Podcast appearances and mentions of sabrina starling

What if you could step away from your business for six weeks… and everything kept running? For many business owners, even taking a long weekend feels impossible. It's not because you don't have a great team or you don't work hard enough. It's because your business still depends on you for too many decisions. The freedom you're looking for isn't found by working harder; it's built through intentional leadership, clear systems, and a self-managing team. In this episode of the Profit by Design Podcast, Dr. Sabrina Starling shares how she prepared her business for her 6-week vacation—and the lessons every business owner can apply to create more time, more freedom, and a more sustainably profitable business. Imagine signing off for six weeks and returning to a more confident team, a business that's still growing, and a life that finally feels aligned with why you became an entrepreneur in the first place. Join Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina to learn how to make this dream a reality in your business!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Dr. Sabrina's hard rule about “no takebacks” after delegating tasks for her vacationPractical steps of vacation preparations for Dr. Sabrina (How she prepares her team)The key to creating a sustainable business and job stability for your teamFocus on key results for team members.Dr. Sabrina's mandate to her team about using AI for repetitive activitiesThe incredible results our clients are experiencing because of innovation and creativityMelissa's example of freeing up her time by offloading tasks to othersThe business owner's trap: “I am the ONLY one who can do this.”Give your team members more confidence, ownership, and job stability!Ready to discover what's keeping your business dependent on you? Find out more about our Better Business, Better Life program. Learn how to slash ten hours off your work week! Book a call with Kaitlyn today!Resources:Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment to identify your biggest opportunity to create more time freedom, stronger leadership, and a sustainably profitable business! Work should support your life–not consume it!

Could your business survive without you for six weeks? For most business owners, the answer is NO. It's not because they aren't capable, but because the business has been built to depend on them. If taking a week off feels impossible, it's a sign that you're carrying too much of the business on your shoulders. In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Starling shares how she prepared to take a six-week vacation without her business missing a beat. It's not about working harder before you leave; it's about building the right systems, developing a self-managing team, and leading in a way that creates true freedom. Imagine coming back from vacation refreshed, instead of returning to chaos, missed opportunities, and a mountain of problems waiting for you. That's what happens when you intentionally build a business that supports your life. The measure of a healthy business isn't how hard the owner works, but how well the business performs when the owner steps away. In this episode, you'll discover why owner dependency is limiting your growth, the leadership shifts that make time away possible, how to build trust and accountability with your team, the systems every business needs before the owner can truly unplug, and why taking extended time away is one of the best tests of a healthy business. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Dr. Sabrina is on the brink of a six-week vacation! Hear her explain how she prepared.What we are risking when we don't prioritize vacations“What is your biggest fear if you were away for two weeks?”Melissa's perspective, as a team member, on Dr. Sabrina's vacationsThe #1 reason you should take vacations is so that your team can grow and break their dependency on you.The key to preparing for an extended vacation is to have the right systems in place. “What 20% of my effort gets 80% of my results?”“What 20% of what you do in your life produces 80% of your impact on those you love?”Getting your business shrunk down to size–not taking over your life!Ready to take your life back from your business? Need help knowing where to start? Book a call with Kaitlyn today!Resources:Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment to identify the next steps toward creating a sustainably profitable business that gives you more time, more freedom, and more peace of mind.

How many times this week have you answered a question your team could have figured out, fixed a mistake because it was faster, rewritten an email before it went out, or jumped in because you didn't want something done wrong? Most business owners don't realize they're doing it, but every time you rescue your team, you make the problem worse. When you step in and solve a problem your team could solve, you unintentionally train dependency. Ownership isn't built when leaders provide answers. Ownership is built when leaders develop thinkers. Join Kaitlyn Beaver and Dr. Sabrina Starling as they unpack this topic today and offer proven, practical strategies for being the leader your team needs. Join us!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production.Show Highlights:The simple truth about business owners and the compulsion to be problem solversThe right leadership skills will help you to NOT over-function.The value in having clear expectations, measurable and monitored results, and accountability on your teamLack of clarity leads the business owner to rescue the team, which creates business owner dependency.Does your team feel safe and supported?Are you holding your team in a place of competence or incompetence?Dr. Sabrina's examples of leadership skills in action from Tap the Potential clientsThe cumulative “snowball” effect of a coaching cultureReady to stop rescuing your team? Need help knowing where to start? Book a call with Kaitlyn today!Resources:If you're listening and realizing that you've become the answer for everything, you're not alone. Most business owners were taught how to work hard, but very few were taught how to coach. That's exactly why we created Coach Approach.Inside this program, you'll learn how to:-develop critical thinking-build ownership-create stronger leaders-stop carrying every decision yourself.We will help you identify where dependency is showing up and where ownership is breaking down. Enroll now in Coach Approach and start building a team that thinks, solves problems, and takes ownership without everything routing back to you. Your business should support your life–not require you to carry it every day!

You've hired smart people, so why does it still feel like every question comes back to you? Mistakes keep happening, and your team waits for direction before moving forward. You're not imagining it, because this scenario is far too common among business owners who build teams but still end up carrying the emotional and operational weight of the business themselves. You hired, trained, delegated, and tried to empower your team. However, it's exhausting that everything still depends on you, especially for high-performing business owners who genuinely care about doing things well. The truth is, this isn't usually a hiring problem; it's a structural ownership problem. Your team may not be underperforming; they may simply be responding to the environment around them. Ownership is built intentionally, and only then can your business become scalable and finally give you some breathing room. In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Starling and Kaitlyn Beaver break down why good employees still struggle to take initiative, the hidden leadership and system gaps creating owner dependency, why delegation alone isn't fixing the issue, and how to build a team that leads without routing everything back to you. We help business owners build sustainably profitable businesses that support life rather than consume it. Join us!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Shifting the dynamic and solving problems at the root instead of putting band-aids on the issuesOur Coach Approach program helps you learn to build a coaching culture and a team that takes ownership.Building a mindset around curiosityThe goal is for a business owner to say, “I trust my team, and I can delegate to them.”Team members who “come alongside” vs. team members who are “across the desk”In your team members' emotional bank accounts, are you making more “deposits” or “withdrawals”? (Aim for a 9:1 or at least a 7:1 ratio of deposits to withdrawals.)Ask yourself, “How many problems have I solved in the last two days?” (If it's more than one, YOU need to be in Coach Approach.)Need help knowing where to start? Book a call with Kaitlyn today!Resources:Ready to stop carrying everything alone? Join our upcoming Free Jumpstart workshop!

See what the team at The Successful Bookkeeper has on right now → Dr. Sabrina Starling has spent over 20 years helping small business owners build profitable, sustainable companies without burning themselves out. In this episode, she brings her business psychology background directly to bookkeepers — walking through her $10,000-an-hour framework, the mindset shift that changed everything for her, and the practical steps you can take right now to stop trading hours for dollars and start building a business that works without you. Chapters [00:00] Opening and guest introduction [01:35] Burnout and starting a business [04:40] The E-Myth epiphany [08:10] The $10,000-an-hour framework [12:40] First hire and finding A-players [17:00] Time audits and glass ceilings [19:10] What has and hasn't changed in 20 years [22:40] AI and the human advantage [25:30] Serving your top clients and micro-innovation [28:50] The free download and closing thoughts From Burnout to 25 Hours a Week Sabrina started her business fresh out of a gruelling career as a psychologist in community mental health — working 40- to 50-hour weeks, taking on-call shifts, and running on empty. When she launched her coaching practice and started a family at the same time, she made what she calls a "very naive declaration": she would only work 25 hours a week. What felt like an impossible constraint turned out to be one of the best decisions she ever made. "Limits force innovation and creativity," she explains. That boundary forced her to be ruthlessly focused on only the work that moved the business forward. The $10,000-an-Hour Framework The turning point came when Sabrina started categorising every task in her business by its dollar-per-hour value — $10, $100, $1,000, or $10,000. She printed the chart and put it behind her monitor so she'd see it constantly. "Inevitably, I would be nose down working on something for a client, and then I would look up and say, oh my gosh, I've just spent 4 hours in $10 and $100 an hour activity." Blocking her highest-value work on the calendar first — before checking email, before firefighting — is what made the difference. She's made the chart available as a free download at tapthepotential.com/10k, along with two podcast episodes walking through how to use it for yourself and with your team. Hiring A-Players Into the Right Seats Sabrina's first hire was a virtual assistant — and the thinking she put into that hire became the seed of her How to Hire the Best book series. Rather than hiring fast out of desperation, she asked: what strengths does this role actually require to deliver results day in and day out? Her original VA, hired for her people skills and attention to detail, is still with the company 20 years later. "One A-player in the right seat working from their strengths will be 900% to 1,200% more productive than a warm body team member." For bookkeepers, payroll is already the biggest profit leak — and it's usually not optimised with A-players. AI, Adaptability, and the Human Advantage AI is reshaping bookkeeping, and Sabrina doesn't sidestep that. But her take is direct: when you offload $10-an-hour busywork to AI, you free yourself to do the work that actually can't be automated — deeply understanding your best clients, spotting problems they can't see in their own numbers, and delivering insight that goes far beyond the books. "When we convey to our team members that we want them doing $10,000 an hour work and we're going to show them how, they get so excited and they are relieved because they know they have job security at that point." The bookkeepers who will thrive are the ones having real conversations with their top clients and continuously innovating around their needs. Working From Your Sweet Spot Sabrina encourages bookkeepers to identify the 20% of clients driving 80% of revenue — and then narrow that further to the ones who are also a genuine joy to work with. Those are the relationships worth doubling down on. Use your natural detail orientation to tune in to what those clients are worried about, what's keeping them up at night, and where you can remove friction for them. She calls the result "micro-innovation" — small, consistent improvements that compound over time and make you genuinely irreplaceable. "Small steps forward taken in a consistent direction lead to big change over time." Links Mentioned Free $10,000-an-hour activity chart + bonus podcast episodes: tapthepotential.com/10k The E-Myth by Michael Gerber How to Hire the Best book series by Dr. Sabrina Starling Profit by Design Podcast (Tap the Potential) thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com About the Guest Dr. Sabrina Starling is a business psychologist, speaker, and author, and the founder of Tap the Potential LLC. She helps entrepreneurs build profitable, sustainably run companies by hiring A-players, building strong systems, and designing businesses that support their lives — not the other way around. Her entire team works 25 hours a week, and she has personally worked down to about 10. She is the author of the How to Hire the Best series and hosts the Profit by Design podcast. About the hostMichael PalmerMichael Palmer is the host of The Successful Bookkeeper podcast and co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping and The Successful Bookkeeper. He started this work because of his father — a brilliant electrical contractor who worked twice as hard as he should have had to, because nobody on the financial side was in his corner. That gap is what The Successful Bookkeeper exists to close. His view: bookkeepers are the most undervalued force in small business — and every bookkeeper who builds a real business changes two families: theirs, and their clients'.

