Hustle culture has you believing that the grind is the only way. But what if that's the very thing that's holding you back? Well, today we're busting three myths that are draining your time and energy and keeping you stuck in chaos. I'm going to show you how to reclaim your power with bold boundaries, intentional income and simple systems that work for you. Let's shake things up. This is an episode you don't want to miss.

Welcome to the Mind your Time podcast. I'm Shannon Baker, your coffee-loving host and business operations strategist. Each week, I'll share practical insights and bold strategies rooted in my power and motion framework to help you streamline your operations, reclaim your time and build a business that supports your life. Whether you're just starting out or scaling to six figures and beyond, these episodes will help you take control and create success on your own terms. So grab your cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and let's dive into today's topic.

What if I told you that the hustle is the biggest lie entrepreneurs have ever been sold, that working harder and longer it's not the path to success, but it's really got you on the road to burnout? Hustle culture tells us that freedom comes from grinding 24-7. But let's be real. We didn't start our businesses to work endless hours and still feel like nothing's working out. You started your business for freedom freedom with your time, freedom to make your own choices and to be free in your life to live it how you want. So why does it feel like your business owns you instead of the other way around? Well, imagine this it's late at night, you're sitting at your desk or in front of the TV with your laptop open, trying to wrap up client work that you promised you would finish days ago. Everyone else is asleep, so the house is quiet and you can't help but wonder is this really what you signed up for? Be honest, does that sound familiar? Well, if it does, it's okay. You're not alone. I've been there too.

There was a time when I was in that hustle mindset, thinking that being constantly available was just part of running a business. I thought it meant that I was serving my clients well, being reliable, and was building trust. But here's what I learned the hard way Always being available is not sustainable. In fact, it's the fastest way to burn out and it's a disservice to your clients. When you're always available, you sacrifice the things that make you your best self. You skip meals, you don't get enough rest and you don't make time for your family or yourself. So eventually, you're not going to be giving your clients the best version of you. They're actually getting the tired, stressed out and overwhelmed version that's making mistakes. And if you're frustrated with how much they demand of your attention, here's a big pill you need to swallow. You have trained them to treat you that way.

So let's talk about why boundaries in business are so critical. Boundaries are the invisible barrier that lets people know how they can interact with you in a way that respects your time and your energy, and they're not selfish. They're a necessity. Here's something to keep in mind the only people who get upset with you when you put boundaries in place are the ones who benefit the most when you don't have them or don't enforce them.

So again, think back to why you started your business. Was it to work 60 hours a week and miss family dinners and feel like you're constantly playing catch up? I don't think so Now. That might be your reality today, but the good news is you're listening to this episode, which means you're ready to make a change and you can do it. You have the power to decide where you're going to spend your time and energy, and I want to help you take back that control. So here's where you can start. I want you to pick one boundary today. Maybe it's setting office hours. You get to decide when you're going to work and when you're going to stop. Then you need to communicate that to your clients and stick to it. Or maybe you need to set specific times that you check emails and messages on social media so you're not constantly interrupted. Now, if you do that, make sure you set a time when you're going to reply as well and you can schedule email responses. Now it might feel uncomfortable at first, but trust me, when you create that space, you're going to wonder why you didn't do it sooner. That will be your only regret.

Let me share a quick story with you. So a client of mine was constantly working late into the night and through the weekend because she trained her clients to expect her to respond immediately, no matter what time it was or what day it was. So, guess what? She started to feel exhausted and she even started to resent her business. I remember her saying I'm at a point where I don't even like people. So we worked together to implement some boundaries, that's, clear office hours, scheduling check-ins for messages and using a scheduling tool to schedule calls with clients and leads. Within a few weeks, her stress level dropped dramatically. She realized that most of her clients didn't even mind waiting a bit longer for responses. They were just sending her messages when it was convenient for them. So she had been running herself into the ground for absolutely no reason. Is that you? You can change that.

