Thrive by Design

Karen Woller
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Running a business shouldn’t mean running yourself into the ground. The Thrive by Design podcast is here to help service entrepreneurs like you create more balance, build sustainable growth, and design a business that actually supports the lifestyle you want.

  1. 3D AGO

    14. Systemising for Freedom: Work Less Without Dropping Balls

    We’ve talked about the four stages most business owners move through — And one of the most important things to understand about those stages is that each one requires a different way of operating. What works early on will eventually become the thing that holds you back. The trouble starts when the business grows, but the way it operates doesn’t change. The problem is that the business hasn’t been redesigned for the next stage. And that’s where systemising becomes non-negotiable. Because the shift from hustle to alignment, and ultimately into a thriving business, doesn’t come from effort. It comes from structure. From building a business that no longer relies on you being everywhere, all the time. (00:00) - Managing Growth Via Design (01:52) - Why Systems are the Gateway to Freedom and Growth (05:41) - Finding The Bottlenecks that are Draining You (06:56) - Processes That Actually Get Used (08:05) - What Most People Get Wrong About Systems (09:46) - Tools and Automation: Support, Not Complexity (10:36) - Delegation: The Real Shift to CEO Mode (11:34) - Knowing if Your Systems are Actually Working (12:07) - Designing Your Freedom Intentionally (14:08) - The Bottom Line TakeawaysEach business stage requires a different operational approach.The transition from hustle to alignment necessitates systemization.Without systems, growth can lead to dependence on the owner.Identifying bottlenecks is crucial for effective systemization.Systems should be practical and easy to follow, they don't have to be perfect.Good systems protect flexibility rather than eliminate it.Imperfect systems that are used are more valuable than perfect ones.Delegation becomes effective only when supported by clear systems.The shift from doing to leading is essential for growth.Freedom in business is about intentional design, not just absence.Music from#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG

    15 min

  2. JAN 26

    13. Building Momentum: Planning That Actually Gets Done

    Most of the time, nobody teaches us how to build momentum. We learn how to make plans - beautifully, in fact - but we’re never taught how to keep going when the day-to-day realities of business start pulling us in every direction.    Today is about what happens after the plan is made. How do you keep moving? How do you stay in motion, even when things get messy? How do you build a business that actually follows through on the work you mapped out so intentionally?   That’s where the Momentum Engine comes in. This is the part that most entrepreneurs skip - and it’s the reason so many beautifully crafted plans never make it to the finish line. (00:00) - When Planning Feels Pointless (02:21) - Why Momentum Matters More Than Motivation (03:22) - Introducing The Momentum Engine (03:54) - 1. Activation - Getting Started Before You Overthink It (04:52) - 2. Cadence - Finding A Rhythm That Feels Good To You (05:59) - 3. Boundaries - Protecting The Space Where Your Momentum Lives (07:40) - 4. Accountability - Staying Connected To Your Commitments (08:40) - 5. Recovery - Restarting Quickly When Your Momentum Slips (09:43) - What The Momentum Engine Looks Like In Real Life (11:38) - How To Start Building Your Momentum Engine This Week TakeawaysPlanning and momentum are two different skills.Most entrepreneurs struggle with maintaining momentum after planning.Activation is the first step to building momentum.Cadence provides a rhythm for ongoing work.Boundaries protect the time needed for important tasks.Accountability helps keep commitments and prevents drift.Recovery is essential for bouncing back from setbacks.Momentum is mechanical and can be cultivated.Small, consistent actions lead to sustainable progress.Your business needs you to stay in motion, even imperfectly.Music from#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG

    13 min

  3. JAN 19

    12. Map your Moves: From Big Vision to Action Plan

    If you’ve ever found yourself in that space - where your vision feels clear but your next steps don’t - you’re not alone. This is one of the most common gaps I see for service-based entrepreneurs. They’ve done the big thinking. They’ve done the strategy sessions. They’ve done the goal setting. But what they haven’t done is map their moves.  Because a vision without a plan is just a wish. Mapping your moves is the bridge between dreaming and doing - it’s how you take that big-picture clarity and turn it into confident, focused action. (00:00) - The Vision - Execution Gap (01:29) - Why Mapping Matters (02:39) - Introducing The Vision-To-Action Flow™ (05:24) - From Vision To Action - A Real Example (07:02) - Why Most Plans Fail (And How To Avoid It) (08:15) - Money Moves - Planning With Financial Intent (09:08) - Building In Accountability And Boundaries (10:33) - Common Planning Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them) (11:55) - Designing Your Planning Rhythm (13:11) - From Chaos To Clarity (13:51) - Recap - The Vision-To-Action Flow™ TakeawaysYou've done the big thinking, but what you haven't done is mapped your moves.Mapping your moves is about creating direction, not doing everything.When you map your moves properly, you make more progress with less effort.Clarity is the foundation of confidence in business planning.Your business should serve your life, not the other way around.If your plan isn't easy to use, it won't be used.Protect your planning time like you would a client booking.Done is better than perfect; adjust your plan as you go.The magic is in the rhythm and making planning a habit.When you start mapping your moves, you stop reacting and start leading with focus.Music from#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG

