Visionary's Pursuit

Carolina Zuleta
  • 5.0 (2)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Whether it's a business idea or a creative endeavor, bringing anything meaningful into existence demands emotional mastery, strategic clarity and the courage to make difficult decisions amid constant urgency and uncertainty. The Visionary's Pursuit Podcast explores the psychological and practical challenges of entrepreneurship. Host Carolina Zuleta, founder, coach and advisor, examines the tension between vision and execution, growth and sustainability, ambition and wellbeing. Each episode addresses the challenges that keep visionaries stuck: the inability to delegate, the pressure to be everything to everyone, the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Peppered with candid insights from her work with founders, creatives, professional athletes and her own entrepreneurial journey, Caro reveals why most advice falls short and why training your thoughts is imperative for success. You'll learn to see past the hustle culture and how deepen your emotional intelligence, clarity and personal capacity necessary to be successful. This podcast is for founders who know that extraordinary results come from mastering your mind first; for leaders ready to create sustainable growth while maintaining their wellbeing; and for visionaries committed to building something that matters. New episodes release every Wednesday. If you've found value in this podcast, please subscribe, follow and leave a rating. It really helps to spread this message to more visionary leaders like you.

  1. 72. Procrastination - What It Is and How to Work Through It

    2D AGO

    72. Procrastination - What It Is and How to Work Through It

    Visionary Mindset Program now accepting applications for enrollment! Schedule time with me here: https://calendly.com/carolinazuleta/visionary Episode 72: Why You're Still Procrastinating (And What to Do About It) Episode Summary One of my most successful clients recently came to me with requesting help with procrastination. On paper, this woman is a powerhouse. But she was avoiding the projects that would sustain her next phase of growth. Her admission reminded me that procrastination has nothing to do with laziness, discipline or how successful you are. In this episode, I break down the why we procrastinate, I share my own patterns (including what I'm avoiding right now), and walk through some strategies to move forward even when your brain is building a very convincing case not to. I also announce that we're reopening the doors to our Visionary Mindset Program. Key Takeaways: The Real Reason You Procrastinate: Your brain operates on three instincts: avoid pain, seek pleasure, and conserve energy Procrastination is your brain's strategy for protecting you from perceived discomfort It shows up in high performers just as much as anyone else because success doesn't rewire your survival instincts The Most Common Triggers: Telling yourself a task will require too much effort, time, or energy Caring deeply about something and fearing the rejection or criticism that could follow Lack of clarity on what the project actually requires or what the outcome should look like Fear of confirming a limiting belief about yourself Guilt from past procrastination creating a shame cycle that fuels more avoidance Why Shame Makes It Worse: Beating yourself up after missing a deadline or breaking a commitment to yourself creates more avoidance, not less Self-compassion is the fastest way to break the procrastination cycle As a leader, coming down hard on employees who procrastinate can trigger the same shame spiral and worsen the behavior Practical Strategies That Work: Do the hardest thing first before your brain builds a stronger case against it Make decisions ahead of time using your prefrontal cortex rather than waiting to see if you feel like it in the moment Break large projects into small steps and commit only to the first one Reframe your language from "I have to" to "I want to" and attach a meaningful reason Learn your own patterns through experimentation, whether that means working in a coffee shop, with music, or alongside a friend for accountability Memorable Quotes: "Procrastination is not a character flaw. It's a brilliant strategy your brain uses to move you away from pain, toward pleasure, and to save energy." "The way through is not by making everything fun. It's by learning to act while the discomfort is still there." Your Action Steps: Identify the story your brain is telling you about the thing you're avoiding Challenge that story and create a more empowering one Practice doing things while uncomfortable rather than waiting until it feels good If you lead a team, help your employees identify their stories instead of shaming them into action Visionary Mindset Program [OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT]: Six-month group coaching program for business founders and entrepreneurs Focuses on strengthening your CEO mindset, upgrading your self-concept, and learning to lead yourself Addresses challenges related to fear/emotional management, decision-making, delegation, money, sales and building resilience Book a call with me to learn more and see if the program is right for you:  Booking link in the episode description Resources Mentioned: Visionary Mindset Program Founder Capacity Assessment: carozuleta.scoreapp.com Connect with Carolina: Website: carozuleta.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching Email: info (at) carolinazuleta (dot) com Book a consultation: carozuleta.com/consult Subscribe & Review: If this episode was helpful, please drop a rating and give us a follow. Your support helps other entrepreneurs discover the show and enables us to continue creating this free content.

