Profit by Design

Dr. Sabrina Starling

You work hard in your business.
On the Profit by Design Podcast, we ask the BIG question:
What has your business done FOR YOU lately?

Join Dr. Sabrina Starling, The Business Psychologist™ and founder of Tap the Potential weekly, as she brings you tips, tools and strategies to support YOU in making intentionally profitable AND sustainable business decisions to live the lifestyle you desire. After all, work supports life, not the other way around. Dr. Sabrina is the author of the The 4 Week Vacation® and the How to Hire the Best Series.

Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.

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20 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes20

Newest first

Yesterday · 27 min
413: The Hiring Mistakes We See Every Single Week
The hiring mistakes we see every single week have nothing to do with finding “good people.” We’ve noticed the same patterns over and over again: hiring too fast because you’re overwhelmed, settling because you need a body in a position, writing job ads that attract the wrong candidates, and expecting new hires to “figure it out.” Is it any wonder why your turnover rate is high? The truth is that hiring challenges are rarely just hiring challenges. They are often leadership challenges. In this episode of the Profit by Design podcast, Kaitlyn and Melissa pull back the curtain on the conversations we’re having with business owners every week. We share the most common hiring mistakes we see, why they happen, and what the best business owners do differently to build an A-player team. If you’re frustrated with hiring and wonder why your team isn’t performing the way you’d hoped, this conversation is for you! Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Our How to Hire the Best program helps you stand out as an employer of choice. Avoid costly hiring mistakes. Melissa’s perspective on hiring with intention (“What does my company need right now?”) Writing job descriptions vs. job advertisements Hiring for skills vs. hiring for character Your business culture should be obvious to anyone who applies for a job! Understanding how to implement an A-player development plan with one-to-one check-ins on their goals, successes, and trajectory Common mistakes by business owners: not blocking off time to welcome a new team member, not having human connection as part of your onboarding process, and not building a culture of community on your team A magic question to ask any team member: “How might I support you?” If you are up against hiring challenges, book a call with us today! Resources: And if today's conversation has you thinking, "I can totally relate to this," don't stop there. Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment to discover the biggest constraint keeping your business from supporting your life. In about 10 minutes, you'll have a clearer picture of where to focus next. 👉 tapthepotential.com/assessment
July 30 · 21 min
412: What the Best Business Owners Do Differently
What separates the business owners who thrive from those who stay stuck? After coaching hundreds of business owners, we’ve noticed that those who create the biggest transformations aren’t necessarily the smartest, the busiest, or the ones working the longest hours. In this week’s episode, Melissa Kay and Kaitlyn Beaver pull back the curtain on the patterns they see every day while coaching business owners and leading conversations with entrepreneurs across the country. You’ll learn the mindset shifts that lead to sustainable growth, what the best business owners do that others overlook, the habits that create stronger teams and better leadership, and why some owners grow with confidence. In contrast, others stay stuck in survival mode. Join us for an honest conversation about what we have learned from the business owners building businesses that truly support their lives. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Top mindset shifts for sustainable growth: (Hint: Working less is more!) Create space for innovative thinking. Focus on $10,000-an-hour activities. Taking “time off” doesn’t just mean going on vacation. The value of time audits in pinpointing your issues Delegation is a true gift to your team members. It fosters growth AND trust. Clear systems make delegation easier! Do you know the sweet spot of your business? Examples from Melissa of giving clients a better life ONE small step forward can make the biggest difference in your business and your life! Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment today! Resources: If this conversation leaves you wondering what your next step should be, take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment. It will help you identify the biggest opportunity in your business so you can stop guessing and start building a business that truly supports your life. Work should support your life–not the other way around!
July 23 · 22 min
411: How I Prepared My Business for a 6-Week Vacation
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 vacation Practical steps of vacation preparations for Dr. Sabrina (How she prepares her team) The key to creating a sustainable business and job stability for your team Focus on key results for team members. Dr. Sabrina’s mandate to her team about using AI for repetitive activities The incredible results our clients are experiencing because of innovation and creativity Melissa’s example of freeing up her time by offloading tasks to others The 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!
July 16 · 23 min
410: The Business is Growing. Is Your Life?
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 vacations The #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.
July 9 · 23 min
409: Every Time You Rescue Your Team, You Make the Problem Worse
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 solvers The right leadership skills will help you to NOT over-function. The value in having clear expectations, measurable and monitored results, and accountability on your team Lack 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 clients The cumulative “snowball” effect of a coaching culture Ready 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!
July 2 · 22 min
408: Why Your Team Isn’t Taking Ownership (Even If They’re “Good”)
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 issues Our Coach Approach program helps you learn to build a coaching culture and a team that takes ownership. Building a mindset around curiosity The 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!
June 25 · 43 min
407: Is Your Business Killing Your Relationship?
