Freedom in Five Minutes

You started your business for freedom, but now you're working more than ever. You're stuck in the weeds, and the idea of handing tasks to someone else feels like letting them borrow your own child. Sound familiar? In this episode, Kevin from the Pro Sulum team unpacks the brutal psychology behind why delegation feels impossible—and exposes the three big lies keeping you trapped in your business instead of working ON it. If you're dealing with burnout, working 60+ hour weeks, or convinced that "no one can do it like you can," this episode will challenge everything you think you know about delegation. This isn't your typical "just hire a VA" advice. This is about understanding the psychological barriers, dismantling the lies, and building systems that actually set you free.

The beauty and salon industry is set to hit nearly $96 billion by 2033, but if you're a salon owner drowning in operational costs, watching your best staff walk out the door every few years, and feeling trapped in your own business… you're not alone. In this episode, Kevin from the Pro Sulum team breaks down the brutal reality behind the industry's growth numbers and why conventional advice like "just raise your prices" or "buy better software" is keeping you stuck in chaos. You'll discover: Why the $96 billion boom is hiding a crisis for individual salon owners The real reason 3-5 years is the "death sentence" for most cosmetology professionals (and your business) Why that expensive booking software didn't buy you any freedom What team-based salons like The Masters Salon (50+ years in business) know that you don't The one thing that separates slaves from owners who are actually free This isn't another fluffy "mindset" episode. This is about the systems gap that's killing your business—and the documented process that fixes it. Key Topics & Timestamps: [0:00 - 0:53] Opening: The $96 Billion Paradox Why is the industry booming while you're burned out and broke? [0:53 - 2:00] Segment 1: The Rising Cost Crisis December 2025 data: $95.99 billion market projection The hidden operational costs crushing salon owners Why "raise your prices" is lazy advice that misses the point [2:00 - 3:29] Segment 2: The 3-5 Year Staffing Death Sentence Huntsville Business Journal interview with Brett Pierce (The Masters Salon) Why trained stylists leave just when they become profitable The brutal truth: You're offering jobs, not careers [3:29 - 4:09] Segment 3: The Software Trap Why automation without systems just creates "fancy chaos" The hammer vs. blueprint analogy How you're wasting thousands on tools that don't fix the real problem [4:09 - 5:05] Segment 4: The Team-Based System Secret What makes The Masters Salon's model work after 50+ years The Holy Grail: Consistent client experience regardless of who serves them Why documentation is the only path to freedom [5:05 - 6:44] Segment 5: The VSA Solution What a Virtual Systems Architect actually does (vs. regular VAs) The 5-minute video that creates a forever asset How documentation while working changes everything [6:44 - 7:24] Closing: Your Next Steps The real problem diagnosis: Systems, not time or people Clear path forward with Pro Sulum Resources Mentioned: Free Systematization Assessment:

Welcome to Episode 208 of Freedom In Five Minutes! Kevin from the Pro Sulum team takes the mic to deliver a no-BS breakdown of what's REALLY happening in the Managed Service Provider world as we head into 2026. Your MSP is about to pitch you a lot of "AI solutions" in the coming year. But here's the uncomfortable truth: most of it might be snake oil. Kevin reveals how to spot the difference between genuine AI transformation and expensive experiments being conducted on YOUR dime. If you're a business owner paying for IT services, this episode will save you thousands of dollars and countless headaches. Plus, you'll discover the ONE thing that must happen BEFORE you automate anything with AI (spoiler: almost everyone gets this wrong). What You'll Learn: ✅ The AWS MSP Pressure Cooker - Why Amazon is throwing "steroid-level" money at MSPs to sell you AI services (and what that means for your wallet) ✅ The One Question to Ask Your MSP - A simple test to determine if they're truly using AI or just practicing on your business ✅ Agentic AI: The Terminator of IT - The next-level automation that either becomes your best employee or your worst nightmare ✅ The "Intelligent Garbage" Problem - Why automating broken processes just creates chaos at 100x speed (and how to avoid it) ✅ Why QBRs Are Dead in 2026 - Stop accepting boring activity reports and start demanding Strategic AI Reviews that show real outcomes ✅ The Hidden Gap Your MSP Can't Fill - Why even the best IT providers can't systemize your operations (and who can) Key Quotes:

Welcome to Freedom In Five Minutes! The brutal truth nobody's talking about: AI won't replace you... but a competitor using it absolutely will. And that gap? It's widening right now in December 2025. In this episode, Kevin from the Pro Sulum team breaks down the latest industry research showing why small and medium-sized businesses are perfectly positioned to dominate with AI—yet most are frozen in analysis paralysis while their competitors race ahead.

Welcome to another episode of Freedom In Five Minutes! I'm Kevin, team member here at Pro Sulum, and today we're diving deep into the lessons from "The E-Myth Revisited" that business owners STILL fail to grasp in 2025—and it's costing them everything. What You'll Learn in This Episode: The Brutal Reality: With private payrolls dropping 32,000 jobs in November 2025 (led by small business cuts), rising costs crushing operations, and business owners hitting burnout faster than ever, the E-Myth lessons have never been more relevant. Yet most entrepreneurs are STILL making the same fatal mistakes Michael Gerber warned about decades ago. The E-Myth Lessons Still Breaking Businesses:

Welcome to another episode of Freedom In Five Minutes! I'm Kevin, team member here at Pro Sulum, and today we're diving deep into a crisis that's absolutely crushing multi-unit franchise restaurant operators across the country.