    28 min
  2. 71. How Entrepreneurs Build Self-Belief

    FEB 10

    71. How Entrepreneurs Build Self-Belief

    Only a few slots remain for Founders Consult Week! If you haven't booked your free hour with me, do it ASAP before they're taken. Go here to access my calendar:  https://calendly.com/carolinazuleta/founder-consultation-week Episode 71: How to Believe in What Doesn't Exist Yet Entrepreneurship begins with a vision that doesn't exist yet. You take on financial and emotional risk with the hope that the dream becomes real. But while you're building, your brain is scanning for threats and highlighting everything that might not work. In this episode, I explore the question I hear from founders constantly: how do I believe in something that isn't real yet? I break down why belief matters more than strategy, how low belief sabotages execution at every stage, and the practice I use to strengthen my own belief when it gets shaky. Key Takeaways: Belief Is Already a Practice: We believe unprovable things every day: that we'll wake up tomorrow, that our partner will stay, that we'll come home safely We accept these because constant anxiety is unsustainable Belief is a chosen orientation toward reality, not a guarantee The Brain Prefers the Safer Story: When doubt appears, the brain offers narratives like "this won't happen" or "choose the smaller goal" Plan B feels safer because it seems more familiar But Plan A and Plan B both have no guarantees. Believing in Plan B is still a belief choice, just aimed lower. How Low Belief Sabotages Execution: Early-stage founders hesitate, procrastinate and reduce effort because they don't believe the work will pay off Mid-stage founders with traction hold back on marketing and avoid bigger risks because they fear it was a fluke Advanced founders delay critical hires because they doubt they can sustain revenue The Deeper Driver of Results: Actions alone don't create results The chain is belief → emotions → actions → results Belief determines consistency, boldness and persistence through uncertainty Strengthening Belief Is a Practice: Locate your belief level and document why you're there Write down every reason you're not at a 10 Challenge each one and find alternative interpretations Some doubts point to real strategy issues worth addressing. Separate solvable problems from fear-based stories. Memorable Quotes: "Plan A and Plan B both have no guarantees. Plan B only feels safer because it seems more familiar. So it's equally delusional to believe you won't get there. The future isn't written." "Belief work beats strategy alone." Your Action Steps: Rate your belief in this year's revenue goal from 1 to 10 Write down every reason you're not at a 10 Challenge each limiting belief and look for a stronger, truer narrative Notice where low belief might be driving hesitation or reduced effort Founder Consult Week: Dates: February 16-20 Free one-hour consultations, limited spots remaining Booking link here: https://calendly.com/carolinazuleta/founder-consultation-week Connect with Carolina: Website: carozuleta.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching Email: info@carolinazuleta.com Subscribe & Review: If this episode was helpful, please drop a rating and give us a follow. Your support helps other entrepreneurs discover the show and enables us to continue creating this free content.

    18 min
  3. 70. Are You in Survival Mode?