    15 min

  4. JAN 12

    11. From Hustle to Alignment: The Evolution Model

    You know that feeling when you finally hit a big milestone - the one you’ve been chasing for months - but instead of feeling proud and fulfilled… you just feel tired? Maybe you’ve ticked all the boxes: the revenue goals, the full client list, the growing team. You’ve built something amazing - but somehow, it’s running you instead of the other way around. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. That’s the reality of what I call the Hustle Hangover - that moment when you realise the way you’ve been working isn’t sustainable anymore. That’s what today’s episode is about. Because there is another way - a way to build a business that creates freedom, impact, and calm at the same time. (00:00) - The Hustle Hangover - Realising When It’s Not Sustainable (01:19) - The Evolution Model - From Hustle To Alignment (02:16) - Two Worlds, Two Ways of Working (03:19) - Stage 1: The Side Hustle (07:59) - Stage 2: The Solopreneur (11:36) - Stage 3: The Monster (13:59) - Stage 4: Thriving (15:19) - The Integration - From Hustle To Alignment TakeawaysThe hustle hangover is a common experience for entrepreneurs.Hustle culture often leads to burnout and exhaustion.The Evolution Model outlines four stages of business growth.Each stage can be approached from a hustle or alignment perspective.Awareness of your current stage is the first step to change.Building a business with intention leads to sustainable success.The heart of the Evolution Model is about thinking differently to redefine your growth.Music from#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG

    17 min

  5. JAN 5

    10. Designing Your Vision: Aligning Life and Business Goals

    If your business disappeared tomorrow, would the life left behind still feel like the one you actually want to live? It’s a confronting question, right? Because most people start their business chasing freedom - freedom of time, of money, of choice. But somewhere along the way, that freedom quietly disappears. I see it all the time with clients - smart, purpose-driven entrepreneurs who’ve built something amazing but wake up one day wondering, “Hang on… wasn’t this supposed to feel better than this?” Because here’s the truth: if your business and your life are growing in different directions, it doesn’t matter how successful it looks - it won’t feel aligned. So today, we’re diving into how to bring those two worlds together. We’re going to explore how to design your vision - one that blends ambition with intention - and how to make sure your business supports the life you want, not competes with it. (00:00) - The Freedom Illusion (01:49) - Why Vision Matters - And Why It Gets Lost (03:01) - The Thrive Without Sacrifice Connection (04:15) - The Vision Alignment Loop - A Simple Framework (06:55) - The Cost of Misalignment (07:54) - My Own Realignment Moment (08:52) - How To Start Designing Your Vision (10:00) - A Reframe For Ambitious Entrepreneurs TakeawaysIf your business disappeared tomorrow, would your life feel right?Many entrepreneurs lose sight of their original vision.Your business should support your life, not consume it.Vision needs to evolve as you evolve.Clarity, alignment, and structure are key to success.Define the life you want before setting business goals.Misalignment can start small and lead to burnout.Regular check-ins are essential for alignment.Vision work helps in making intentional decisions.Success is about choosing what matters most.Music from#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG

    12 min

  6. 12/29/2025

    9. Summer Series: Big-Picture Thinking in Bare Feet

    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. (00:00) - Embracing the Holiday Mindset (01:53) - Why Stepping Away Creates Clarity (04:00) - Reflect - Don’t React (05:51) - The Power of Simple Visioning (07:25) - What to do When You Return (08:56) - A Moment of Reflection TakeawaysYou can't get big picture clarity when you're knee deep in tasks.Give yourself distance to gain perspective.Your brain starts doing what it's designed to do when you have clarity.Distance is essential for effective decision-making.Perspective is crucial for understanding business dynamics.Clarity leads to better productivity.Stepping back can enhance strategic thinking.Finding calmness can improve business insights.Music from#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG

    10 min

  7. 12/22/2025

    8. Summer Series: Boundaries for a Real Break

    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. (00:00) - The Importance of Taking a Break (02:02) - Why Boundaries Matter More Than Ever (02:45) - Time Boundaries - Setting the Bookends of Your Break (03:51) - Communication Boundaries - Being Proactive, Not Reactive (04:47) - Team Boundaries - Leading By Example (05:37) - Tech Boundaries - Protecting Your Peace (06:38) - Personal Boundaries - Deciding How You Actually Want to Feel (07:36) - A Simple Reflection - Your Holiday Boundary Blueprint (09:14) - How Breaks Actually Strengthen Your Business (09:59) - Boundaries as a System, Not Willpower (10:38) - Protecting Your Re-Entry TakeawaysClarity evaporates almost instantly with a packed schedule.Protect those first few days back to work.Easing in allows for intentional check-ins with clients.Reconnect with your strategy upon returning.Decide on your actual priorities instead of defaulting to old habits.The reentry boundary is a powerful tool for mental health.Jumping back into everything can be overwhelming.Give yourself the chance to ease into work.It's crucial to protect your mental space.Music from#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG

    12 min

  8. 12/15/2025

    7. Summer Series: The 5 Things to Check Before Your Annual Shutdown

    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. (00:00) - Preparing for a Restful Break (01:48) - 1: Cash Flow Coverage (04:06) - 2: Client Communication (05:50) - 3: Team Wrap-Up (06:57) - 4: Systems & Automations (07:56) - 5: A Gentle Introduction to Boundaries TakeawaysThe importance of self-reflection before taking time off.Having conversations with yourself can ease anxiety about work.Checking in on client expectations is crucial before a shutdown.Ensuring your team is prepared for your absence is essential.A well-planned shutdown can lead to a more refreshing return.Taking simple steps can prevent post-holiday anxiety.It's not just about shutting down, but preparing for it.Work-life balance is key to feeling grounded.Communication with clients should be prioritized before breaks.A smooth transition into time off enhances overall well-being.Music from#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG

    12 min
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About

Running a business shouldn’t mean running yourself into the ground. The Thrive by Design podcast is here to help service entrepreneurs like you create more balance, build sustainable growth, and design a business that actually supports the lifestyle you want.

Information

  • Creator
    Karen Woller
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Thrive CA Ltd
  • Show Website
    Thrive by Design