For most of the year, we are so close to our businesses that everything feels urgent. Everything feels like it’s on fire. Even the little things feel big because we’re standing right in front of them.
When you’re in it, it all feels overwhelming.
But when you step away? You see it differently.
Stepping away always brings a new level of clarity that we struggle to access when we're in the business.
Thoughts start to surface - the kind of thoughts you don’t have access to when you’re running a million miles an hour, juggling clients, team needs, and every operational thing that comes with being a servicepreneur.
This is what I call big picture thinking in bare feet.
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#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG
Welcome to the Thrive By Design Summer Series - quick, practical episodes to help you step into the holiday season with clarity, calm, and confidence. Whether you’re taking a full break or just slowing the pace, these episodes will help you set things up so your business keeps humming while you recharge.
So today, I want to talk about the boundaries that every service entrepreneur needs going into the summer. Not the rigid, rule-based kind - but the structural, intentional ones that make your break easier, calmer, and genuinely restorative.
Because you’re not building a business you need to escape from.
You’re building one that sustains you.
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#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG
In this summer series episode, I want to walk you through the five things to check before your annual shutdown - not as a rigid list, but more like the conversations you need to have with yourself before you step away.
These are the things that stop you lying awake on Boxing Day thinking, “Did that invoice go out?” or “Is that client expecting me to reply?” or “Is my team going to be okay without me?”
Let’s make this summer break feel like a real break - not just working from a different location.
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#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG
This episode shares insight in understanding the importance of financial data in business. Karen reflects on a pivotal moment when she realized that her financial numbers were not just records of past performance but crucial indicators of what needed to change in her business strategy. This realization led her to stop viewing financials as an afterthought and instead use them as a guiding compass for her business decisions.
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It’s early December - that time of year when everyone’s juggling end-of-year deadlines, Christmas parties, and clients trying to squeeze in “just one more project” before the break.
But while you’re wrapping up the year, there’s one thing you can’t afford to leave unwrapped - your cashflow.
In this bonus episode, I’m walking you through your Summer Cashflow Checklist - what you need to check off right now to make sure you glide into the new year with confidence, not cashflow chaos.
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#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG
We discuss the critical importance of understanding cash flow in business. Many entrepreneurs mistakenly believe that acquiring more clients is the solution to their cash flow problems. Instead, we advocate for gaining clarity on how cash moves through a business and designing a cash rhythm that allows for proactive management. This shift in mindset can transform a business from a state of chaos and survival to one of calm and thriving.
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In this episode, Karen Woller discusses the importance of financial clarity for service entrepreneurs. She discusses how many business owners struggle with understanding their financial reports, leading to emotional decision-making rather than intentional choices. Karen outlines the three key components of resetting financial foundations: structure, systems, and standards. She debunks common myths about numbers and highlights the transformative power of understanding financial data. The conversation concludes with actionable advice for entrepreneurs to start taking control of their finances and improve their business outcomes.
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#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG
In this episode, Karen Woller discusses the three key milestones of her Thrive Without Sacrifice system, designed to help service entrepreneurs transition from survival mode to a state of freedom. She emphasizes the importance of clarity, alignment, and structure in achieving business success without sacrificing personal well-being. The conversation covers mastering financial numbers, building a strategic game plan, and creating a dream life through effective leadership and systems.
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Hustle culture glorifies the grind, but it’s a recipe for burnout. Freedom and growth come from clarity, systems, and alignment — not from squeezing more hours out of your day.
You can have a business that thrives without sacrificing your health, relationships, or creativity.
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#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG
Welcome to the Thrive by Design Podcast - This is a brief intro covering what you can expect in future!