    FEB 4

    70. Are You in Survival Mode?

    Founder Consult Week is Coming! February 16-20 Access my calendar here or copy and paste the link below. https://calendly.com/carolinazuleta/founder-consultation-week Free one-hour private consultations with limited spots Bring a real business challenge and walk away with clarity on what's actually in your way Open to founders who have never worked with Carolina before Booking link above Episode 70: Are You in Survival Mode? Episode Summary I love leadership assessments. MBTI, DISC, Hogan, Enneagram. I've taken them all. But my favorite by far is the Leadership Circle Profile. Unlike most assessments, it pulls feedback from your team, business partners and investors and benchmarks you against leaders globally. In this episode, I use that framework to explore something most founders don't realize they're doing: leading from survival mode. I share my own reactive tendencies, including the one I'm actively working on right now, and break down the difference between drive that comes from vision and drive that comes from scarcity. I also announce Founder Consult Week happening February 16-20. Key Takeaways: Reactive Tendencies vs Creative Competencies: Reactive tendencies are survival-based patterns like people pleasing, controlling, overworking and defensiveness They aren't bad. They worked at earlier stages of life. But they become limitations as your business grows Creative competencies are developed through self-awareness and emotional intelligence and enable you to lead sustainably Why Drive Is the Trickiest Reactive Tendency: Drive gets constantly rewarded with praise, productivity and results The hidden costs include mental restlessness, constant urgency and difficulty being present The critical distinction is whether your drive comes from vision or from scarcity and anxiety Scarcity-driven drive leads to burnout and loss of love for the business What Survival Leadership Feels Like: Constant urgency and reacting instead of reflecting Appearing calm on the outside while operating in survival mode internally Avoiding difficult conversations, over-controlling and refusing to delegate Problems don't disappear as you grow. They get bigger. They scale, but you scale too. Memorable Quotes: "Your business will expose every unhealed part of you. Entrepreneurship isn't just a career path. It's involuntary therapy." Your Action Steps: Notice which reactive tendencies show up most in your leadership Ask yourself whether your drive is coming from vision or from scarcity Book a free consultation during Founder Consult Week if you want help seeing your blind spots Founder Consult Week: Dates: February 16-20 Free one-hour private consultations with limited spots Bring a real business challenge and walk away with clarity on what's actually in your way Open to founders who have never worked with Carolina before Booking link in the episode description Resources Mentioned: The Leadership Circle Profile Founder Capacity Assessment: carozuleta.scoreapp.com Connect with Carolina: Website: carozuleta.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching Email: info@carolinazuleta.com Book a consultation: carozuleta.com/consult Founder Consult Week Booking Link: https://calendly.com/carolinazuleta/founder-consultation-week Subscribe & Review: If this episode was helpful, please drop a rating and give us a follow. Your support helps other entrepreneurs discover the show and enables us to continue creating this free content.