In this episode of the Million Dollar Landscaper Podcast, Scott talks with Dr. Sabrina Starling of Tap the Potential about how lawn care and landscape business owners can make their time worth $10,000 an hour by getting out of low-value tasks and focusing on the work that truly moves the business forward.   Dr. Starling explains why so many owners stay trapped in the day-to-day grind, how burnout slowly builds over time, and why many entrepreneurs struggle to fully unplug from their business. She shares how the $10,000-an-hour activities chart helps owners identify where their time is going, what should be delegated, and what high-value work deserves their attention.   Scott and Dr. Starling also discuss how to develop A-player team members, create loyalty through better leadership, use one-to-one conversations to understand employees' strengths, and get the team thinking like strategic partners instead of just waiting for instructions. They also touch on practical ways AI can help owners reduce mental load, including streamlining repetitive tasks like estimating and administrative work.   This conversation also goes deeper into the personal cost of business ownership. Dr. Starling shares why being emotionally present with family matters, how to start setting boundaries with the business, and why small steps such as unplugging in the evening can eventually lead to bigger freedom, including the possibility of a fully unplugged vacation.   If you are a landscaper or lawn care business owner who feels like everything depends on you, this episode will help you start thinking differently about your time, your team, your systems, and the life your business is supposed to support.   Resources mentioned in this episode: Download the Chart of $10,000 an Hour Activities: https://tapthepotential.com/10k/ Tap the Potential: https://www.tapthepotential.com Profit by Design Podcast: https://tapthepotential.com/podcast/   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube   #MillionDollarLandscaper #LandscapingBusiness #LawnCareBusiness #BusinessSystems #HiringAPlayers #BusinessBurnout #WorkLifeBalance #SmallBusinessOwner #tapthepotential #sabrinastarling  

Burnout doesn't just make you tired; it changes how you show up and lead. When you're constantly emotionally exhausted and under pressure, you make reactive decisions instead of strategic ones, and you hold onto control because everything feels risky. You avoid hard conversations, say YES when you should say NO, and lead from a place of urgency, fear, and survival mode rather than clarity and confidence. The hardest part is that most high-performing business owners don't even realize it's happening, because they are still functioning, still producing, and still carrying the business. They've lost their peace, perspective, energy, and trust in themselves. If this resonates with you, you're not alone! The solution isn't taking time off, but it's rebuilding your relationship with yourself that can change everything in your business. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling unpack how burnout affects decision-making, why high performers normalize emotional exhaustion, the connection between self-leadership and business growth, and how to lead from clarity rather than fear.Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production.Show Highlights:Real-life examples from Dr. Sabrina about fear-based decisions and the “dumb tax.”The cost of losing the ability to think strategically is making reactive decisions.Creating boundaries, leading proactively, and NOT overfunctioningYou can't say YES to every opportunity!Melissa's perspective on better relationships and strategic thinking about self-careMelissa's powerful question: “If the relationship with myself is a 10, what am I experiencing?”Dr. Sabrina's revelation about grief and loveAnother powerful question: “If I took care of myself the way I care for others, what would I be doing for myself?”Let go of hustle culture!Our clients experience a 700% increase in time off, a 215% increase in profit, and a 55% increase in owner's pay–in the first year with us!Your next step? Take our Better Business, Better Life Assessment. Click here to do it today!Dr. Sabrina's gold nugget for today: “As you head into this weekend, fully unplug from your business. Just do it.”Resources:Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment to identify what may be keeping you stuck in survival mode!Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business!You've built a successful business—but it's still running you. Join us to reclaim 10 hours a week and finally step into your role as the owner—register now: https://www.tapthepotential.com/jumpstart.

You started your business to create a better life and to have more freedom, flexibility, and time with your loved ones. But somewhere along the way, the business started consuming more of you than you ever expected. Even when you're physically present with others, your mind is still at work because you're answering messages at dinner, thinking about work problems during family time, and mentally carrying the business everywhere you go. The hardest part is that most business owners don't realize how much their relationships are being affected until they are already exhausted. You may try to rationalize and normalize the takeover of your life until you realize that you are missing special moments that you can't get back. You can't solve this problem with better boundaries alone; the real issue is that your business relies too heavily on you emotionally and operationally. You don't need to care “less,” but you need stronger leadership inside your team, operational clarity, defined ownership, scalable systems, and reduced owner dependency. This is what sustainable success looks like: a business that supports your life rather than consuming it.In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Starling and Melissa Kay break down why entrepreneurs struggle to truly unplug, how owner dependency affects relationships, the hidden emotional cost of carrying the business alone, and what actually creates more freedom and presence. Sustainable success should allow you to enjoy your life — not disappear inside your business.Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production.Show Highlights:Melissa's look back at how things used to be in hustle cultureThe truth: Our kids know; we can't hide it from them.Dr. Sabrina's experience of prioritizing family first after trying it the other way“Our limits force innovation and creativity.”Do you need to refine your to-do list? Download your chart of $10,000 an hour activities now!Dr. Sabrina's story of experiencing trauma, grief, and living a life of no regrets.Lessons learned from burnout about reconnecting with yourself FIRSTBeing aware of the neglected side of businessYour next step? Join our next Jumpstart and find out how to free up 10 hours of your week right away!Resources:Book a call with our team to start building a business that supports your life!Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business!You've built a successful business—but it's still running you. Join us to reclaim 10 hours a week and finally step into your role as the owner—register now: https://www.tapthepotential.com/jumpstart.

“This sounds exactly like my business. I'm exhausted. Everything still depends on me. I know something has to change.” If you've responded with any of these realizations while listening to this series, this conversation is for you. Awareness is important, but awareness alone doesn't change anything if you've tolerated stress, carried too much weight, stayed stuck in operational chaos, or hoped things would somehow improve over time. Eventually, there comes a point where you realize that your business can't continue operating this way—not if you want sustainable growth, freedom, and a business that actually supports your life. The truth is that most entrepreneurs weren't taught how to reduce owner dependency, build leadership, create operational accountability, develop scalable systems, and step out of daily firefighting. Because of that, they stay stuck in patterns that slowly become unsustainable, and most don't seek support until they are completely overwhelmed. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling explain why awareness alone doesn't create change, the hidden reason owners stay stuck for years, what sustainable business growth actually requires, how to stop carrying the full weight of the business alone, and what happens inside our Jumpstart program. Most business owners stay stuck because they try to solve structural problems with more personal effort. There is a better way to create real freedom inside your business. Join us to learn more!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Your overwhelm creeps up on you.We can make a difference by offering the support you need. An example of Dr. Sabrina's work with a client in getting to the root of the problem.A breakdown of common hiring mistakes–and how to get it rightHaving the right systems in place helps your operations flow smoothly and effectively.Understanding A-players, the sweet spot, and their key results–while watching for communication gapsThink of Tap the Potential as a comprehensive solution for your business. Join our upcoming Jumpstart, where you can sample what it's like to be in our program. Resources:If you're ready to stop being the bottleneck and build a business that supports your life, join our Jumpstart or book a call with our team. Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business!You've built a successful business—but it's still running you. Join us to reclaim 10 hours a week and finally step into your role as the owner—register now: https://www.tapthepotential.com/jumpstart.

If you step away for a few days, does everything slow down? Decisions pile up. Your team waits. That's not a time problem–it's a dependency problem. If decisions route back to you and ownership isn't clear, your team can't step up. Your team isn't the issue; it's the system. The only way you can stop being required for every decision is for your team to take ownership, and that requires clear decision-making, defined roles, and proper leadership development. In this episode, you'll discover why high-performing entrepreneurs become the bottleneck, how over-functioning limits team ownership, the hidden cost of being needed for everything, why delegation alone doesn't solve the problem, what self-managing teams actually require, and the structural shifts that create time freedom and profitability. If your business depends on you for everything, this conversion will help you understand what's really happening–and what needs to change. If you're ready to stop carrying all the load in your business, join Kaitlyn Beaver and Dr. Sabrina Starling now!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Recognizing “the slippery slope of self-doubt” (Think about the seesaw!)Better leadership at the top results in having better team members.Kaitlyn's perspective on balancing high-functioning owners and a team of A-playersSteps to creating ownership and empowerment on your team:Clear decision-makingClearly defined rolesLeadership developmentAmazing results we are seeing from clients in our Leadership BootcampWant to put your profitability on steroids? We can help it happen!We teach you how to unclench your fist and let go of decision-making; it's easier than you think!What to expect when you join our programJoin our upcoming free workshop, How to Reclaim 10 Hours per Week (and pay yourself more!) Click here for more info!Resources:If you're realizing this isn't burnout—it's structure, join us in our workshop, How to Reclaim 10 Hours per Week (and pay yourself more!) We'll show you exactly how to redesign your business so it no longer depends on you. Register here.Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business!You've built a successful business—but it's still running you. Join us to reclaim 10 hours a week and finally step into your role as the owner—register now: https://www.tapthepotential.com/jumpstart.

