PODCAST · business
Profit by Design
by Dr. Sabrina Starling
You work hard in your business.On the Profit by Design Podcast, we ask the BIG question:What has your business done FOR YOU lately?Join Dr. Sabrina Starling, The Business Psychologist™ and founder of Tap the Potential weekly, as she brings you tips, tools and strategies to support YOU in making intentionally profitable AND sustainable business decisions to live the lifestyle you desire. After all, work supports life, not the other way around. Dr. Sabrina is the author of the The 4 Week Vacation® and the How to Hire the Best Series.Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.
Episodes
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424: You Don't Need More Leads. You Need More of the Right Clients.
What if the secret to growing your sales isn't finding more leads, spending more on marketing, or working harder to attract new customers? What if your next big sales opportunity is already hiding in your existing client relationships? When sales slow down, most business owners immediately look…
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423: How to Fix a Business That Isn’t Working for You Anymore
“This sounds exactly like my business. I’m exhausted. Everything still depends on me. I know something has to change.” If you’ve responded with any of these realizations while listening to this series, this conversation is for you. Awareness matters, but awareness alone won’t change anything if...
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422: How to Stop Your Business From Taking Over Your Life
You started your business to create a better life and to have more freedom, flexibility, and time with your loved ones. But somewhere along the way, the business started consuming more of you than you ever expected. Even when you’re physically present with others, your mind is still at work…
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421: How to Stop Being the Bottleneck in Your Business
Does your business slow down the moment you step away? If every decision, approval, or problem still funnels through you, you’re not alone, but YOU are the bottleneck. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling break down how you can stop being the bottleneck and start building a...
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420: Why your Business Can’t Run Without You
This episode is part of the Best of The Profit by Design Podcast series. It is one of our most requested and downloaded episodes, and we've heard that it's helped business owners with some of their biggest challenges. Is your business completely dependent on you? If you take a vacation, will...
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419: How to Build a Business That Runs Without You
What if the reason you feel exhausted isn’t that you’re doing too much, but because your business is designed in a way that requires you to do everything? You’ve tried taking time off, hiring more people, and getting more organized, but nothing has changed. You’re still the one solving problems,...
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418: How to Build a Self-Managing Team That Doesn’t Depend on You
Are you stuck feeling like your business can’t run without you? Wouldn’t you love to have a team that manages itself? In this episode, you’ll hear what happened when Dr. Sabrina stepped back, and Melissa Kay took full ownership of delivery. Spoiler alert: the coaching didn’t just stay on track…
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417: You Love Your Business. But It’s Taking Too Much From You. Part 2
When we go into business as an entrepreneur, there almost always comes a point when it starts to take over our lives. We began our dive into this topic in our last episode, and we’re continuing in this second part of the discussion. Kaitlyn Adelle and Melissa Kay begin this episode by offering a...
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416: You Love Your Business. But It’s Taking Too Much From You. Part 1
You love your business, but is it taking too much from you? Most entrepreneurs didn’t start a business because they wanted to work all the time, carry every decision, or spend their evenings thinking about what still needs to get done. They started because they wanted to build something…
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415: Why Your Team Doesn't See the Business Like You Do (And How to Change That)
“If everyone on my team cared about this business as much as I do, we would be unstoppable.” If you’ve ever had that thought, you are not alone. But here’s the leadership shift that changes everything: Your team doesn’t need to care about the business the way you do; they need to understand how...
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414: How to Turn Payroll Into Your Biggest Profit Driver
What if payroll wasn’t your biggest expense, but your biggest profit driver? The most profitable business owners don’t focus on keeping payroll costs under control, but they help every person on their team create more value. The difference in perspective about payroll is everything. If your team...
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413: The Hiring Mistakes We See Every Single Week
The hiring mistakes we see every single week have nothing to do with finding “good people.” We’ve noticed the same patterns over and over again: hiring too fast because you’re overwhelmed, settling because you need a body in a position, writing job ads that attract the wrong candidates, and...
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412: What the Best Business Owners Do Differently
What separates the business owners who thrive from those who stay stuck? After coaching hundreds of business owners, we’ve noticed that those who create the biggest transformations aren’t necessarily the smartest, the busiest, or the ones working the longest hours. In this week’s episode, Melissa...
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411: How I Prepared My Business for a 6-Week Vacation
What if you could step away from your business for six weeks… and everything kept running? For many business owners, even taking a long weekend feels impossible. It’s not because you don't have a great team or you don’t work hard enough. It’s because your business still depends on you for too…
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410: The Business is Growing. Is Your Life?
Could your business survive without you for six weeks? For most business owners, the answer is NO. It’s not because they aren’t capable, but because the business has been built to depend on them. If taking a week off feels impossible, it’s a sign that you’re carrying too much of the business on...