    22 min
  4. 69. How to Measure Founder Capacity

    JAN 28

    69. How to Measure Founder Capacity

    Take the free Founder Capacity Assessment here: https://carozuleta.scoreapp.com/ As founders, we often look outside ourselves when we're not growing. We blame the market, the team, the strategy. But after years of coaching founders and executives, I've seen a different pattern. The business is a mirror of its founder. Your mindset, emotional regulation and beliefs shape everything from your growth rate to your team culture. In this episode, I introduce a lens I believe is missing from most conversations about leadership: capacity. I break down the five capacities that determine how far and how fast you can scale, and I share a free assessment I created to help you see where your growth is actually being limited. Episode Summary: Strategy is rarely the bottleneck. While strategy problems are easy to spot, capacity issues can fly under the radar and be hard to name. They show up as slowed growth, disengaged teams and founder burnout. Drawing from years of coaching and my own experience, I explain what capacity actually is, why it matters more than most founders realize, and how each of the five capacities shapes your leadership and your business. Key Takeaways: The Founder's Inner World Shapes the Business: Your mindset, emotional regulation and beliefs are reflected in your business growth rate, team culture and organizational health Unexamined insecurities and limiting beliefs create complicated cultures and friction Business issues are often internal leadership issues in disguise What is Capacity?: Capacity is a founder's ability to handle risk, uncertainty, responsibility, emotional intensity and visibility Capacity is about holding more, not doing more It's shaped by your identity and the beliefs you hold about yourself and what you're capable of Those beliefs set the limit on what you can receive and sustain Why Strategy Isn't the Bottleneck: Strategy problems are visible... like ads not working or processes breaking Capacity issues are easy to miss and hard to name. When growth inexplicably slows or the founder becomes increasingly overwhelmed Businesses hit the wall when internal capacity hasn't caught up to external growth The Five Leadership Capacities: Personal Responsibility Capacity: Radical ownership without self-blame. Seeing yourself as the creator of results and taking responsibility for solutions instead of guilt. Emotional Capacity: Staying regulated under pressure. Remaining calm, clear and values-led during uncertainty, risk and tension. Focus and Essentialism Capacity: Directing energy toward what truly matters. Deciding what is essential and sustaining focus over time. Execution Capacity: Following through with integrity. Completing what you start despite discomfort or imperfection. Delegation Capacity: Transferring ownership, not just tasks. Building independent, capable teams and shifting from doing to thinking and leading. The Identity Shift Required for Growth: Early in your career, value comes from doing Later-stage leadership requires value to come from thinking, leading and managing complexity Delegation becomes non-negotiable for growth Episode Highlights: [00:00] Welcome and weekend recap [02:00] Visibility as a necessary part of mission [04:00] The founder's inner world shapes the business [06:00] The ripple effect of leadership [08:00] Introducing capacity as the missing lens [10:00] What capacity actually is [12:00] Why strategy isn't the real bottleneck [14:00] Introducing the Founder Capacity Assessment [16:00] Personal Responsibility Capacity explained [20:00] Emotional Capacity explained [24:00] Focus and Essentialism Capacity explained [28:00] Execution Capacity explained [32:00] Delegation Capacity explained [36:00] The identity shift from doing to leading [38:00] Invitation to take the assessment Memorable Quotes: "The business is a mirror of its founder. Your mindset, emotional regulation and beliefs are reflected in your growth rate, team culture and organizational health." "Capacity is about holding more, not doing more." "Strategy problems are loud. Capacity issues are quiet and hard to name." "Businesses stall when internal capacity hasn't caught up to external growth." "Early in your career, value comes from doing. Later-stage leadership requires value to come from thinking, leading and managing complexity." "Delegation becomes non-negotiable for growth." Resources Mentioned: Founder Capacity Assessment: https://carozuleta.scoreapp.com/ Connect with Carolina: Website: carozuleta.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching Book a consultation: carozuleta.com/consult Subscribe & Review: If this episode was helpful, please drop a rating and give us a follow. Your support helps other entrepreneurs discover the show and enables us to continue creating this free content.

    24 min
  5. 68. Is Your Capacity Holding You Back?