Reclaiming the Driver's Seat: Engineering a Self-Sustaining Enterprise with Sabrina StarlingIn a recent episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur Podcast, host Josh Elledge sat down with Sabrina Starling, the founder of Tap The Potential and the author of the How to Hire the Best series and The 4 Week Vacation®, to break down the toxic myth of the 24/7 entrepreneurial hustle. As a business psychologist and corporate strategist, Sabrina specializes in helping highly successful founders escape the operational traps that transform profitable companies into high-stress jobs. This conversation delivers an intentional blueprint for executives and business owners who are ready to eliminate leadership burnout, optimize their labor infrastructure, and structure an organization that grows predictably without relying on the daily intervention of its founder.The Architecture of Autonomy: Implementing the $10,000-an-Hour FrameworkThe primary bottleneck stalling the valuation of a mid-market business is almost always the founder's inability to detach from tactical, day-to-day operations. Sabrina Starling points out that many business owners waste their valuable cognitive capacity on lower-tier tasks, failing to realize that true enterprise scale demands a fierce dedication to high-leverage, high-value strategy. By categorizing corporate activities into distinct tiers—ranging from administrative data management to what she terms "$10,000-an-hour activities," such as innovating core services or securing strategic relationships—leaders can systematically audit their schedules to protect their highest and best use. This operational shift forces the executive to build documented processes and train internal talent, moving the organization away from an fragile, founder-centric model and into a highly optimized, automated corporate engine.Transitioning from an over-involved manager to an intentional CEO requires a structural commitment to measuring high-impact results rather than raw hours worked. When an enterprise operates under the false assumption that employee output equals physical time spent at a desk, it naturally breeds a culture of inefficiency and administrative fatigue. Real growth is unlocked when leadership establishes clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and assigns total outcome ownership to individual team members, freeing the executive from the burden of micromanagement. This systemic accountability allows the company to focus explicitly on its market "sweet spot"—the top 20% of profitable clients who drive 80% of revenue—ensuring that every operational role is mathematically mapped to maximize the enterprise's bottom line.True organizational health is ultimately validated when a founder can step completely away from the business for extended blocks of time without a drop in production or profitability. Sabrina's signature framework, The 4 Week Vacation®, serves as a diagnostic tool for the company's infrastructure; stepping out of the office forces hidden operational gaps to rise to the surface, showing exactly where systems or delegation chains need adjustment. Rather than viewing an extended break as an unreachable luxury, modern business owners must treat unplugging as a mandatory governance practice that builds cross-functional team resilience. When an organization is backed by robust standard operating procedures and an empowered leadership tier, the business evolves into a self-sustaining asset that supports the founder's life while continuously building long-term equity.About Sabrina StarlingSabrina Starling is the Founder and Chief Coach of Tap The Potential and an expert in entrepreneurial psychology and workplace culture optimization. With a background in corporate behavioral dynamics and strategic management, Sabrina has dedicated her career to helping business owners maximize profit margins while reclaiming their personal freedom. She is a TEDx speaker and the best-selling author of the How to Hire the Best series and The 4 Week Vacation®: The Entrepreneur's Ultimate Guide to Taking Your Life Back from Your Business.About Tap The PotentialTap The Potential is a premier business coaching and organizational development consultancy designed to help founders transition from reactive operators to strategic owners. The firm specializes in helping small-to-mid-sized enterprises identify their most profitable client niches, implement high-yield workflow automation, and recruit top-tier talent. Through structured coaching frameworks like the Better Business, Better Life Assessment, Tap The Potential empowers companies to build highly scalable operations that thrive independently of their founders.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeTap The Potential Official Website: tapthepotential.comKey Episode HighlightsThe $10,000-an-Hour Mandate: How to audit your corporate calendar to isolate high-leverage strategy from low-value busywork.The Outcome-Based Accountability Model: Moving away from tracking billable hours to focus entirely on clear, data-driven employee KPIs.Identifying Your Client Sweet Spot: Designing your business infrastructure around the top 20% of profitable clients to optimize margins.The Vacation Litmus Test: Using extended founder absences as a strategic diagnostic tool to uncover and fix cracks in corporate systems.Eradicating Executive Burnout: Why establishing strict daily work boundaries is an essential component of clear, high-stakes decision making.ConclusionThe conversation with Sabrina Starling highlights that an entrepreneur's true success is measured by the independence of their business. By building robust operational frameworks, delegating with clear accountability, and ruthlessly protecting high-value strategic time, business leaders can transform a chaotic, time-consuming business into a streamlined corporate asset that delivers lasting professional and personal freedom.More from The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

What if the reason you feel exhausted isn't that you're doing too much, but because your business is designed in a way that requires you to do everything? You've tried taking time off, hiring more people, and getting more organized, but nothing has changed. You're still the one solving problems, making decisions, and holding everything together. You're not doing anything wrong, but you're stuck. Your business is structured around you, and when everything flows through you, you don't get relief, space, or time to lead. The key isn't working less, but it's about redesigning how your team operates. When that shifts, your team will step up, problems will stop stacking up, and you will get time back. In this episode, you'll discover why burnout is a symptom (NOT the root problem), the hidden ways businesses become owner-dependent, why high-performing entrepreneurs become the bottleneck, what needs to shift to create real time freedom, and how sustainably profitable businesses are intentionally designed. Trust us–no amount of rest will fix a business that still requires you to carry it all. If your business looks successful on paper but feels exhausting in real life, this conversation will help you understand why—and what to do next. Ready to build a business that supports your life? Join Kaitlyn Beaver and Dr. Sabrina Starling now.Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Stepping out of the weeds to redesign your businessFrom Dr. Sabrina: An example of a business owner stuck in fear-based leadership.Treating surface-level problems doesn't help you get unstuck.Our action plan supports you in real time.One step at a time gets you closer to change. There is no magic pill.The difference between entrepreneurs who burn out vs. profitable businesses with a thriving, healthy business owner (It all comes down to systems and a willingness to invest in coaching.)Info about our upcoming free workshop, How to Reclaim 10 Hours per Week (and pay yourself more!) Click here for more info!Understanding the dangers of unprofitable revenueResources:If you're realizing this isn't burnout—it's structure, join us in our workshop, How to Reclaim 10 Hours per Week (and pay yourself more!) We'll show you exactly how to redesign your business so it no longer depends on you. Register here.Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business!You've built a successful business—but it's still running you. Join us to reclaim 10 hours a week and finally step into your role as the owner—register now: https://www.tapthepotential.com/jumpstart.

It's hard to believe, but we've recorded 400 episodes of Profit by Design! After working with thousands of business owners, we can tell you this: most owners do not have a revenue problem–they have a design problem. They built businesses that depend on them to survive, and that catches up with them in the form of the survival trap and burnout. Thank you so much for showing up here with us every week to build a better business and better life. We are so honored to celebrate 400 episodes with you. Your time is so valuable, and we thank you for trusting us to be a part of your journey. This community means everything to us! From our work with thousands of business owners, we've learned that work should support life, profit creates freedom, A-players change everything, most owners are solving the wrong problem, and you're too close to your business to see it clearly. The owners who transform the fastest aren't the smartest or hardest-working, but they're the ones willing to stop guessing and seek support. If your business looks successful on paper but feels heavy in real life, it may be time for a different path. We can help! Join Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling now!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production.Show Highlights:Feeling maxed out? You may be on the brink of the next wrong step on the treadmill of burnout!Is your business overweight? (Here's how to know!)Hiring the wrong person when you're not ready is a big mistakeEvery business decision needs to support profitability.Dr. Sabrina's commitment to a minimum of a 3:1 return on the investment of business coaching with Tap the Potential, solving the hiring problem, and giving business owners time freedomThe 4 Week Vacation book: Your guide to creating NO key team member dependency in your business (including you, the business owner)Making the most of the time with your children and other loved ones–so you live with no regrets.We are here to make your business profitable, but it's more important to us to help you build a life worth living.Successful entrepreneurs vs. burned-out entrepreneursThe reason we are NOT industry-specific in our coachingProof that our clients are happy: Our Net Promoter Score is 93! (The average American company has an NPS of 20!)Ready to make a change? Register for our free Jumpstart workshop on June 2-4. Click here for more info!Resources:Book a call with Kaitlyn today, and let's identify what's keeping you stuck, where you're the bottleneck, and what to focus on next in your business.Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business!You've built a successful business—but it's still running you. Join us to reclaim 10 hours a week and finally step into your role as the owner—register now: https://www.tapthepotential.com/jumpstart.

If you've realized from our last episode that you're burned out, the worst thing you can do next is try to “push through” or just take a vacation. Why? Because burnout isn't the real problem; it's just a signal that your business still depends on you in ways it shouldn't. If you've tried taking time off, but you come back to the same problems, you know you haven't fixed anything. Your team still needs you for decisions, you don't trust things to run without you, and you feel stuck between “keep going” and “something has to change.” The bad news is that this is very hard to fix alone, because you can't see your own blind spots, you're too close to the business, and you usually default back to old patterns. You are stuck in survival mode! The real issue isn't your workload; it's how your business is structured around you. The good news is that once you fix the problem, everything else gets easier. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling break down why burnout is a symptom (not the root problem), what's actually keeping you stuck, the hidden ways you've become the bottleneck, and what needs to change to create real-time freedom for you.Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:To defeat burnout for good, you need more than “surface-level band-aids.”You can check in with yourself and get your burnout score: Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment today!Are you ready for your mood, overall health, and well-being to improve? We can help!Melissa's perspective on strategic business coaching and real burnout solutionsGroup coaching allows you to be surrounded by peers who totally understand your challenges.Listen to our proven results and imagine yourself in these scenarios: a 700% increase in time off, doubled profits, and a 55% increase in owner's pay.Why not invest in yourself? You are worth it, and your loved ones are worth it, too!Examples from Dr. Sabrina of a client recovering from burnout with a remarkable transformationStacking the wins with small steps that lead to big changeThe next step is to stop trying to figure this out on your own. Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment to stop the burnout cycle!Resources:Book a call with Kaitlyn today! We'll walk through what's keeping you stuck, where you're still the bottleneck, and what needs to change to build a sustainably profitable business that doesn't rely on you for everything.Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business!You've built a successful business—but it's still running you. Join us to reclaim 10 hours a week and finally step into your role as the owner—register now: https://www.tapthepotential.com/jumpstart.

Burnout doesn't always look the way you think it does. You may be showing up, getting things done, and leading your team. Underneath it all, however, you're exhausted and have very little patience, working with a brain that won't shut off, and the thought of handling “just one more problem” feels heavier than ever before. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone, and you're not broken. High-performing business owners don't crash overnight; burnout builds slowly as you normalize the stress, push through the fatigue, and tell yourself to just get through this “busy season.” The sad fact is that most business owners don't realize they are burned out until their energy, relationships, or health force them to pay closer attention. Join Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling as they share how to redesign your business so it doesn't rely on you for everything. You'll learn how to start with awareness and evaluate where your time is going, how decisions are being made, and what you're still holding onto that your team should own. Once you see the problem, you can change it, and you don't have to keep running your business at the expense of your life. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Awareness is the first step in defeating burnout!Common signs of burnout:Resentment for your businessEmotional detachmentDecision fatigueMelissa's perspective: A major sign of business owner burnout is being stuck in daily tasks instead of focusing on your $10k-an-hour activities.Entrepreneurs surveyed reported astounding statistics on burnout.What business owners report in our Better Business, Better Life Assessment: mood swings, stress, isolation, irritation/annoyance, discouragement, and a greater risk for depression, divorce, and substance abuseReal solutions for burnout begin with having the right support system in place.You can start with the Better Business, Better Life Assessment to stop the burnout cycle!Resources:Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment today!

