Profit by Design

Dr. Sabrina Starling
  • 4.8 (28)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. 390: Stop Being the Bottleneck: How to Build a Self-Managing Business Model

    1D AGO

    390: Stop Being the Bottleneck: How to Build a Self-Managing Business Model

    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...

    27 min
  2. 389: How to Stay Grounded as a Business Owner (No Matter What’s Going On)

    FEB 19

    389: How to Stay Grounded as a Business Owner (No Matter What’s Going On)

    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? a...

    32 min
  3. 388: The Hardest Boundary I Ever Set in My Business

    FEB 12

    388: The Hardest Boundary I Ever Set in My Business

    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®️. 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

    22 min
  4. 387: Loneliness, Leadership, and Retaining Your Best People for Small Business Owners with Dov Baron

    FEB 5

    387: Loneliness, Leadership, and Retaining Your Best People for Small Business Owners with Dov Baron

    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...

    44 min
  5. 386: The Real Reason Most Business Owners Don’t Have a Life Outside Work

    JAN 29

    386: The Real Reason Most Business Owners Don’t Have a Life Outside Work

    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®️a href="https://www.tapthepotential.com/pledge" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    23 min
  6. 385: How to Handle Employee Raises When Revenue is Low (Business Owner Strategies)

    JAN 22

    385: How to Handle Employee Raises When Revenue is Low (Business Owner Strategies)

    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 Vacationa href="https://www.tapthepotential.com/pledge" rel="noopener...

    19 min
  7. 384: What to Look for in an Accounting Firm with Tammy Little

    JAN 15

    384: What to Look for in an Accounting Firm with Tammy Little

    Most business owners wait way too long to get financial support, not because they don’t need it, but because they think their books are too messy, too far behind, or too embarrassing to hand over to a professional. In this episode, Tap the Potential’s Lead Strategist, Melissa Kay, talks with Tammy Little about precisely what you should look for in an accounting firm, and why you’re more ready for help than you think! We cover the difference between a bookkeeper, accountant, controller, and CFO (and who you actually need; the essential systems and processes to make your finances easier, more efficient, and more organized; why waiting until the end of the year to prepare for taxes is the fastest way to lose money and add stress; and how the proper accounting support creates clarity, confidence, and real profit. If you want to stop feeling behind, stop guessing, and finally get your financial house in order, this episode is your roadmap to a better future. Join us! Tammy Little is the owner of FTC Group and Summit Accounting Partners, a full-service accounting firm for small, medium, and large businesses. All of their services are virtual, making their top-notch services accessible to companies nationwide. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Understand the terminology: CFO, accountant, bookkeeper, controller, etc. (“What do I really need?”)Common reasons that business owners don’t have financial supportThe process when Tammy’s firm comes in to help clean up the financial messYou will feel safe and relieved when a qualified financial professional takes the reins!Think you can’t afford an accountant? You can’t afford NOT to have one!Tammy’s philosophy of systems and operations is to know each client and their business as a true partnerConsiderations in looking for an accountant: your comfort level, their range of offerings/services, communication, and the level of trust you have with themSigns that you need accounting help NOW!Tammy’s one thing she gives to every client: peace of mind Resources: Connect with Tammy Little: Summit Website, My Ghost Crew Website, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Download your free, updated copy of the a href="https://www.tapthepotential.com/10k"...

    27 min
  8. 383: How to Plan Your 4 Week Vacation®️ in 2026 (Without Your Business Falling Apart)

    JAN 8

    383: How to Plan Your 4 Week Vacation®️ in 2026 (Without Your Business Falling Apart)

    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 a href="https://www.tapthepotential.com/10k" rel="noopener...

    25 min
See All (396)

4.8
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Sabrina Starling
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    396
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Profit by Design