Welcome to another episode of Freedom In Five Minutes! I am your host Dean Soto. Your man of systems helping you create more freedom and profit than they ever thought possible. That is why we have Steph Hilfer on the show – the lady full of Vim and Vigor! Steph Hilfer is the founder and Chief Creative Director of https://getviim.com—a marketing consulting firm that helps businesses discover their brand. She can visualize what doesn't yet exist and bring it to life... and boy it's alive!

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean shares three top benefits from leveraging virtual assistants. Learn how you your talented staff can help seize massive success for your business in the midst of a tough economy. All that and more, coming up!   Check out more of Pro Sulum through the links below.   -

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean talks about his recent learnings from firing their gardener and how the lessons from that experience reflects how to hire the best personal assistant for your business.   Check out more of Pro Sulum through the links below.   -

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean Soto describes the best types of business owners who might have higher chances of success with Virtual Systems Architects and virtual assistants in general. For more episodes visit our blog at https://www.prosulum.com/blog/

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean talks about how to best carry out your superpowers by outsourcing your excess tasks. For more Freedom In Five Minutes podcast episodes, visit ProSulum.com/blog.

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean Soto talks about his return to Jiu-Jitsu and how even the smallest things can make a massive difference in your pursuit of business success.

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean Soto talks about his unconventional but highly effective methods in doing lead generation for Pro Sulum. If you enjoy this episode and want more of Dean's Freedom IN Five Minutes, visit ProSulum.com/blog or subscribe to the Freedom In Five Minutes Youtube Channel

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean talks about one uncomfortable thing that most business owners shy away from. Breaking things to make it better. Listen to this episode and learn how Dean has gotten used to the discomfort of breaking things and reaped the benefits in business and life when the broken things are fixed and made better than before.

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean Soto talks about his experience with recent clients who are looking to hire Virtual Systems Architects to fill Executive Assistant positions. Dive in with Pro Sulum founder, Dean Soto and learn three tips on how to find the best Executive Assistant for you and your small business.

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean Soto gives you tips on how to find the perfect virtual assistant to help you achieve business success.

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean Soto speaks about our most valuable resource— time. Listen to this episode and learn how to whip up more time for your business and personal life. All that and more, on this week's episode of Freedom In Five Minutes. Don't forget to subscribe to Freedom In Five Minutes on Apple Podcasts and leave a review! We are excited to hear from you.

In this episode of the Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast, Dean talks about a change in mindset that has opened better paths for him both in business and personal life. So check this episode of Freedoms in Five Minutes Podcast and find out! And if you would like to get more episodes, just head over to ProSulum.com/blog.

Today on the Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast, Dean speaks with Jarrod Haning—master coach and founder of MindsetPerformance.co. In this episode, you take a peek at how Jarrod helps people achieve success. Learn all about Mindscans, Mindset Pushups, Mindset Gyms, and other programs that Jarrod utilizes that will completely revolutionize what you are doing in your business.

For the first time on Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean Soto records a video podcast episode with his new Elgato FaceCam! Can we expect more video podcast episodes for Freedom In Five Minutes? Stay tuned in the coming weeks to find out! This week's topic is about growing more powerful by accepting people for where they are. Listen to lessons from Dean's personal stories with family and rediscover the beauty of growing together with people surrounding you. All that, and more! Only on Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast!

What is one good way to bring in massive profits? Mending the flaws in your systems and processes. In this episode, Dean talks about lessons from blunders in his old gardening system and processes. All that and more, only on this week's Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast Episode.

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes podcast, Dean Soto talks about mind shift and self innovation. You must want to change yourself in order for you to actually go and change. That, and more in this week's Freedom In Five Minutes!

In this episode of the Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast, Dean Soto talks about creating systemic selling machines that led Pro Sulum to rake in over $50,00 per month! All that without the long hours involved in design and creation.

In this episode of The Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast, Dean shares some of the best productivity methodologies he learned from his years in service to the corporate realm and how he took those lessons and applied them to his entrepreneurial career. Discover how productivity hacks helped Dean develop his passion for providing first-class and global VA services through his Virtual Systems Architects at ProSulum.com. All that and more, only on Freedom In Five Minutes!

In this episode of the Freedom In Five Minutes podcast, Dean Soto associates gardening with running your business. What do these two unrelated activities have in common? Find out how gardening can help you grow and scale your business only here on Freedom In Five Minutes!

In this episode, Dean uncovers all the elements around you that can possibly stir trouble for your business. Learn the best way to avoid potential disasters and grow your operation to greater heights in this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes!

In this episode of The Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast, Dean Soto talks about how to best utilize your Virtual Systems Architect (VSA). This is a continuation of the previous podcast episode so be sure to check out part 1 of this conversation: FIFM 183.