You've hired talented people, so why aren't they performing like A-Players? Why does it still feel like you have to double-check everything—like your team waits instead of leads, accountability is inconsistent, and you're still the one carrying the standard? The real issue isn't your people—it's the culture they're operating in. A-players don't just show up; they respond to the environment you create. Even highly capable individuals can hold back, wait for direction, and avoid ownership when the culture lacks clarity, leadership, and trust. That's why so many business owners feel frustrated, even after hiring “good people.” If you're ready to build a team that truly takes ownership, this is where we start. Join Kaitlyn Beaver and Dr. Sabrina Starling as they unpack what's happening in your culture, leadership, and structure—and map out the shifts you need to make right now.Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production.Show Highlights:Understanding the characteristics of A-players and what they really needCulture isn't what you say—it's what you tolerate. Are you supporting leadership, clarity, and trust?The startling statistic: Most businesses mishire at a rate of 75%.Enhanced communication creates a successful onboarding process.Steps to become an employer of choiceYour internal state shapes your external leadership.A-players don't want to be managed; they want to be trusted.The best retention tool is to promote from within AND attract future A-players.Ask yourself, “What do I need to elevate my business culture?”Your lean and mighty team is a vital part of your profitable business!If you want A-players, you have to become the leader they follow.Ready to lead differently and talk with someone who understands the challenges of building your business culture? Book a call with Kaitlyn today!Resources:When you reach out to our strategist team, we will map out what needs to shift for you in a clear, step-by-step process. Book a call with Kaitlyn today!Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business!You've built a successful business—but it's still running you. Join us to reclaim 10 hours a week and finally step into your role as the owner—register now: https://www.tapthepotential.com/jumpstart.

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe speaks with Dr. Sabrina Starling about how business owners can reclaim time and increase profitability by focusing on high-value work, empowering their teams, and adopting a "$10,000 hour" mindset. They explore common missteps like failing to delegate, overcomplicating services, and misunderstanding client needs, while emphasizing the importance of human connection in an AI-driven world. The conversation also highlights strategies for hiring A-players and building a business that supports life, not the other way around. About Dr. Sabrina Starling Sabrina Starling, Ph.D., PCC, BCC, The Business Psychologist, is the international bestselling author of How to Hire the Best and The 4 Week Vacation®. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, and Thrive Global. She is the founder of Tap the Potential and cohost of the Profit by Design Podcast, globally ranked in the top 5% of most popular shows by Listen Notes. Listed in The Daily Hustle's Top 50 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2022, Dr. Sabrina is on a mission to send 10,000 entrepreneurs on a 4 Week Vacation® in 10 years. Discover How To Make Your Time Worth $10,000 An Hour TEDx Talk: From Burnout to Balance: Redefining Success in Work and Life Tap the Potential LLC Connect with Dr. Sabrina on LinkedIn Thank you to our show sponsor, Puzzle! Puzzle is the next generation firm: AI-powered, human-led. Puzzle replaces manual QuickBooks workflows with AI-driven books built for review, approval, and audit-ready accountability. Learn more at Puzzle.io. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

Why is it that the most driven, capable, high-performing business owners are often the first to burn out? You are the one everyone relies on because you care deeply and push harder than anyone else, but you're exhausted, and the business still depends on you for everything. No matter how much you achieve, it never feels like enough. If you feel this way, it's not because you're doing something wrong; it's because you've been rewarded for over-functioning. Your business has grown because you've stepped up, taken responsibility, and carried more than anyone else. The problem is that what got you here won't get you to a sustainably profitable business that supports your life. The solution is not to do less, but to lead differently by building a self-managing, entrepreneurial team and creating systems in which decisions don't rely on you. In this episode, Kaitlyn Beaver and Dr. Sabrina Starling discuss how you can stop being the bottleneck, create time and mental space, and build a business that runs without your constant input. The key to solving burnout isn't rest alone—it's structure. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:The problem for entrepreneurs is that burnout exists in the background of our lives. We don't even notice it anymore!Losing faith in our team members is a sign of burnout.The real problem for business ownersDecision fatigue: one of the single biggest contributors to burnoutBuilding competence and confidence within our leadership affects our team's ability to move forward.Take a close look at the ways you are over-functioning.Begin by asking, “What do I need?”Putting limits and boundaries in place teaches us (and everyone else) that the business can continue, even when I'm not there. Is your business being led by your nervous system and how reactive you are to every little thing?The cumulative effect that brings positive changeKaitlyn's perspective on the intersection of yoga and an entrepreneurial mindsetLearning to respect the pause, the unplug, and your breath to reconnect with your bodyWhat you learn about managing burnout can benefit your team members.Structures are vital! An example is time strategy over time management. Ready to lead differently and talk with someone who understands? Book a call with Kaitlyn today!Resources:Are you ready to defeat burnout and lead differently? We can help! Book a call with Kaitlyn today!Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business - Jumpstart Your Life!You've built a successful business—but it's still running you. Join us to reclaim 10 hours a week and finally step into your role as the owner—register now. We get started April : http://tapthepotential.com/jumpstart

Let's be honest. When was the last time you took a real vacation—without checking your email? If the idea of stepping away from your business makes your stomach tighten up in knots, this episode is for you. You didn't start your business to be on call 24/7, yet most entrepreneurs are putting their businesses before their families. If this is you, you have an owner dependency problem. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling break down the real reason you can't take time off from your business, and what it actually takes to build a self-managing team that allows you to step away confidently. Learn why being the hero in your business is keeping you stuck, the psychology behind control and burnout, how to shift from a survival trap to sustainable profitability, the structure required to create breathing room, and what must change before a 4-Week Vacation® becomes possible for you!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production.Show Highlights:The origin of Dr. Sabrina's book, The 4 Week Vacation®Owner dependency is the #1 risk to small businesses today.Being “the hero” in your business keeps you stuck.The lie we tell ourselves (that actually creates glass ceilings)The business owner being away builds ownership and accountability in your team.The underlying issue is that we have created co-dependency in our businesses.Melissa's example of a Tap the Potential client who has been transformed into a business ownerThe amazing results our clients are seeing in the first year with Tap the PotentialReady to take your life back from your business? Sign up for the Better Business Better Life Jumpstart today!Resources:Join our Jumpstart beginning April 7th! We will walk you through the step-by-step process to:Free up 10 hours per week.Pay yourself an additional $50K this year.Take an extra week of vacation.Enroll now for Leadership Bootcamp! The next session begins in April.Take our Better Business Better Life Assessment to determine your level of burnout and receive a complimentary call with the next steps you need to take in your business to support your life. Click here!Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business - Jumpstart Your Life!You've built a successful business—but it's still running you. Join us to reclaim 10 hours a week and finally step into your role as the owner—register now. We get started April : http://tapthepotential.com/jumpstart

If your business is growing, but you're more exhausted than ever–something is off. More revenue should mean more freedom. Instead, you're stuck in the survival trap of being overworked, underpaid, and the bottleneck in your business. Stress has become your new normal. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling walk you through the exact framework we use inside the Tap the Potential Solution™. You'll learn the 5-step business growth strategy that changes everything. Sustainable profit doesn't come from hustle; it comes from strategy. Ask yourself this question: “If nothing changes, what will it cost me?” Join us now to discover how different your life can be as the owner of a sustainably profitable business. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Are you “throwing spaghetti at the wall”?Learn these 5 steps for owners of businesses that are established, past the startup phase, but still struggling against burnout:Design your business to be sustainably profitable. (Every decision should direct profitability.)Niche down with a clearly defined sweet spot. (A sweet spot is more defined than a niche. Think “slim down.”)Innovate around the sweet spot of your business. (This is how you fall back in love with your business.)Build your lean and mighty team of A-players. (This step is powerful for taking away your headaches and driving profitability.)Focus on networking and attracting more A-players to your team. (This is when you have more freedom, more profit, and more owner's pay.)Melissa explains how we help our clients using this 5-step framework.Our focus is on what really works!Hear the exciting facts about what's happening with our clients!The results we expect when we show you how to increase your owner's payJust imagine what's possible for YOU!Ready to take your life back from your business? Sign up for the Better Business Better Life Jumpstart today!Resources:Join our Jumpstart beginning April 7th! We will walk you through the step-by-step process to:Free up 10 hours per week.Pay yourself an additional $50K this year.Take an extra week of vacation.Enroll now for Leadership Bootcamp! The next session begins in April. Take our Better Business Better Life Assessment to determine your level of burnout and receive a complimentary call with the next steps you need to take in your business to support your life. Click here!Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business - Jumpstart Your Life!You've built a successful business—but it's still running you. Join us to reclaim 10 hours a week and finally step into your role as the owner—register now. We get started April : http://tapthepotential.com/jumpstart

Is your business completely dependent on you? If you take a vacation, will everything fall apart? If so, you are in the Business Owner Dependency Trap, and today's episode reveals how to get out of it, change everything, and take your life back from your business. Business owners can escape survival mode by identifying the sweet spot of their business—the point at which profitability, freedom, and sustainability finally align. We have proven that working with fewer clients often increases profit, letting go of the wrong work creates growth, and systems (not hustle) create freedom. Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling will teach you about the Business Owner Dependency Trap and help you build systems that enable your business to run without you. The truth is that working less and serving fewer clients often leads to greater profitability and sustainable growth. Join us to learn how to change everything and take your life back from your business!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production.Show Highlights:“Work less with fewer clients to increase your profitability!”The beautiful facts about what our clients are achieving in the Better Business Better Life program: 95% achieve more time off and more money in their bank account in the first 12 months!Identifying the sweet spot of your business is essential.One recent client more than quadrupled their profit in 12 months by identifying the sweet spot of their business.Melissa explains the process for identifying the sweet spot of your business and building systems to support you.Spending marketing dollars without a clearly defined sweet spot is “throwing spaghetti at the wall.”Determine who your ideal clients are.Melissa shares an example of a recent client call and how they worked together to reduce her work week to 15 hours!Sign up for the Better Business Better Life Jumpstart today!Resources:Join our Jumpstart beginning April 7th! We will walk you through the step-by-step process to:Free up 10 hours per week.Pay yourself an additional $50K this year.Take an extra week of vacation.Enroll now for Leadership Bootcamp! The next session begins in April.Take our Better Business Better Life Assessment to determine your level of burnout and receive a complimentary call with the next steps you need to take in your business to support your life. Click here!Mentioned in this episode:Registration Is Open for Leadership Bootcamp!Turn your A-players into your strategic thinking partners who are taking one thing after another off your plate. You don't have to do this alone. Register here: https://tapthepotential.com/leadership