    JAN 21

    68. Is Your Capacity Holding You Back?

    Take the Founder Capacity Assessment HERE I love entrepreneurship. I love the idea that we can create something from nothing, add value to the world, make money and create jobs. But there are two moments in entrepreneurship that can feel equally hard: when business isn't going well and when business is going really well. In both situations, our most common response is to work harder, push through and white-knuckle it until things feel easier. But the price we pay for that approach is enormous. Episode Summary: This episode challenges the default response of working harder under pressure. Whether your business is struggling or thriving beyond your infrastructure, pushing through creates costs to your health, your relationships and the quality of your decisions. Drawing from client stories and my coaching experience, I explain what capacity actually is, why it matters more than strategy, and how expanding your capacity allows you to become the leader your business needs. I also introduce the Founder Capacity Assessment, a free tool I created to help you see exactly where your growth is being limited. Take the FREE assessment here Key Takeaways: Hustle Comes From Fear: Your health and relationships suffer when you're always in overdrive When you operate from stress and fear, you don't access your highest level of thinking You make worse decisions for your business You deliver worse results for your clients and employees The price shows up in every area of your life and business It's Not Your Strategy: Most founders think their challenges are strategy problems but more often than not, it's a constrained capacity. The founder is both the visionary and the ceiling that limits growth is their identity. What Capacity Is: Capacity is not a fixed personal trait or who you are Capacity is a set of leadership skills you can develop It shapes how you think, decide and lead in challenging moments Hustling is fueled by fear, adrenaline and cortisol Capacity is fueled by desire, vision and self-trust The Five Dimensions of Founder Capacity: Emotional Capacity: staying steady under pressure and uncertainty Personal Responsibility: owning outcomes and solving problems from within Focus and Essentialism: prioritization and working on only what's most critical Execution Capacity: following through without burning out Delegation Capacity: building and empowering a team that doesn't require you Episode Highlights: [00:00] Why I love entrepreneurship and my clients [01:30] The two hard moments every entrepreneur faces [03:00] Our default response to pressure and why it doesn't work [04:30] The price we pay for pushing through [06:00] How stress affects your thinking and decisions [07:30] A client who built her dream business but feels dread [10:00] The story she keeps telling herself about things slowing down [12:00] Why she can't do what she knows she needs to do [14:00] The real problem behind business challenges [16:00] You are both the visionary and the ceiling [18:00] What capacity actually is and why it matters [20:00] The difference between hustling and leading with capacity [22:00] Introducing the Founder Capacity Assessment [24:00] The five dimensions the assessment measures [26:00] Why capacity grows at every stage of business [28:00] How to take the assessment [30:00] The question to ask yourself instead of pushing harder Memorable Quotes: "In either of those situations, our most common response is to work harder, to push ourselves even when we're tired, to put more hours, to almost hold our breath and white knuckle through it." "When you are pushing yourself in that way, when you are operating from stress and fear and anxiety, you are not accessing the highest level of thinking." "Whatever the problems the business is having, they correlate to the capacity the owner has." "As a business founder, you will be the visionary, the driver, the dreamer, and the possibility creator for your business. And also you will be the bottleneck, the ceiling that stops your business from growing more." "Your capacity is not who you are. It's not a personal trait. It's not a fixed characteristic. Your capacity is a set of leadership skills that you can develop." "You can think about hustling as fear management and capacity as a combination of powerful decision making, desire and self-trust." "Business problems don't get solved only with strategy or hiring more people. They get solved by you, by your capacity to make the right decisions." Your Action Steps: Take the Founder Capacity Assessment Connect with Carolina: Website: carozuleta.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching Email: info (at) carolinazuleta (dot) com Book a consultation: carozuleta.com/consult Subscribe & Review: If this episode was helpful, please drop a rating and give us a follow. Your support helps other entrepreneurs discover the show and enables us to continue creating this free content.