In this episode of The Freedom In Five Minutes podcast, we talk about the DON’Ts of creating standard operating procedures with your Virtual Systems Architect.

Dean Soto returns with a brand new episode of The Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast! In this episode, Dean Soto hints at a lot of changes over at ProSulum.com — growing at a tremendous pace and restructuring the company’s leadership team — and minimal involvement with Dean himself! Listen to this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes as Dean fondly shares this short story about the CEO of Pro Sulum becoming “useless”. And how despite that fact, everyone in his company enjoys continued growth and peak performance!

Have you ever wanted to do something so bad but you just can’t seem to crush it? In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean unhands the “How” to success in favor of “Who” to share your success with. Listen to this episode and discover your path to success from a new perspective.

In today’s episode of Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast, Dean talks about developing good leadership skills by managing your resources and effectively putting them into play. Discover how easier it is to grow your business and team by knowing how to allocate resources well only here on Freedom In Five Minutes!

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, we take a moment to remember how business was in 2020. Join Dean Soto as he talks about the importance of anticipating catastrophe and disaster. And how you can never be too prepared for the worst when it comes to business and life.

Dean Soto returns from his short podcasting hiatus at an opportune time to talk about two things. How to switch to the proper mindset so that you may scale your business. And a quick note on the importance of understanding business systems and processes. All that, and more on this week’s Freedom In Five Minutes!

Today on Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean talks about how giving massive value to prospects have given him amazing clients and better business over the years. Listen to this episode and learn how to build better relationships with potential clients and take your business to a higher level!

Sometimes the best investment you can make is in physical assets that you find value in. These are things that you can touch; things that you can hold. In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean Soto talks about his recent investments in physical assets. Listen and take away some crucial lessons from Dean’s atypical investment strategies.

In this episode of the Freedom In Five Minutes podcast, Dean talks about the risks of outsourcing a business owner’s decision-making and how to avoid or deal with internal saboteurs.

Today on Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean Soto talks about the different ways that you can leverage a real estate virtual assistant. Get practical tips from Dean — who runs his own VA service business through ProSulum.com and FreedomInFiveMinutes.com — as he shares tons of examples on how to work effectively with your VA.

In this episode of The Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast, Dean Soto shares some tips on how to hire better staff members for your business — a long-time pain point for Dean in the past. Learn smart strategies and systems to find the best team members who can help take your business to greater heights!

In this episode of FreedomIn Five Minutes, Dean shares stories about two of his clients. Both experts in their industries, both are very good people. The key difference between these two clients, however, is how they put our Virtual Systems Architects to work and how they prioritize building Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). If you are a Pro Sulum customer or thinking about working with one of our VSAs, then listen to this episode and learn how to bring the best in your VSA (or any VA, in general). And discover the importance of creating SOPs for your business. All that and more in today’s Freedom In Five Minutes episode.

In this episode of The Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast, discover three tips that helped Dean improve his ability to delegate tasks on a workday. Listen and learn how to delegate better on a workday easier, faster, and cheaper. So you can make more money. Those three tips are absolutely huge.

In this episode, Dean compares his learning experience in public school Spanish class to that of a better way of learning he found today.

Today’s episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean Soto talks about post-automation boredom. How does a business owner continue pushing the business forward when it feels like there’s nothing more to do after automating the business?

In this episode, Dean shares a recent experience that reminded him about the importance of knowing how to ask the right questions. Find out how this lesson is crucial in making better decisions in your business and personal relationships in today’s Freedom In Five Minutes!

After having automated a substantial portion of the business, Dean has found himself with more downtime and with it, boredom. Check out this episode as Dean shares exactly how he has dealt with his boredom and the switch of the mindset that he took to fully enjoy his free time again.

Today in The Freedom In Five Minutes podcast, Dean talks about how firing a few customers leads him to better clients. It may seem counterintuitive, but this is his secret path to getting better business. Listen to the full episode and find out more.

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean talks about the COVID-19 situation in his area and the importance of being responsible for yourself.

Today’s episode of The Freedom In Five Minutes Podcast, Jarrod Souza returns to join Dean and talk about their mindset when it comes to building business automation, systems, and processes. Check out the full episode and learn how to scale your business to the next level in as little as five minutes a day!

In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean encourages you to move, get going, and bring about change in your business. People tend to forget about the dry spells in business especially when things are blooming and thriving. Listen to an incident in Dean’s homestead one morning that served as a powerful reminder for him to be mindful of the season and always prepare the business against the heat.

In this episode of The Freedom In Five Minutes podcast, Dean talks about the importance of creating a recurring revenue stream no matter what industry you belong to. So many businesses have been shredded during this global COVID-19 crisis. The better you are at creating recurring monthly revenue, then better your business is protected.

Our economy is ever-changing. There are good times and also bad. But if your business is the top-of-mind during bad times as a result of being generous and giving, what do you think is going to happen?  Customers will flock to you because you have given them value and attention. In this episode of Freedom In Five Minutes, Dean talks about the power of giving. Discover how your business can benefit from one of Dean’s core principles: giving before you get.