When you go into business, you work really hard to get things going, but as you achieve success, the business takes over your life, right? You want to keep growing your business, but you can't work more. You're already exhausted and stretched too thin. If you're tired of being the fixer, the one with the fallback plan, and the one who holds it all together, you are not alone! If you're like most business owners we work with, you have revenue coming in, but you are still not profitable. You struggle to make payroll and attract profitable clients that you enjoy working with. This is why we created the Tap the Potential solution: a step-by-step, simple framework to increase your profitability while working fewer hours so that you can take your life back from your business. On average, our clients experience a 716% increase in time off, a 215% increase in profit, and a 55% increase in owners' pay—all within 12 months. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling reveal why most small businesses hit a growth plateau, the hidden reason revenue increases don't lead to profit, why entrepreneurs stay stuck in survival mode, how working less can actually increase profitability, and the simple framework successful business owners use to reclaim their time. If you're ready to take your life back from your business, this episode will show you the path forward.Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Reasons for a growth plateau in small businesses: trying to do it alone, hiring the wrong people, and mishandling the revenue needed to growUnderstanding the hidden costs in payroll for the wrong peopleDesign your business to be sustainably profitable.The business owner's blind spots contribute to growth plateaus.Revenue doesn't equal profitability. Apply the 80/20 rule.Identify your PITA (“Pain in the assets”) clients.Our Better Business Better Life Jumpstart reveals the best profitability secrets!We are not like typical business coaches! The Tap the Potential solution teaches you how to work fewer hours with a focused intention that frees up your time.From Dr. Sabrina, the one action business owners can take today: “Do less. Ask, what's the one thing I can do today that will have the greatest impact to make other things easier or unnecessary while driving the profitability of my business?”Sign up for the Better Business Better Life Jumpstart today!Resources:Join our Jumpstart beginning April 7th! Learn how to:Free up 10 hours per week.Pay yourself an additional $50K this year.Take an extra week of vacation.Enroll now for Leadership Bootcamp! The next session begins in April.Take our Better Business Better Life Assessment to determine your level of burnout and receive a complimentary call with the next steps you need to take in your business to support your life. Click here!Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today!Mentioned in this episode:Registration Is Open for Leadership Bootcamp!Turn your A-players into your strategic thinking partners who are taking one thing after another off your plate. You don't have to do this alone. Register here: https://tapthepotential.com/leadership

Does your business slow down the moment you step away? If every decision, approval, or problem still funnels through you, you're not alone, but YOU are the bottleneck. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling break down how you can stop being the bottleneck and start building a self-managing business model that doesn't depend on you for every decision. You'll learn why capable teams still wait for the owner's approval, the hidden ways business owners unintentionally create bottlenecks, what a self-managing business actually looks like, and practical leadership shifts that empower your team to take ownership. If you're tired of being the single point of failure in your business and want growth without burnout, this episode will show you where to start. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Relief, flexibility, and freedom: Don't you want more of these?A-players want autonomy to take initiative; we need to empower them to do so.The shift in asking your team, “What ideas do YOU have about this?”Be careful not to shut out your A-players' ideas; encourage them to bring those forward.Melissa's tips to empower your team: share your vision, give clear parameters for decision-making, look for measurable results (KPIs), and provide opportunities for autonomyTracking clear results through KPIs gives pride and ownership to A-players. (This is THE biggest A-player perk we can build into our businesses!)Highlights of our clients' recent winsRelationships and work connections will help skyrocket A-player retention on your team.Do you need to stop being the bottleneck in your business? Join the Better Business Better Life program by booking a call with us today. Spaces are now available! (Melissa offers to write a custom-crafted vision statement and your immutable laws, a $7500 value!)Resources:Enroll now for Leadership Bootcamp! The next session begins in April. Take our Better Business Better Life Assessment to determine your level of burnout and receive a complimentary call with the next steps you need to take in your business to support your life. Click here!Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Mentioned in this episode:Registration Is Open for Leadership Bootcamp!Turn your A-players into your strategic thinking partners who are taking one thing...

Do you ever feel like your mind is running faster than your business can keep up? When everything feels urgent, noisy, and heavy, staying grounded can feel impossible. In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Starling and Melissa Kay share their #1 grounding ritual: the simple, repeatable practice they return to–no matter what's going on in business or life. This kind of grounding is all about creating a moment of steadiness that helps you lead with clarity rather than reacting from stress. You'll learn why grounded leaders make better decisions under pressure, how one small daily ritual can calm your nervous system and sharpen your focus, how to stay centered when your business feels chaotic, and why consistency matters more than complexity when it comes to mindset. If you're tired of being pulled in a hundred directions and want a leadership rhythm that actually supports you, this episode is for you!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Unique challenges for business owners that bring pressureThe #1 muscle entrepreneurs need to build is the ability to ground ourselves.Melissa's #1 tip for time management: Create a time block every day in your schedule to connect with yourself.We aren't good at slowing down and allowing space for nothing-ness.The benefits of journaling to make time for yourselfBreathwork is valuable in grounding and calming yourself. (Use cues and smells to train your body to do deep breathing and slow down.)Self-talk is critical! We need to celebrate our wins!Ground yourself with essential oils, powerful affirmations, artwork, plants, low light in the evening, intentionally planned healthy dinners, and focused efforts to promote good sleep.Give yourself permission to put your phone down. A good night's sleep is the doorway to much calmer, grounded, fully present mornings. Taking care of yourself models to your team members that it's okay for them to take care of themselves.Your clear, compelling vision for your business should help keep you grounded as you make all the decisions that follow. (“Does this decision take me toward or away from my vision?”)Take ONE of our tips and implement it today to better ground yourself and experience more calm.Resources:Take our Better Business Better Life Assessment to determine your level of burnout and receive a complimentary call with the next steps you need to take in your business so that it supports your life. Click here!Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever?

Do you ever say yes in your business when every part of you wants to say no? Boundaries are easy to discuss, but incredibly difficult to live out, especially when payroll, clients, and team expectations are on the line. In this episode, we get real about the hardest boundaries we've ever set in our businesses and why setting them changed everything. Dr. Sabrina Starling and Melissa Kay share personal stories of boundaries they resisted, feared, and finally enforced, ranging from client expectations to time, availability, and scope of work. You'll learn why business owners struggle so much with boundaries; the hidden cost of not setting them; the ripple effect boundaries create for your team, clients, and leadership; and the surprising benefits that come after you hold the line. If you're feeling stretched thin, resentful, or as if your business is running your life, this episode will give you permission and practical insights to reclaim your time and energy.Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:The hardest thing about setting boundariesHighlights of Dr. Sabrina's most effective boundaries over the yearsMelissa's perspective on setting boundariesBoundaries increase clarity, focus, and production for you AND your team.The difficulties that come with setting boundaries at home and with family membersThe challenges with setting hard boundaries with clients around payment plans Understanding the far-reaching ramifications of today's decisionsSetting boundaries (and giving grace) around accomplishing your lofty goalsImmutable laws are key in establishing boundaries in your business.Need help establishing your immutable laws? We can help! Take the Better Business Better Life Assessment today! (It only takes a few minutes.)Resources:Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️.

Loneliness isn't just a personal issue—it's a leadership and culture issue. In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Starling sits down with repeat guest and leadership expert Dov Baron to explore the growing epidemic of loneliness within organizations, and why it's quietly eroding trust, engagement, and A-player retention. You'll learn why high performers often feel the most disconnected, how loneliness shows up at work, leadership behaviors that create real belonging, and what business owners must do now to protect culture and retain their best people. If you're leading a team and wondering why motivation, loyalty, or connection feels harder than it should, this conversation is a must-listen for you!Dov Baron has been twice named as one of the world's Top 30 Global Leadership Gurus in Inc. Magazine's Top 100 Leadership Speakers. He has presented to companies and organizations worldwide, including the United Nations, the Department of State, the World Management Forum in Iran, the US Air Force, and the Famed Servant Leadership Institute. His focus on human behavior and neuroscience has made him the world's leading authority on Emotional Source Code and the Anatomy of Meaning. Dov is the bestselling author of One Red Thread: How to Find the Purpose Already Woven Into Your Life and Fiercely Loyal: How High-Performing Companies Develop and Retain Top Talent. He is the creator and host of The Dov Baron Show Podcast, previously known as Leadership and Loyalty. It was named the #1 podcast for Fortune 500 executives by Apple Podcasts. The Dov Baron Show has featured hundreds of hours of interviews with top leaders, scientists, theologians, military intelligence officers, and artists. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:The loneliness epidemic, “The Great Pause” of 2020, our unhealthy “normal,” and the $7 trillion impact on the global GDPBeing isolated vs. being lonelyThe hidden costs of the loneliness epidemic to businesses and organizations in innovation, creativity, and communityIn 2015, Dov said, “Starting a business requires building a community.” Now, he says, “Start by building a community, and then put a business in it.”A culture of belonging is different from feeling like you “fit in.”Protecting your business from an AI takeover happens with relationships and emotional connections.Your humanity is your best tool.Understanding the Emotional Source Code (what drives an individual or organization) and how it relates to immutable laws, core...

