“I’m happy for about 5% of the time. I dread my endless to-do list every time I open my laptop now. I snap at my kids when they interrupt client calls. I pour so much energy solving other people’s’ problems that I collapse at the end of every day, too depleted to enjoy the rewards of my work. I took on debt and killed myself striving for this dream business. Now that I’m here - I realise the daily realities I created are crushing my soul.”

We’ve all gotten well-meaning advice at times that boil down to “just get on with it.” Just overcome your doubts and put yourself out there. Just stop procrastinating and sitting on the couch. Just ignore that inner voice telling you that you’re an imposter and push forward anyway.

While the intent behind this kind of advice may be good, the problem is it can trivialise very real barriers that hold many people back. Telling someone to force themselves to do something despite paralysing self-doubt or intense anxiety often has the opposite effect - it reinforces those feelings of shame and worthlessness.

When it comes to setting healthy boundaries—around our time, workload, relationships, finances, you name it—most of us struggle. Even when we know establishing boundaries will reduce stress and improve our lives, we still have trouble maintaining them. Why is that?

It took reaching my own breaking point to realise I still bought into toxic hustle culture lies: needing to say yes to everything to prove my worth and value.It wasn’t a skill problem but a mindset problem rooted in my fear of disappointing others and sending the (false) signal that I don’t care enough about my business by – gasp – having a life.

Burnout has become an epidemic problem in workplaces across all industries. In fact I would say that probably most of my clients last week alone said they were feeling burnt out.

If you're one of the countless professionals battling chronic exhaustion and diminished engagement, it's important to examine the roots behind your relentless work habits.

Taking time to identify your personal values, and assessing whether your current priorities reflect them, is hugely impactful. Your values are those core principles and beliefs that serve as an internal compass guiding your decisions and behaviors. They speak to the very heart of who you are and what gives your life meaning.

Here are a few examples of personal values:

Integrity - Connection with others - Growth- Autonomy- Creativity

Despite decades of building an incredibly profitable company, my client was convinced "I don't deserve this...I'm not smart or creative enough to have achieved all this." She was plagued by the overwhelmingly stressful belief that her success could crumble at any moment.

Ripping off the fake entrepreneur masks portraying polish is long overdue. Getting real and asking for help is where the magic awaits.

As a coach who’s lived many entrepreneurial lives myself, and worked with hundreds of small business owners, I know there's always a way forward, no matter how stuck you feel.

My mission is guiding business leaders to embrace and learn from challenges so they can unlock sustainable success that is true and authentic to themselves.

Does your business truly align with your personal values?

I don't just mean in an aesthetic logo and branding way. But down to the core operations, team culture, client experiences and leadership decisions.