Thrive by Design

Karen Woller

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. 1일 전

    17. Amplifying Growth: Growing With Purpose Not Pressure

    What if the problem isn’t that you’re not growing fast enough, but that you’re actually growing in the wrong direction? The business might be growing, but your capacity isn’t growing with it. And this is the part we don’t talk about enough. Just because something looks like growth on the outside doesn’t mean it’s the right kind of growth for you. Because growth isn’t about doing more. It’s about having the courage to choose the right lever at the right time, in a way that protects your definition of success. (00:00) - Growth in the Wrong Direction (02:11) - Growth Isn’t One Thing (04:46) - Where People Get Stuck (07:18) - Why Numbers Matter (Without Turning You Into A Spreadsheet Person) (09:28) - Scaling Without Sacrifice (A Lesson I Learned The Hard Way) (11:11) - Bringing It Back To You TakeawaysGrowth can feel exciting but may lead in the wrong direction.External pressures can distort our understanding of success.True growth is about choosing the right levers, not just doing more.Existing clients are often overlooked but are key to growth.More leads can complicate rather than simplify business operations.Understanding your numbers is crucial for effective growth decisions.Revenue without alignment can lead to unsustainable growth.Compromising personal values for growth is not true success.Intentional growth strategies lead to sustainable business practices.Thrive by Design emphasizes making deliberate choices in business.  Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG

    13분
  2. 2월 16일

    16. Leading Like a CEO: Mindset Shifts for 7-Figure Growth

    There’s a moment in business growth that often catches people off guard. It’s not the early days, when everything feels uncertain but exciting. And it’s not the later stage, when the business feels stable, spacious, and well-resourced. It’s the stage in between — when things are objectively working, but subjectively feel heavier than they should. This is usually where people assume they need to optimise. Better offers. Better systems. Better productivity. And while those things absolutely matter, what’s really happening here runs deeper than tactics. The business isn’t asking you to do more. It’s asking you to lead differently. And that’s where the CEO conversation really begins. (00:00) - When The Business Starts Asking for a Different Version of You (01:31) - The Messy Middle: When Growth Outpaces Structure (03:26) - From Expert To Leader: Stepping Out of the Centre (04:32) - Identity Resistance: Why “CEO” Feels Like Too Much (06:18) - The 10 Hats in Business: Why Everything Starts To Feel Heavy (08:17) - Defining the CEO Role: Strategy, Leadership, and Decisions (09:04) - Why You Can’t Lead Like a CEO Without Systems (10:03) - Leadership Habits That Change The Way Business Feels (10:37) - Leading Through Others, Not Over Them (11:11) - CEO Decision-Making: Holding The Long Game (12:03) - When Leadership Expands: Vision, Alignment, and Leverage TakeawaysThere's a moment in business growth that often catches people off guard.At this stage, the business isn't asking you to do more; it's asking you to lead differently.As the business grows, your expertise can no longer sit at the center of everything.Stepping into CEO leadership isn't about ego; it's about responsibility and sustainability.Founders often resist the CEO role, fearing it means becoming disconnected.Without clear leadership, pressure increases and decisions become reactive.Systemizing for freedom is non-negotiable for effective leadership.Leadership shifts from being the problem solver to developing others who can solve problems.CEO level decision making requires restraint and tolerance for ambiguity.Growing to seven figures requires leading differently, not becoming someone else.Music from#Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: J9DLLHCRCIXB9NSG

    13분
  3. 2월 2일

    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

    15분
  4. 1월 26일

    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

    13분
  5. 1월 19일

    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

    15분
  6. 1월 12일

    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

    17분
  7. 1월 5일

    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

    12분

소개

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.