    16 min
  6. 67. The Psychology of Goal-Setting for $1mm Founders

    JAN 14

    67. The Psychology of Goal-Setting for $1mm Founders

    When I ask founders and CEOs about their goals, some respond with excitement while others become tense. Those reactions tend to reveal far more about how someone relates to themselves than about the goal they're setting. In this episode, I explore why so many ambitious entrepreneurs have a complicated relationship with goal setting and what's actually happening beneath the surface. Drawing from a 35-year body of research by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham, we look at how goals create standards that trigger self-evaluation and why that mechanism determines whether your goals energize or paralyze you. Episode Summary: This episode examines the psychology behind goal setting and why the goal itself is neutral. What matters is how we relate to the self-evaluation that goals activate. Through the lens of research and patterns observed in coaching, we explore why some leaders only set safe goals while others set fantasy goals that sound bold but lack accountability. Both are ways of protecting identity rather than building something real. For CEOs and founders, this episode offers a framework for understanding how your relationship with yourself shapes your relationship with your goals and your team's ability to achieve them. Key Takeaways: Goals Create Standards That Trigger Self-Evaluation: A goal immediately creates a standard against which we measure ourselves That standard triggers internal questions about capability and self-worth The goal itself is neutral but our interpretation of it determines what happens next This mechanism is present from childhood and follows us into adulthood Healthy vs. Unhealthy Self-Evaluation: Healthy self-evaluation interprets mistakes as data and believes improvement is possible This leads to studying more and seeking support and staying engaged Unhealthy self-evaluation interprets failure as proof of inadequacy This leads to anxiety and avoidance and procrastination and giving up Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: Healthy self-evaluation aligns with Carol Dweck's growth mindset Believing improvement is possible keeps us engaged with our goals Fixed mindset leads to reduced effort because we believe we cannot change The healthier your self-relationship, the bigger goals your nervous system can hold Two CEO Traps: Safe goals protect self-image by avoiding embarrassment or disappointment The company maintains momentum but never builds new capacity Fantasy goals sound bold but have no real path or accountability Both are ways of managing emotional risk rather than maximizing growth What Teams Need to Achieve Bold Goals: Team members must believe the goal is attainable They need to see a clear path forward Feedback must be received as information rather than judgment CEOs must create psychological safety for bold goals to be achieved Episode Highlights: [00:00] Welcome and podcast milestone recap [02:30] Spotify Wrapped highlights and gratitude [04:00] Why this episode exists [05:30] Research foundation from Locke and Latham [07:00] How goals create standards and trigger self-evaluation [08:30] Children learning math as an example [10:00] Two paths of self-evaluation [12:00] Connection to growth mindset and fixed mindset [14:00] Reflection prompt on your relationship with self-evaluation [16:00] Goals as psychological instruments for CEOs [18:00] Why goal pressure changes as you grow [20:00] Trap one: setting safe goals to protect self-image [22:30] Trap two: fantasy goals that avoid accountability [25:00] Cautionary story about goal setting and psychological safety [28:00] CEO responsibility to create the right environment [30:00] Pattern of delaying hard upgrades and senior hires [32:00] Key CEO self-inquiry questions [34:00] Research-based performance conditions for teams [36:00] Closing thoughts Memorable Quotes: "A goal creates a standard. And that standard triggers self-evaluation." "The goal itself is neutral. What determines whether it motivates or paralyzes us is our relationship to that self-evaluation." "Goals don't push you. They reveal you." "The healthier your self-relationship, the bigger goals your nervous system can hold." "Do your goals require you to become a more evolved version of yourself?" "Goals improve team performance only when team members believe the goal is attainable, see a path forward, and receive feedback as information rather than judgment." Resources Mentioned: "Building a Practically Useful Theory of Goal Setting" by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham Carol Dweck's research on Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset Connect with Carolina: Website: carozuleta.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching Book a consultation: carozuleta.com/consult Subscribe & Review: If this episode was helpful, please drop a rating and give us a follow. Your support helps other entrepreneurs discover the show and enables us to continue creating this free content.

