The Surprising Freedom of Boundaries | Ep59

What if setting clear boundaries actually freed you to innovate more boldly, take smarter risks, and combat overwhelm in high-stakes healthcare environments? In this insightful conversation, Dr. Laura Suttin interviews Sheri Jacobs, as she shares her unconventional path, from photojournalist capturing Michael Jordan to founding a thriving consulting firm and chasing wildlife adventures across Antarctica and Africa, and how those experiences shaped her powerful framework on boundaries. They discuss: Why unlimited choices create overwhelm and how boundaries liberate exploration, like the playground fence experiment. The liberating role of boundaries in personal life, career pivots, and avoiding FOMO in side hustles or income streams Differentiating risk tolerance from risk capacity, and why evaluating "what if it fails?" unlocks bolder moves Auditing "noise" (distractions, assumptions, social media) to protect focus and energy Bottom-up innovation: Amplifying frontline voices closest to patients or customers (e.g., Stanley Quencher turnaround, Good Catch programs, Best New Mistake awards) Combining psychological safety with clear boundaries to create the true "innovation zone" Packed with practical stories from healthcare challenges to corporate experiments, this episode offers healthcare leaders, clinicians, and teams tools to foster resilience, encourage smart risk-taking, and design cultures that innovate sustainably amid uncertainty and burnout. Three Actionable Takeaways: Define your "fence" first: Clarify what matters most right now (outcomes, priorities, capacity). This creates space to explore boldly within safe limits, reducing overwhelm from endless options like the Cheesecake Factory menu. Audit the noise and start small: Track distractions pulling you off-focus for a week, then experiment with one small boundary shift (e.g., limiting inputs or saying no to low-priority asks) to build confidence and momentum. Amplify frontline voices: Create simple channels for ideas from those closest to patients and operations, small inputs can spark massive wins, as seen in Stanley's 10x growth from one sales associate's insight. About the Show: Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves. About the Guest: Sheri Jacobs, FASAE, CAE, is a three-time bestselling author, innovation strategist, keynote speaker, and CEO of Avenue M Group. She has surveyed nearly one million people and helped over 300 organizations unlock innovation, navigate uncertainty, and build resilient cultures. Her upcoming book, The Unexpected Power of Boundaries: Rethinking the Rules, Risks, and Real Drivers of Innovation (early 2026), challenges traditional views on creativity. A passionate wildlife photographer, Sheri draws inspiration from adventures in Africa, Antarctica, and beyond. Website: https://www.sherijacobs.com Avenue M Group: https://www.avenuem.org About the Host: Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine. Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul. When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together. 🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/  📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses   The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.