Do you know the real reason most business owners don't have a life outside work? It's because of the survival trap. This is what happens when you take on clients, projects, or work outside your sweet spot, just to cover payroll, patch cash flow gaps, or respond to immediate crises. There is a better way! In this episode, you'll discover how the survival trap subtly steals your time, energy, and freedom; why working in your sweet spot is the only way to grow and enjoy your business truly; and practical steps to move from survival mode to strategic, high-value leadership. If you're a business owner ready to reclaim your time, refocus on what should be on your plate, and finally build a business that supports your life (instead of owning it), this episode is for you. Join Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling now!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:The ONE essential piece of strategy that is missing if you don't have a life outside your work: a visionIf you, the business owner, don't know where you're going, your team members have no idea where they are going.Melissa's perspective on a business owner's vision being the guiding light for every team memberMake your team members the hero of your story; this creates maximum engagement.Melissa's fulfilling work with clients in helping them create their visionsUsing your clear vision to help drive decisions in your business (instead of “survival trap” thinking)Working from your vision offers sustainable solutions to current challenges AND the future.Focus on the wins. (What we focus on, grows!)Your vision gets you out of reactive mode.Need Melissa's help in creating your vision? We can help with a Vision Creation Session! Book a call with us today! Or email Melissa: melissa@tapthepotential.com.Resources:Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️

If you're worried about giving employee raises when revenue is tight, you're not alone. In this episode, we explore ways to reward your team without putting your business at risk. You'll discover smart ways to structure raises when cash flow is limited, how to communicate compensation changes without hurting morale, and strategies to retain top talent even when money is tight. If you're a business owner trying to balance people and profits, this episode will give you practical steps you can implement now. Join Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling to learn smart, sustainable strategies for handling raises without jeopardizing your business. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Balancing an uncertain economy with the need to take care of your A-playersThe problem when a business owner isn't cashing their paychecks in order to give employee raisesTake an honest look at your team, identify your A-players, and give raises accordingly. (Underperforming “warm bodies” do not deserve a raise.)Strategies for protecting you, the business owner. These are a priority for a sustainable business.Maintaining profitability is the #1 priority; all other decisions flow from that foundation.More money is NOT the goal for many A-players; time flexibility and freedom often matter more.Learn to structure an A-player's work schedule around the delivery of their key result.A team member's perspective from Melissa: time flexibility and freedom matter most!Considerations for a growing business (Don't grow your payroll across the board!)Have conversations with your A-players to find out what matters most to each of them. An action step to take today: prioritize systemization for each A-player's role (Guard against being hostage to any A-player.)Need more support to confidently grow your business? We can help! Book a call with us today! Resources:Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation

Does the idea of taking a real vacation make you anxious instead of excited? If stepping away for even a day feels risky, the thought of taking four whole weeks probably feels impossible—but it's not. You don't need a massive team or endless cash flow to make it happen. In this week's episode, we're breaking down the exact systems, delegation strategy, and leadership habits you need to build NOW, so you can confidently step away later. You'll discover the first thing to fix if your business can't run without you, how to train your team to make decisions while you're unplugged, and why your business actually grows when you're not in it every minute. If you want 2026 to be the year you take a real break, the kind where you sleep, rest, and reset, you don't want to miss this episode with Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling. Join us!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production.Show Highlights:The biggest irony about the 4 Week Vacation®️process: Our businesses grow and flourish more when we take time off.Our promise to every one of our clients: A fully unplugged, 4 Week Vacation®️within 12 monthsYour time is worth $10,000 an hour! Download your free Chart of $10,000 Activities now!Our “handoff” of the tasks associated with podcast production, and how it works for usDelegating effectively benefits everyone.Steps in effective delegation:Allow the team member to own the task's outcome.Give the team member space to simplify the processes and systems they work with.Watch your A-players learn how to delegate for themselves.Creating accountability and “vacation-testing” your businessOrganizing the business around the sweet spot—and hiring to support that processA streamlined business makes it easy to hire the right A-players.The truth about a 4 Week Vacation®️: It provides job security, sustainability, a good culture, and fresh creativity/innovation.The game you cannot play to win: Cut it out, and play a different game.Register now for the Coach Approach program for a very different 2026 for you and your business.Resources:Download your free, updated copy of the

Are you feeling the pressure to do all the things this holiday season: gifts, events, wrapping up the year, and taking care of everyone? What if the most meaningful gift you could give wasn't something you could buy? What if you discovered how small, intentional leadership actions, like encouragement, clarity, trust, and honest feedback, are the greatest gifts you can offer your team and yourself? In this episode, you'll learn why encouragement has 5x the retention power of any holiday bonus, how clarity resets stress and boosts A-player performance, the trust-building habits that create a self-managing team, and the one type of feedback that acts like rocket fuel for A-players. Dr. Sabrina Starling and Melissa Kay explain how to be the kind of leader who brings peace, stability, and purpose to your workplace; you can do it simply by showing up in the right way. Join us now to learn how.Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:We don't want teams who are simply waiting for their next bonus; we want A-players who celebrate working with us year-round. Melissa paints a picture of what it's like on the Tap the Potential team Dr. Sabrina's highest aspirations for her teamTaking care of ourselves, as leaders, is essential before we can effectively take care of our teams. Being a gift from your gifts supports the retention of your A-players.An important statistic (from Gallup): Well-recognized employees are 45% less likely to have changed businesses 2 years later. Create a safe, supportive environment where your team members can share ideas–and make it a habit.Show up as a thinking partner with curiosity–not judgment.The Coach Approach program teaches you the language of support and curiosity.Teaching your A-players the coaching conversation model helps you shine as a leader.Tips to create a self-managing teamHow feedback can support your best A-players: acknowledge the fact that you see them showing up from their strengths, and invest in them by offering them opportunities to grow and learn.Resources:Learn more about the How to Hire the Best Course by clicking this link.Our Coach Approach program can be life-changing for your business, team, and life. Find out more today!Ready to take your life back from...

It's become an annual tradition to share our Strategic Planning Series with our listeners, and there is no better time to do it than right now, on the cusp of a new year. Dr. Sabrina Starling hosts this two-part series that begins with this episode. She is “The Business Psychologist” and the author of the international bestselling series, How to Hire the Best, and The 4 Week Vacation book. In today's episode, Dr. Sabrina shines a spotlight on your $10,000 an hour activities for these last couple of weeks of 2025. Utilizing your time in $10,000 an hour activities only comes through thoughtful reflection and planning, and we are here to help! Be sure you've downloaded the accompanying resources here. Let's get started!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:A common flaw shared by most business ownersThe time between Christmas and New Year's Day is valuable; don't waste it!Bolster your resilience with reflection AND celebration.Evaluate your 2025: What have you experienced?Your happiness depends upon your mindset.The Gift to Yourself Exercise: How this exercise brings peace of mindThe value of journaling by hand Resources:Get your Strategic Planning Workbook now! Click here.Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️.Join the Tap the Potential Community on Mighty Networks: www.tapthepotential.com/group Mentioned in this episode:Better Business Better Life!Working harder and not getting paid? Feeling behind? Is your family tired of you being too busy to spend time with them? You deserve better! With Tap the Potential, we'll show you exactly what to prioritize in your business to finally take your life back without sacrificing growth. 95% of our clients achieve our promised result of more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever. You can have this. Join us inside the Better Business, Better Life Program. Go to http://TapThePotential.com and book your call today!

What tasks in your business, when completed, make other tasks easier or unnecessary? Those are your $10,000 an hour activities, and they should be at the top of your daily to-do list. By prioritizing these tasks each day, you can stop working at a set time, leave the office, and prevent work from spilling over into your personal life. Join Dr. Sabrina Starling as she reveals the foundational principles that allow her to work less and still accomplish her goals in a growing business. In this training, you'll discover the mindset, systems, and foundation to take your life back from your business. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Our clients are accomplishing unbelievable things within the first 30 days of signing up with us!Your first step: Download the Chart of $10,000 an Hour Activities here.Identify the wins and successes you want to experience in the next 1-2 years. Being emotionally present is the greatest gift to give another person.Dr. Sabrina looks back 20 years to the powerful question, “What do I want?”Limits force innovation and creativity. Be effective, not busy. Slim Starling's entrepreneurial success in the 1950sSad statistics about today's business owners and their livesSpeaking, presenting, writing blog posts, podcasting, and writing booksThe power of consistency led to Dr. Sabrina's TEDx talk: From Burnout to Balance80/20 principle: 20% of our efforts are responsible for 80% of our resultsUsing the Chart of $10,000 an Hour Activities as a powerful delegation tool for your teamDon't delude yourself about the extra busyness you're doing in your business!Let your A-players spread their wings and grow! They want more opportunities!Your next step? Take the Better Business Better Life Assessment!Resources:Download your Chart of $10,000 an Hour Activities now!Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️.Join the Tap the Potential Community on Mighty Networks: www.tapthepotential.com/group. Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business!Spending too much time working and not paying yourself enough? In 30 days, you could reclaim 10 hours a week and finally enjoy weekends — while your business runs well without you. Click here to join us for the final Better Business Better Life Jumpstart of the year happening Dec. 3 and 4th. https://www.tapthepotential.com/jumpstart

Are you struggling to raise your prices because you are afraid of losing clients? You are not alone! In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling explore specific strategies to increase your rates while keeping your best clients satisfied confidently. You'll learn the mindset shifts that make price increases feel natural and justified, how to communicate price charges without losing trust, and proven strategies business owners use to raise rates and grow profits. Stop leaving money on the table and start charging what you're worth—without fear. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Mindset shifts around price increases that protect your margins AND your teamSteps to establish a framework for regular price increases:Work with your ideal clients only.Understand the 80/20 rule.Keep clients who realize and appreciate the value of your services.75% of our clients stay with us for 3+ years!Focusing on what your top clients need and what they appreciate about your businessTying your price increase to the value you are delivering to the top 20% of your customersIdentify your top clients before spending your marketing dollars! Outcomes you can expect from implementing the Tap the Potential SolutionAdvice to keep your business from consuming more of your lifeConfidence to charge appropriatelyMaking your business uniqueReady to raise your prices with proven strategies that will make your business sustainably profitable? Help is available! We have a tool, the Better Business Better Life Assessment, that provides step-by-step guidance.Resources:Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️.Join the Tap the Potential Community on Mighty Networks: www.tapthepotential.com/group. Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business!Spending too much time working and not paying yourself enough? In 30 days, you could reclaim 10 hours a week and finally enjoy weekends — while your business runs well without you. Click here to join us for the final Better Business Better Life Jumpstart of the year happening Dec. 3 and 4th. https://www.tapthepotential.com/jumpstart

Are you feeling pulled in a hundred different directions and wondering why nothing seems to move your business forward? It's not about doing more, it's about doing the right ONE thing. In this episode, we are diving into how narrowing your focus can accelerate results, reduce overwhelm, and simplify decision-making. Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling will help you identify the one thing that will create the biggest impact in your business, understand why multitasking and busywork stall growth, and share a simple strategy to stay focused and maintain momentum. If you're ready to finally make real progress without the chaos, this episode is your clarity breakthrough!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:The power of the ONE thingA breakdown of your project load and productivityYour desire to over-accomplish affects your entire team.Identify your “one domino” that needs to fall.How context-switching affects youMelissa's tips for being strategic about your timeFinding power in giving yourself the space you need to complete a projectOur plan for helping business owners plan a The 4 Week Vacation®️ Tips for identifying your ONE thing that makes everything else easier or unnecessaryHelp is available! We have a tool, the Better Business Better Life Assessment, that provides step-by-step guidance.Resources:Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️.Join the Tap the Potential Community on Mighty Networks: www.tapthepotential.com/group. Mentioned in this episode:Jumpstart Your Business!Spending too much time working and not paying yourself enough? In 30 days, you could reclaim 10 hours a week and finally enjoy weekends — while your business runs well without you. Click here to join us for the final Better Business Better Life Jumpstart of the year happening Dec. 3 and 4th. https://www.tapthepotential.com/jumpstart