    25 min
  7. 66. Doing vs. Being: The Missing Piece in New Year Goal Setting

    JAN 7

    66. Doing vs. Being: The Missing Piece in New Year Goal Setting

    Episode 66: The Missing Piece in Your Goal Setting Happy New Year! As we step into a new year of goal setting and intention, this episode challenges you to think beyond the revenue targets and marketing plans. What if the reason you keep living the same year over and over again has nothing to do with your strategy and everything to do with who you are as a leader? In this episode, I share why this year feels different for me and why expansion requires just as much internal evolution as transformation. Through client stories and my own experience, we explore the difference between "doing" goals and "being" goals and why your business will only grow as much as you do. Episode Summary: Most of us set goals around what we're going to do. Revenue targets and product launches and marketing campaigns. But we forget to set goals around who we need to become. Our businesses are a reflection of who we are, which means if we're not changing inside, the external changes we're chasing will never stick. This episode examines how unexamined beliefs and patterns show up in our leadership, from the controlling CEO editing code at 3am to the founder who keeps cycling through hires because she won't look at the parts of her business that cause discomfort. We explore what real self-awareness looks like beyond personality tests and why your business doesn't create new problems as it grows but amplifies the ones you already have. Key Takeaways Doing Goals vs. Being Goals: Most of us only set "doing" goals around revenue and launches and campaigns We forget to create a plan for "being" goals around who we are If we're not changing inside, external changes will never stick Our businesses are a reflection of who we are The Human Mess of Leadership: None of us sign up to build a business because we want to become better leaders When we start leading a company we start facing our own humanity Thought patterns and beliefs planted when we were young show up in our leadership These patterns drive our behavior even as adults running companies Two Ways This Shows Up: Some leaders become extremely controlling and don't trust their team They spend time doing work that isn't theirs and micromanaging small details Other leaders surrender their power and over-delegate without training They avoid parts of the business that cause them discomfort Self-Awareness: Self-awareness is more than knowing your personality type from the MBT. You have to examine why you behave in certain ways Ask yourself why micromanaging feels safe or why you avoid difficult conversations If you don't have your dream team, something within you is blocking it Growth Amplifies Problems: As your business grows it amplifies the problems you already have including internal ones If uncertainty is hard at one million it will be harder at five million If you're overworking now you won't magically work less as you scale Episode Highlights: [00:00] Happy New Year and holiday reflections from Colombia [02:00] Why this year feels like expansion rather than transformation [03:30] The client whose journals stayed the same for eight years [05:00] Why we keep living the same year over and over [06:30] The difference between doing goals and being goals [08:00] Why none of us signed up to become better leaders [09:30] Facing our humanity when we start leading companies [11:00] Leaders who become controlling and don't trust their teams [13:00] The client editing code at 3am [14:30] Leaders who surrender power and over-delegate [16:00] The client who kept cycling through operations hires [18:00] My criticism of how business schools teach leadership [20:00] Why self-awareness is more than personality tests [22:00] Questions to ask yourself about your patterns [24:00] Why you might not have your dream team yet [26:00] Research on why women are quitting businesses at higher rates [28:00] How growth amplifies your existing problems [30:00] My own pattern of defaulting to working harder [32:00] Setting being goals for the new year Memorable Quotes: "If we're not changing inside, there is no way that the things we're doing and creating are going to change. Our businesses are a reflection of who we are." "None of us sign up to build a business because we want to be better leaders. We sign up because we have an idea, a purpose, a desire to create something." "Hiring someone to solve the problem that you haven't looked at within yourself is not going to work." "As you grow your business, it doesn't create new problems. It amplifies the problems you already have, including your internal ones." "When you stop doing things because you're scared, your fear becomes stronger. When you do the things you want to do even when you're scared, your courage gets stronger." Connect with Carolina: Website: carozuleta.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching Book a consultation: carozuleta.com/consult Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps other entrepreneurs discover the show and allows us to keep creating this free content.