We have a special episode for you today! A few weeks ago, Dr. Sabrina was invited to a webinar in the Pumpkin Planners Rock Facebook Group to consider this important question: “Is your business killing your relationship?” We’ve found that this topic resonates deeply with small business owners everywhere, because we all fear that our commitment to our work is taking over our lives, killing our marriages, and damaging our relationships with loved ones. We are bringing you this webinar to increase understanding about entrepreneurial burnout and to prevent your business from becoming the uninvited third party in your relationships. If you want to show up fully present in your most important relationships, this episode is for YOU. It could change your life! Donna Leyens is the president and co-founder of Pumpkin Plan Your Biz. She is on a mission to save small businesses from extinction by providing tools, strategies, training, and support to business professionals who want to make a big impact as small business growth strategists. This mighty team of strategists uses The Pumpkin Plan Action Guide, a business growth program Donna developed based on the methods in the book, The Pumpkin Plan, written by her co-founder, Mike Michalowicz. Pumpkin Plan Strategists help small businesses not just stay afloat but also scale and grow in both profitability and size, while giving the owner time for life and relationships. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: The mission of the Pumpkin Plan program The early warning signs that your business is damaging your relationship The trap: Being physically present and mentally “checked out” with our families How to know when your business is taking up way too much of your mental space You’re not a bad person if you’re a burned-out entrepreneur! (Our Better Business, Better Life Assessment is the only tool that measures burnout in entrepreneurs and the health of their businesses.) Burnout: A combination of all the small things and stressors we absorb (Listen to the cold, hard facts that our research has shown.) Dr. Sabrina’s story (Listen to learn why this mission is a personal one.) Entrepreneurs are disconnected at home. Why? We need to value our time differently. (Are you working on $10,000 an hour activities? Download your chart now!) Are your team members working from their strengths? What are the $10,000 an hour activities in your relationships? Nothing else matters! Action steps to start today: Recognize that limits drive innovation and creativity, completely turn off your phone in the evenings and on weekends (Do you need a “Work supports life” sticker?), and ask your loved ones what would be going on if your relationship were at a “10.” Resources: Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment to identify what may be keeping you stuck and killing your relationships!
June 18 · 20 min
406: Why Burned-Out Business Owners Make Fear-Based Decisions
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 overfunctioning You can’t say YES to every opportunity! Melissa’s perspective on better relationships and strategic thinking about self-care Melissa’s powerful question: “If the relationship with myself is a 10, what am I experiencing?” Dr. Sabrina’s revelation about grief and love Another 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!
June 11 · 21 min
405: Your Business Is Affecting Your Relationships More Than You Think
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 culture The 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 FIRST Being aware of the neglected side of business Your 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!
June 4 · 20 min
404: If You Know Something Has to Change…This Is Your Next Step
“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 right Having 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 gaps Think 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.
May 28 · 25 min
403: Everything Still Runs Through You — Here’s Why
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-players Steps to creating ownership and empowerment on your team: Clear decision-making Clearly defined roles Leadership development Amazing results we are seeing from clients in our Leadership Bootcamp Want 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 program Join 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.
May 21 · 23 min
402: You’re Not Burned Out — Your Business Is Designed to Depend on You
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 business From 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 revenue 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.
May 14 · 28 min
401: 400 Episodes Later: How to Build a Profitable Business That Supports Your Life
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 mistake Every 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 freedom The 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 entrepreneurs The reason we are NOT industry-specific in our coaching Proof 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.
May 7 · 23 min
400: You Know You’re Burned Out—Now What?
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 solutions Group 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 transformation Stacking the wins with small steps that lead to big change The 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.
April 30 · 20 min
399: The Hidden Signs of Burnout Every Business Owner Misses
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 business Emotional detachment Decision fatigue Melissa’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 abuse Real 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!
April 23 · 23 min
398: Why Your Culture Isn’t Producing A-Players — and How to Build One That Does
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 need Culture 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 choice Your 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!
April 16 · 23 min
397: Why High Performers Burn Out First — and How to Build Sustainable Leadership in Your Small Business
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 owners Decision fatigue: one of the single biggest contributors to burnout Building 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 change Kaitlyn’s perspective on the intersection of yoga and an entrepreneurial mindset Learning to respect the pause, the unplug, and your breath to reconnect with your body What 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!
April 9 · 22 min
396: You’re Solving the Wrong Problem in Your Business — Here’s How to Fix It
What if the biggest problem in your business isn’t actually THE problem? If you’re working harder than ever to fix things: hiring, pushing sales, trying to get organized—but nothing is changing, you’re still the bottleneck. You’re doing what most smart, capable business owners do, but you aren’t getting ahead. Instead of reacting to surface-level problems, you need to address the root cause, and this clarity about the real issue is what changes everything. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Kaitlyn Beaver break down the following: why smart, capable business owners misdiagnose their biggest challenges; the difference between surface problems and root issues; why more effort isn’t creating better results; how to identify what will actually move the needle in your business; and the first step to getting out of the survival trap. Join us! Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Want to change everything, starting today? Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment to get clarity on exactly what your business needs next! What is your business really costing you? Our holistic approach makes us different. The biggest Aha moments from our calls with business owners We help you reconnect to your dream and fall in love with your business again! How to know you have a sustainable business (Is it a business or a job?) Your next steps: Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment and book a call with Kaitlyn. 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 to support your life. Click here!
April 2 · 20 min
395: The Real Reason You Can’t Take Time Off From Your Business
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 owner The amazing results our clients are seeing in the first year with Tap the Potential 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!
March 26 · 25 min
394: The 5-Step Business Growth Strategy to Create a Sustainably Profitable Business
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 pay Just 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!