Are you feeling drained, distracted, or stuck in overthinking mode? Before you blame your workload, take a look at your screen time. You might find the problem there. In this episode, we are exploring how constant scrolling impacts your focus, creativity, and peace of mind—and what to do about it. You'll discover why screen time quietly sabotages your mindset and energy, a simple and science-backed reset that only takes a few minutes, and how breathing and mindfulness help you refocus and show up as your best self. If you're ready to break free from distraction and reclaim your calm, this episode is your permission to pause. Join Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling now!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Confront the harsh reality of your screen time.Dr. Sabrina's personal example of the screen time/mindset connectionUsing AI in ways that innovate and enhance our creativityDifferent brain activities, besides mindless scrolling, produce innovation and creativity.Breathwork is required for optimal brain function. (Deep breaths AND spaces for pauses)Tuning in to peaceRewiring your brain, even though it takes thousands of repetitionsSet a goal, such as cutting your screen time in half over the next week, and fill your time with activities that bring you fulfillment.Need a FREE sticker (or two) for your phone to remind you about your time? Drop a message/email to Dr. Sabrina with your address. Melissa's challenge to be intentional and take time for breathingTake our assessment and learn what to focus on to make more money and have more free time. Click here. Resources:Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️.Join the Tap the Potential Community on Mighty Networks: www.tapthepotential.com/group.Mentioned in this episode:20h Anniversary!We're celebrating 20 years of helping business owners take their lives back from their businesses so they can have more time for what matters most and more money in their bank accounts than ever. Book a call with Kaitlyn to see how we can support you. Visit us at www.tapthepotential.com and click the button to schedule a call today.

Are you frustrated by the constant turnover that costs you your best people? In this episode, we are revealing the simple action you can take to inspire loyalty and keep your top team members engaged. Dr. Sabrina Starling and Melissa Kay team up with Kaitlyn Beaver to each share their #1 leadership habit that makes A-players want to stay, how small and consistent actions build long-term team loyalty, and the simple shift you can start practicing today. Don't let your best people slip away! Hear from each of our experts about their top leadership habits essential to creating a culture where A-players stick around and thrive!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Retaining A-players by having consistent check-ins to ask about their wins, challenges, and goalsGiving A-players autonomy to see their new ideas as opportunities to flourish Have A-players “Take that idea and run with it!”A-players understand the sweet spot of your business and how to drive profitability.Show up calm and settled so your team feels safe and supported.Actions to take to support your A-players in sticking aroundThe value in regular one-to-one meetings with your team membersResults from our clients: more freedom, more time off, 4-week vacations, more owners' pay, more business profit, and more peace of mindBook a call with us today!Resources:Join our upcoming Leadership Bootcamp to build a self-managing team of people who own their roles. Find out more by clicking the link.For more information about The Coach Approach or to join us in the next round, click the link! Don't wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players' development and retain your A-players!Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About Profit!Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life

What if working less could actually make your business more successful?

Are you tired of pushing your team to hit goals, only to see mediocre results, increased frustration, and burnout? In this episode of Profit by Design, we are breaking down what really makes A-players different, and how you can build a team that thrives AND delivers. Join Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling as they talk with Kaitlyn Beaver, the How to Hire the Best Strategist at Tap the Potential. You'll discover the three traits A-players have that fuel results without burnout, how to spot (and keep) top talent in your business, and the simple shifts you can make so your team performs at its best. If you are ready for a team that consistently meets (and exceeds) your goals without drama and exhaustion, this episode is for you!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Three traits of A-players that allow them to deliver results - without burnout:A-players are intrinsically motivated.A-players always want to grow. A-players are full of ideas.Kaitlyn's example of having a revolutionary vision in a pivotal, game-changing momentA team working from its strengths energizes everyone.Feedback from business owners about spotting top talent (A-players)A-players know when they are working from their zone of genius and strengths.Download your Chart of $10,000 an Hour Activities here!The importance of role-modeling for your A-playersA-players show up differently when they know what results they are responsible for.Highlights of the 4 Week Vacation Promise in the Better Business Better Life Program, which includes the How to Hire the Best courseAI can serve the sweet spot of your business; we can teach you how!Book a call with us today!Resources:Join our upcoming Leadership Bootcamp to build a self-managing team of people who own their roles. Find out more by clicking the link.For more information about The Coach Approach or to join us in the next round, click the link! Don't wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players' development and retain your A-players!Ready to take your life back from your business?...

Today's episode is all about systems, and not just systems, but identifying who on your team can support you in getting systems in place. Hint: you, the business owner, don't need to do it; you need a “systems champion.” Dr. Sabrina Starling hosts her friend and colleague, David Jenyns, for today's discussion. This is David's fourth time on Profit by Design, and we are always thrilled to hear his practical wisdom for small business owners. Join us!David Jenyns is an experienced entrepreneur who sold the Melbourne Cricket Grounds in his early 20s and founded Melbourne SEO Services. He systematized himself out of that business in 2016 and founded SYSTEMology to help business owners implement systems to scale their businesses. Today, he supports a growing community of certified Systemologists, delivers workshops and keynote addresses, hosts a podcast, and is on a mission to free business owners worldwide from the daily operations of their businesses. He is the author of SYSTEMology and Systems Champion. The entire scope of David's work aligns seamlessly with our philosophy that your sustainably profitable business should support your life and free up your time—-and systems are the biggest key to making that happen. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Business owners in a changing landscape with new technologiesHuge effects from the arrival of ChatGPT Leveraging AI and becoming more efficient with our timeThe need for systems, ”documented habits”Systems focusing on “the sweet spot” of your businessOne of the most important roles in your business: a systems championDavid's process of collecting and analyzing data and patterns for his second book, with the help of AISecret sauce? Combining AI with strategy and systems.Key characteristics of systems championsAI tools have put things within reach for even junior team membersThe career path in your business for a systems championAn overview of David's second book, Systems Champion (a playbook for a systems champion to follow)Two key pieces to getting your life back from a growing business: hiring A-players and putting systems in placeThe key results to be expected from a systems-driven businessResources:Connect with David Jenyns: Website, LinkedIn, SYSTEMology book, and Systems Champion bookJoin our upcoming Leadership Bootcamp to build a self-managing team of people who own their roles. Find out more by clicking the link.For more information about The...

In this inspiring episode of Inside Personal Growth, Greg Voisen speaks with Dr. Sabrina Starling, bestselling author of The 4-Week Vacation and How to Hire the Best. She reveals how entrepreneurs can reclaim their lives from constant hustle, build self-sustaining businesses, and create teams of A-players who thrive without micromanagement. Listeners will learn: How to design a 25-hour work week that boosts focus and fulfillment. The secret to identifying $10,000-an-hour activities that grow profit fast. Strategies for hiring and keeping A-players driven by purpose, not paychecks. Why taking a four-week unplugged vacation can actually strengthen your business. How to shift from grind culture to a life where work supports life, not the other way around. It's a must-listen for founders, coaches, and high-performing professionals ready to work smarter, not longer—and lead with balance and purpose. Our Guest, Dr. Sabrina Starling PhD: ➥ http://HowToHireTheBest.com ➥ Book: How to Hire the Best: The Entrepreneur's Ultimate Guide to Attracting Top Performing Team Members ➥ Buy Now: https://a.co/d/4w55Rax ➡️LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/drsabrina Learn more about your Inside Personal Growth host, Greg Voisen: ➥ https://gregvoisen.com ➡️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidepersonalgrowth/ ➡️Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsidePersonalGrowth/ ➡️LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregvoisen/ ➡️Twitter/ X: https://twitter.com/lvoisen/

In today's show, Dr. Sabrina Starling visits with Sara Nay of Duct Tape Marketing. These two entrepreneurs are highly aligned in their passion for work that supports life, rather than the other way around. Sara discusses her book, which is full of strategy, not just marketing tactics, along with an understanding of the value of relationships. If your marketing strategy needs an overhaul, this show is for you. Join us! Sara Nay is the CEO of Duct Tape Marketing, where she helps small businesses turn their marketing strategies into scalable systems that their teams can actually execute. Since 2010, she's worked with thousands of business owners and fractional CMOs, blending big-picture strategy with scalable operations. A passionate trainer at heart, Sara's mission is to empower others to lead from their zone of genius and build marketing teams that can actually get the work done. Sara is also the author of Unchained: Breaking Free of Broken Marketing Models, with the mission to help small businesses reclaim ownership of their marketing, rather than renting it. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Sara's inspiration to write Unchained as a way to help others have control over their marketing strategySara's “Aha moment” that changed her role at work and how Duct Tape Marketing works with clients with fractional CMOsThe Business Strategy PyramidIdentifying your growth priorities and execution calendar for the next few monthsA strategy-first approach to marketingTaking advantage of AI as a support that frees up time and increases valueAsk, “What tasks need to be done by humans, and what by AI?”The Ideal Client Deep Dive Worksheet (found in Sara's book, Unchained)Connecting with people on a human/emotional level to build trustBuilding trust with our ideal clients: marketing with know, like, and trust; sales with try and buy; customer experience with repeat and referTrue growth: How it really happens through a focus on the customer experience What a business owner can gain by reading Unchained, your road map for a clear path forwardResources:Connect with Sara Nay: Duct Tape Marketing, LinkedIn, and Unchained*Free resources from Sara's book: Marketing Ownership Audit, Ideal Client Deep Dive Worksheet, From Copy to Culture: Messaging Alignment Guide, and the

Are you working harder than ever but still not seeing the results you want in your business? The problem may not be your strategy, your team, or even your market; it COULD be your mindset. In this episode of Profit by Design, we uncover the hidden ways your thinking might be holding you back, and more importantly, the shifts you can make to move forward with confidence. Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling explain how you can identify the limiting beliefs that are costing you profit and freedom, the most common mindset traps for entrepreneurs, and practical steps to rewire your thinking and unlock business growth. Don't let your mindset be the bottleneck in your business! Join us to learn more!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:The limiting beliefs common to business ownersThe reality of shifting my mindset by asking curiosity-learner questionsA helpful resource: Change Your Questions, Change Your Life by Marilee AdamsDon't try to figure it out by yourself. Seek out a community to support you.A big limiting belief for business owners: “I don't have enough time.”Ask, “Are my limiting beliefs serving me, or causing me anxiety or stress?”Journaling can be a game-changer when it comes to mindset.Melissa's examples of powerful questions that can help hold yourself accountableDecision-making out of love and abundance, not fear and scarcityThe guilt we carry for taking care of ourselves–Why? Dr. Sabrina's advice to business owners who are struggling and feeling defeatedWant to know what's holding you back? Reach out for help! We can support you! Get clear on your next best step by taking the Better Business Better Life Assessment.Resources:Join our upcoming Leadership Bootcamp to build a self-managing team of people who own their roles. Reserve your seat today! We begin on September 25! Join us!For more information about The Coach Approach or to join us in the next round, click the link! Don't wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling in the 'How to Hire the Best' course. Sign up today!Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players' development and retain your A-players!Ready to take your life back from your...