    21 min
  8. 65. The Regret of the Dying

    12/17/2025

    65. The Regret of the Dying

    The number one regret of the dying is "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me." Most people don't honor even half of their dreams and have to die knowing it was due to choices they made or didn't make. As we approach the end of the year and start setting goals for the next one, this episode challenges you to examine whether the life you're living is actually the life you want. In this episode, I explore why the pursuit of "having it all" leads to burnout rather than fulfillment, and I introduce a powerful exercise for evaluating every area of your life. Through personal stories, client examples, and practical frameworks, we examine how to reconnect with your desires, remember your power to choose, and build the courage to create a life that's truly aligned with who you are. Key Takeaways: The Myth of Having It All: Pursuing "having it all" leads to exhaustion, stress, and burnout The best leaders don't do everything themselves They surround themselves with people who help achieve their goals They spend the most time doing what they're best at The Power to Choose: Choice isn't a thing, it's something we do We can choose and then choose again We're not confined to stick with decisions made years ago The "Would You Choose It Again?" Exercise: At least once a year, evaluate whether you'd choose your current life again Ask yourself if you'd [marry your spouse, choose job, buy 'x'] again knowing everything you know now Look at your closet and ask if you'd buy each item again Ask if you'd hire each employee again with full knowledge of what they're like Reconnecting With Your Desires: Desires fuel us with energy and give us clarity When we're too busy, we lose touch with that inner voice The desire gets softer when ignored but never disappears completely Start small by noticing tiny desires throughout the day Courage to Follow Through: Following desires requires courage because they lead through uncertain paths Courage doesn't look like confidence or certainty Courage feels a lot like fear You're being courageous when you experience fear and still choose your desire Episode Highlights: [00:00] Introduction to goal setting and having it all [02:00] The "perfect woman" exercise from my Spanish program [03:30] Why pursuing having it all leads to burnout [04:30] The best leaders don't do it all themselves [05:15] Bronnie Ware's book on regrets of the dying [06:30] The number one regret of the dying [08:00] Two things that create a life true to yourself [09:00] The children's book about the power to choose [10:30] We can choose our thoughts, feelings, and actions [12:00] The "would you choose it again" exercise [13:30] Would I marry Andrew again knowing everything I know [15:00] Applying this to your closet and belongings [16:30] Asking if you'd hire your employees again today [18:00] Knowing when to quit a goal [20:00] My friend's story about the revenue challenge [22:00] Using reasons to make aligned choices [24:30] The weight of reasons matters more than the number [26:00] Life is made of trade-offs [27:30] How to reconnect with your desires [29:00] Start by noticing small desires throughout the day [30:30] Courage to follow your desires [32:00] My coach's vulnerability about being sick [34:00] Creating a business aligned with your truest self Memorable Quotes: "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. This was the most common regret of all." "A choice is not a thing. A choice is something we do. We choose and we can choose, and then choose again." "If I already knew everything I know about being married to Andrew for eight years, but I wasn't married to him, would I marry him again?" "When you stop doing things because you're scared, your fear becomes stronger. When you do the things you wanna do even when you're scared, your courage gets stronger." "Every time you say yes to something, you're saying no to a lot of other things. There's always a trade-off." Resources Mentioned: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware What Would Darla Do? (children's book) Connect with Carolina: Website: carozuleta.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching Book a consultation: carozuleta.com/consult Subscribe & Review: If this episode was helpful, please drop a rating and give us a follow. Your support helps other entrepreneurs discover the show and enables us to continue creating this free content.

    24 min
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2 Ratings

About

Whether it's a business idea or a creative endeavor, bringing anything meaningful into existence demands emotional mastery, strategic clarity and the courage to make difficult decisions amid constant urgency and uncertainty. The Visionary's Pursuit Podcast explores the psychological and practical challenges of entrepreneurship. Host Carolina Zuleta, founder, coach and advisor, examines the tension between vision and execution, growth and sustainability, ambition and wellbeing. Each episode addresses the challenges that keep visionaries stuck: the inability to delegate, the pressure to be everything to everyone, the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Peppered with candid insights from her work with founders, creatives, professional athletes and her own entrepreneurial journey, Caro reveals why most advice falls short and why training your thoughts is imperative for success. You'll learn to see past the hustle culture and how deepen your emotional intelligence, clarity and personal capacity necessary to be successful. This podcast is for founders who know that extraordinary results come from mastering your mind first; for leaders ready to create sustainable growth while maintaining their wellbeing; and for visionaries committed to building something that matters. New episodes release every Wednesday. If you've found value in this podcast, please subscribe, follow and leave a rating. It really helps to spread this message to more visionary leaders like you.

Information

  • Creator
    Carolina Zuleta
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Carolina Zuleta 2026
  • Show Website
    Visionary's Pursuit