Now let's talk about another myth that keeps entrepreneurs stuck. That's this whole thing about residual or passive income. It's often marketed as the ultimate goal, the dream of making money while you sleep but the reality is it's not magic money. It doesn't just come out of nowhere. What you really need to focus on is creating intentional income. That means that every dollar you earn serves a purpose. It's aligned with your goals, it supports your business growth and it helps you build the life you want.

Now, if you don't have clarity about what you're working towards, it's very easy to fall into the trap of chasing every opportunity that comes your way. So you end up saying yes to things that don't align with your vision, you spread yourself too thin and then you get overwhelmed. This is where the power in motion framework comes in, because it's specifically designed to help you organize your operations, but also make sure it aligns with your life, because when you're intentional about what you're your operations, but also make sure it aligns with your life, because when you're intentional about what you're working towards, you can create systems that supports those goals and it helps you focus on what matters most, whether it's in your personal life or your business. So let me give you a practical place to get started. I want you to put in your schedule 15 minutes that you're going to answer these three questions why did you start your business? How is it serving you and your family right now, and what do you want it to do for you in the long run? Now these questions sound simple, but the answers are so powerful. When you answer these questions, you're going to get the clarity that you need to make some very intentional decisions about where you're going to use your time and energy. One of my clients told me this exercise actually helped her realize that she was spending way too much time on things that weren't moving her business forward. So she shifted her focus and within a few months, she started to see real progress.

Now let's talk about this last myth. It's the myth that you can hire your way out of the mess and chaos that you've created. Now I know how tempting it is to think well, if I just had a VA or virtual assistant, everything else would be easier. But here's the truth If your business is already operating in chaos, don't bring somebody else into that mess. It's just going to make it worse and you're going to make them as miserable as you are. Without systems in place, a virtual assistant is going to spend more time asking you how to do things than actually getting them done, so then you're going to end up micromanaging them and feeling even more overwhelmed and frustrated.

The real solution is to build systems first. Systems are the foundation of a scalable, sustainable business. They allow you to delegate effectively, grow efficiently and you can step away from your business without everything falling apart. Where do you start? Well, start with one area of your business that feels chaotic right now. It might be client onboarding. It might be managing your inbox. You can create a simple, repeatable process for it. Write down the steps, create a checklist or set up some automation. Once you have that system in place, you're going to be able to bring on help, but without the chaos, all right. So let's do a quick recap.

Today, we busted three big myths that might be keeping you stuck. The first one is that you have to be available all the time. The truth is, boundaries are a form of self-care, and they help you show up as your best self, not just for your clients, but for yourself. The second myth is that residual or passive income is the ultimate goal. Instead, I want you to focus on creating intentional income by aligning your financial goals with your personal and business priorities. And then the last myth is that you can hire your way out of chaos.

Building systems first is how you set your business up for sustainable growth and successful delegation, and here's a challenge for you. I want you to take action on one thing from this episode. It could be setting one of the boundaries, it could be answering those three questions to give you more clarity in your business, or you can pick one system that you're going to get in place in the next 90 days. Whatever you decide, remember, small steps lead to big changes, and I want you to experience the relief that comes from taking action and using the control that you have. So if you're ready to simplify and streamline your business, start by grabbing the BizOps checklist. A link is in the show notes. It's quick and easy and it will help you audit your back office so that you can start making intentional changes.

Now I'm going to wrap up and leave you with this you have the power to decide how you run your business. You have the power to decide how you run your business. You have the power to set boundaries, create intentional income and build systems that support your life and allow you to live your legacy. So take the first step today and let's make it happen together. Thanks for hanging out with me this week.

If you've made it this far, it's clear you're ready to shake things up and take control of your business, and I'm here for it. But remember, just listening to this episode won't get you better results. I challenge you to break the mold and take action today. Your next move let's connect Head to the show notes and book a call with me to learn how the Mighty Society membership can help you streamline your back office and reclaim your time. If you're not ready for that step yet, no worries. Connect with me on Instagram, at the underscore Shannon Baker, and tell me what resonated most from today's episode. And if you're loving the podcast, leaving a review is a quick way to show your support and help more entrepreneurs like you break free from the chaos. Listening is great, but action creates transformation. Go, make it happen and until next time, keep calm and streamline.