Most business owners, even the most successful ones, wrestle with imposter syndrome. It's not a sign that you're failing, but it's proof that you're growing. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling are uncovering the reasons why courage, not confidence, is the real key to shutting down imposter syndrome and leading your business with conviction. You'll discover how to take action even when self-doubt screams the loudest, how to reframe fear into a force for momentum, and how to build the kind of confidence that sticks—no matter what. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights:Dr. Sabrina's experience with business owners who “play small” because of fear and anxietyThe journey is the beautiful part of our overall growth.Understanding the performance expectations we put on ourselvesGuess what? “When we mess up, we take our ‘pink slip,' and we keep going.”Melissa's experience with starting over and taking the leap Success is built from a pile of failures.What message are you sending to the universe?Examples of client success with courageous leaps into their purposeApproaching your value proposition with courage in today's business worldThe Aha moment that transforms your mindsetDr. Sabrina's advice to struggling business ownersMelissa's advice to those who are holding backWant to know what's holding you back? Get clear on your next best step by taking the Better Business Better Life Assessment.Resources:Join our upcoming Leadership Bootcamp to build a self-managing team of people who own their roles. Find out more by clicking the link.For more information about The Coach Approach or to join us in the next round, click the link! Don't wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players' development and retain your A-players!Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About...

Dr. Sabrina Starling, founder of Tap the Potential and host of the Profit by Design Podcast, is known for helping entrepreneurs create profitable, sustainable businesses that thrive without constant owner involvement. In this conversation, she shares powerful insights on succession planning, the “$10K Hour” framework, and why mindset is the real key to growth. She also opens up about her personal journey of resilience and how it reshaped her approach to legacy and leadership. Listeners will gain practical strategies to delegate effectively, build systems that last, and free themselves to focus on what truly matters. Today we discussed: 00:00 Start 00:52 Meet Sabrina Starling 01:30 Mindset = Growth 02:43 Letting Go for Joy 05:31 Planning Your Legacy 09:02 Family & Team Legacy 10:49 Legal Succession Basics 13:09 Running Without You 13:40 Grief & New Perspective 15:22 Transition Planning 18:19 Take Time Away 19:09 The $10K Hour Activities Get a 30-day free trial today at morningmate.com Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today!

Do you ever wonder what it really takes to create a successful podcast? After 7 years of hosting Profit by Design, we have fine-tuned a system that makes podcasting doable AND impactful for our business. Today's conversation takes you behind the scenes to learn how we plan content that aligns with our business goals, what goes into the recording process, and how we repurpose each episode to save time and expand our reach. If you're thinking about starting a podcast to grow your business, this episode is your roadmap. Join Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling to learn more! Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production. Show Highlights:First step on the journey: find a podcast editor (Good editing is key!)Our heart and passion for the Profit by Design podcast“What do I want to bring to the world to be of service?”Ideas for podcast contentKnow your business's sweet spot and your clients' avatar to drive your podcast content.The BEST way to decide if podcasting is for you is to be a guest on other podcasts.What works best for podcast content? The validity of your lived experiencesSystems are vital in the podcasting process!Three tools we use: a project management tool, Google folders, and a spreadsheetThink about the distribution platforms for your podcast.Our financial commitment in marketing dollars spent on Profit by DesignIdeas for repurposing podcast content with the help of AISimplifying our teaching and developing our thought leadership ● KPIs help validate our investment. ● Want to know more about using your marketing dollars efficiently? We can help identify the sweet spot of your business and the clients you should be serving. Book a call with us today!Resources:Join our upcoming Leadership Bootcamp to build a self-managing team of people who own their roles. Reserve your seat today! We begin on September 25! Join us!For more information about The Coach Approach or to join us in the next round, click the link! Don't wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling in the 'How to Hire the Best' course. Sign up today!Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players' development and retain your A-players!Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more...

Have you considered launching a podcast or leveraging podcast visibility to promote your business? Today's conversation between Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling is eye-opening and inspiring about the purpose of podcasting. From attracting “right-fit” clients to building authority and actually enjoying marketing, Dr. Sabrina proudly declares that podcasting has changed the way she grows her business. She's pulling back the curtain to share tips, strategies, and insights into her updated marketing philosophy. There is so much to learn! Join us!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production. Show Highlights:Visibility matters–and it's much more than social media posts!We help our clients with marketing to help them meet their goals.Highlights of Dr. Sabrina's journey to bring the Profit by Design podcast into existenceA successful podcast requires consistency and creates community. Hearing others' stories helps us learn from each other.Fact: Small businesses succeed based on relationships.The unique benefits of podcasting as a platformAre you a Tap the Potential client with a great story to share about your entrepreneurial journey? Other people need to hear it! Email Melissa!Melissa's marketing takeaways: “Know your sweet spot and get visible.”Book a call with us today!Resources:Join our upcoming Leadership Bootcamp to build a self-managing team of people who own their roles. Reserve your seat today! We begin on September 25! Join us!For more information about The Coach Approach or to join us in the next round, click the link! Don't wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players' development and retain your A-players!Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About Profit!Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business...

It was one year ago when Dr. Sabrina Starling took the TEDx stage to share her bold message: From Burnout to Balance: Redefining Success in Work and Life. What happened next? What does it really take to lead for freedom day in and day out? In this powerful episode of Profit by Design, Dr. Sabrina reflects on the hard-earned lessons, big wins, and leadership shifts she's made since her TEDx talk aired. If you are ready to stop being the bottleneck in your business and build a team that runs things without you, this episode is your invitation to think differently about how you lead. Join us!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.Show Highlights:Dr. Sabrina's TEDx talk experience while dealing with intense grief over the sudden loss of her husband, NedHer TEDx talk is a thought-provoking conversation starter for work teams, spouses, and families.Freedom and a regret-proof life are THE greatest gifts.Dr. Sabrina's advice about simply being with another person and creating emotional safetyFeedback from people who heard Dr. Sabrina's TEDx talkBalancing freedom and responsibility while intentionally living a YES lifeBeing a better listener is our best legacy.Showing up on your work team as someone who is fully presentWant to go deeper and learn how to build a self-managing team of A-players? Leadership Bootcamp is where you'll transform your leadership and create a business that gives you back your time, energy, and peace. Resources:Join our upcoming Leadership Bootcamp to build a self-managing team of people who own their roles. Reserve your seat today! We begin on September 25! Join us!For more information about The Coach Approach or to join us in the next round, click the link! Don't wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players' development and retain your A-players!Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Get your copy of A

In this episode of High Velocity Radio, Lee Kantor interviews Dr. Sabrina Starling--bestselling author, business psychologist, and founder of Tap the Potential--discusses her mission to shift entrepreneurs away from hustle culture toward a model where work supports life. Drawing on research with over 650 entrepreneurs, she promotes concepts like 4 Week Vacations®, $10,000-an-hour activities, and […]

Are you a business owner who is tired of being the only one to get things right? Are you dealing with team members who are stuck and not taking initiative? You hired a team to take things off your plate, but instead, you're buried in follow-up, approvals, and rework. Sadly, you've unknowingly undermined your team members and trained them NOT to take initiative. Ready to break this cycle?In this episode, you'll learn how to stop micromanaging and start building a team you can trust to OWN their work. Dr. Sabrina Starling and Melissa Kay discuss why micromanaging is a symptom of the real problem, the key traits of A-players, and how you can step into your role as a true leader. It's time to cultivate employee happiness and freedom on your team!Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.Show Highlights:The first step in breaking the micromanagement cycle is to hire competent, capable A-players.A-players are problem-solvers. Let them solve!Establishing decision-making parameters for your A-playersLook for what's right, not for what's wrong.Re-align your priorities and focus on key results.Getting your team to the place where they can own their resultsDr. Sabrina's insights into specific scenarios of micromanagementCultivating total trust in your teamResults you can expect from Leadership Bootcamp for your A-playersResources:Want to go deeper? Join our upcoming Leadership Bootcamp to build a self-managing team of people who own their roles. Reserve your seat today! We begin on September 25! Join us!For more information about The Coach Approach or to join us in the next round, click the link! Don't wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best Course.Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players' development and retain your A-players!Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About Profit!Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life

What happens when a business owner takes seven weeks completely off with no emails, client calls, or check-ins? In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Starling returns from her 7-week vacation to share what it was really like to disconnect fully from her business, and what the experience revealed about her relationship with time, freedom, and her identity as a CEO. You'll get to be a fly on the wall as Dr. Sabrina sees Melissa Kay, Lead Strategist, for the first time since her return. If you've ever said, “I could never take that much time off,” this is the episode that will challenge everything you believe about what's possible. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.Show Highlights:Dr. Sabrina's perspective on a 7-week “full detox” that was cleansing from the burnout she feltA commitment to being present with loved ones while unplugging from businessSpending time at the beach, lake, and doing fun activities with her kidsDr. Sabrina's life lessons learned through the sudden death of her husband last summer: Even in your household, don't rely on key team member dependency!Share password info with loved ones.In estate planning, consider setting up a digital legacy contact, as it can still take weeks to gain access.Taking time to breathe and “own what I have accomplished in the past year”Letting the team own it and run things at Tap the Potential for seven weeksAddressing gaps in wills and estate planning to prepare for the unexpected and take care of the people that matter mostResources:For more information about The Coach Approach or to join us in the next round, click the link! Don't wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players' development and retain your A-players!Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today! Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About Profit!Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book,