight, I created a very simple system to stay on top of all of my personal to-dos because as parents, we have so many! Last December, I hosted my first Notebooks with Ronna workshop. I teach a very simple way to create a Notebook (physical or digital) that will organize and pace your personal to-dos for the year and the future, month by month, week by week.

 

 

I know that a lot of parents struggle with keeping track of everything they need to do and ensure that they don’t forget anything. It goes back to repeatable processes. We do the same things every year: make doctors’ appointments for ourselves and our children, sign up for camp, schedule household maintenance, etc. So the best part of the process is that you can use the prior year’s Notebook as a template for future years. You’re not reinventing the wheel each year and trying to remember what you need to do and when you need to do it.

 

“I teach people that taking the time to plan ahead not only reduces stress and overwhelm, but it also allows them to do the things that really matter.”

 

A Notebook helps you eliminate the mental clutter and design a clear, doable plan that actually fits your life. You can pace your tasks with intention and feel less stressed and more in control. You can also move at a pace that works for you and finally follow through on the things that matter most.

But it’s not only about household tasks. I encourage people to add things to their Notebook that are meaningful and create connections. For example, every summer I love to see my 1st/2nd grade teacher with two of my oldest friends. In my Notebook in May, I have a task that says “Text Mrs. Pringle, Amy, & Liz about summer lunch.” Also, every year we have a planning night for my Ravinia group to discuss what concerts we’re going to, and setting the date for it goes into the Notebook.

 

 

Life is hard enough, so why not make it easier on ourselves with a simple system? I teach a system, and the tool is up to you. You can use a physical notebook, a digital version I created in Google Sheets, or your phone. Everyone’s brains work differently. There is not only one right way!

I’ve held six workshops both virtually and in person, and I’ve had more than 50 participants. I’ve also hosted private 1:1 workshops and workshops for couples. I want to be sensitive to the fact that people like to learn in different ways and also feel comfortable in different environments, so I just launched private group workshops. Grab your friends, family, bookclub, or co-workers, and I can host a workshop just for you!

Sign up for my waitlist for my upcoming December and January workshops here.

If you’d like to book a 1:1, couples, or private group workshop, you can fill out my contact form.

 

Do you have to have industry-specific knowledge to create a Workflow for a business?

I say that I’m industry agnostic, so I don’t need to know your industry. I know enough about logistics to be able to help anyone. That being said, I work with individuals and businesses in a few ways, but it always starts with a free 30-minute consultation. I want to understand your needs right away to make sure that it makes sense for us to work together.

I also give presentations to businesses on managing and limiting distractions, time blocking and weekly planning, and managing productivity and communications.

 

How do you guide clients through your coaching and consulting process?

If you’re hiring me for coaching and consulting to create a better way to work or plan your personal life, I start by getting to know you better. For instance, if you rebel against deadlines, we’re not going to add them to your process. I want to set you up for success, so getting to know you better is key. I also ask what is already working in your business or personal life. I ask you a lot of questions!

Then we look at your work or home life and build out tools and processes customized to you, focusing on increasing productivity and minimizing stress. I help people plan an ideal week, build customized tools and processes, learn how to time block, and/or create a process for daily, weekly, or monthly planning. Based on the package, I can also offer more support with accountability. People often think they don’t have time to plan, but I teach people that taking the time to plan ahead not only reduces stress and overwhelm, but it also allows them to do the things that really matter.

 

When someone hires you to build a Workflow, what does the process look like?

If you’re hiring me to create a Workflow for a repeatable event or project, I create a template in Google Sheets beforehand so that our time together is as efficient as possible. We work together by brain dumping all of your tasks, adding dates, and figuring out when the tasks need to be completed. Then your to-do list is automatically created in date order based on a formula in the document.

 

What industries have you created Workflows for?

I’ve created Workflows for nonprofits, event planners, a publication, a co-working space, doctor’s office, etc.

 

What’s on the horizon for Workflows by Ronna? 

I would love to host many Notebooks with Ronna workshops for private groups. There is something magical, comfortable, and energizing about being in community and sharing. I really hope that people take advantage of this offer.

I love working 1:1 with clients, too, so I’d love to be hired for more 1:1 client coaching.

I know that Notebooks with Ronna works really well beyond our personal lives – for small-business owners, maybe even for teens. I have lots of ideas on how to make my processes work for so many people, but I don’t do anything without a good plan. So, this is all in the ‘someday, maybe’ tab in my content doc – when I have a plan and a strategy, I’ll bring Notebooks with Ronna to new audiences.

 

Please give us all of your contact details including social media handles.

To learn more about Workflows by Ronna, check out my website.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter.

See my past newsletters here.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Sign up for my waitlist for my upcoming December and January workshops here.

If you’d like to work with me 1:1 or book a 1:1, couples, or private group Notebooks with Ronna workshop, fill out my contact form.

 

 

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