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409: Every Time You Rescue Your Team, You Make the Problem Worse
How many times this week have you answered a question your team could have figured out, fixed a mistake because it was faster, rewritten an email before it went out, or jumped in because you didn't want something done wrong? Most business owners don't realize they're doing it, but every time you...
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408: Why Your Team Isn’t Taking Ownership (Even If They’re “Good”)
You’ve hired smart people, so why does it still feel like every question comes back to you? Mistakes keep happening, and your team waits for direction before moving forward. You’re not imagining it, because this scenario is far too common among business owners who build teams but still end up...
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407: Is Your Business Killing Your Relationship?
We have a special episode for you today! A few weeks ago, Dr. Sabrina was invited to a webinar in the Pumpkin Planners Rock Facebook Group to consider this important question: “Is your business killing your relationship?” We’ve found that this topic resonates deeply with small business owners...
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406: Why Burned-Out Business Owners Make Fear-Based Decisions
Burnout doesn’t just make you tired; it changes how you show up and lead. When you’re constantly emotionally exhausted and under pressure, you make reactive decisions instead of strategic ones, and you hold onto control because everything feels risky. You avoid hard conversations, say YES when…
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405: Your Business Is Affecting Your Relationships More Than You Think
You started your business to create a better life and to have more freedom, flexibility, and time with your loved ones. But somewhere along the way, the business started consuming more of you than you ever expected. Even when you’re physically present with others, your mind is still at work…
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404: If You Know Something Has to Change…This Is Your Next Step
“This sounds exactly like my business. I’m exhausted. Everything still depends on me. I know something has to change.” If you’ve responded with any of these realizations while listening to this series, this conversation is for you. Awareness is important, but awareness alone doesn’t change…
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403: Everything Still Runs Through You — Here’s Why
If you step away for a few days, does everything slow down? Decisions pile up. Your team waits. That’s not a time problem–it’s a dependency problem. If decisions route back to you and ownership isn’t clear, your team can’t step up. Your team isn’t the issue; it’s the system. The only way you can...
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402: You’re Not Burned Out — Your Business Is Designed to Depend on You
What if the reason you feel exhausted isn’t that you’re doing too much, but because your business is designed in a way that requires you to do everything? You’ve tried taking time off, hiring more people, and getting more organized, but nothing has changed. You’re still the one solving problems,...
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401: 400 Episodes Later: How to Build a Profitable Business That Supports Your Life
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve recorded 400 episodes of Profit by Design! After working with thousands of business owners, we can tell you this: most owners do not have a revenue problem–they have a design problem. They built businesses that depend on them to survive, and that catches up with…
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400: You Know You’re Burned Out—Now What?
If you’ve realized from our last episode that you’re burned out, the worst thing you can do next is try to “push through” or just take a vacation. Why? Because burnout isn’t the real problem; it’s just a signal that your business still depends on you in ways it shouldn’t. If you’ve tried taking...
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399: The Hidden Signs of Burnout Every Business Owner Misses
Burnout doesn’t always look the way you think it does. You may be showing up, getting things done, and leading your team. Underneath it all, however, you’re exhausted and have very little patience, working with a brain that won’t shut off, and the thought of handling “just one more problem” feels...
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398: Why Your Culture Isn’t Producing A-Players — and How to Build One That Does
You’ve hired talented people, so why aren’t they performing like A-Players? Why does it still feel like you have to double-check everything—like your team waits instead of leads, accountability is inconsistent, and you’re still the one carrying the standard? The real issue isn’t your people—it’s...
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397: Why High Performers Burn Out First — and How to Build Sustainable Leadership in Your Small Business
Why is it that the most driven, capable, high-performing business owners are often the first to burn out? You are the one everyone relies on because you care deeply and push harder than anyone else, but you’re exhausted, and the business still depends on you for everything. No matter how much you...
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396: You’re Solving the Wrong Problem in Your Business — Here’s How to Fix It
What if the biggest problem in your business isn’t actually THE problem? If you’re working harder than ever to fix things: hiring, pushing sales, trying to get organized—but nothing is changing, you’re still the bottleneck. You’re doing what most smart, capable business owners do, but you aren’t...
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395: The Real Reason You Can’t Take Time Off From Your Business
Let’s be honest. When was the last time you took a real vacation—without checking your email? If the idea of stepping away from your business makes your stomach tighten up in knots, this episode is for you. You didn’t start your business to be on call 24/7, yet most entrepreneurs are putting…
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394: The 5-Step Business Growth Strategy to Create a Sustainably Profitable Business
If your business is growing, but you’re more exhausted than ever–something is off. More revenue should mean more freedom. Instead, you’re stuck in the survival trap of being overworked, underpaid, and the bottleneck in your business. Stress has become your new normal. In this episode, Melissa Kay...
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393: The Business Owner Dependency Trap (And How to Escape It)
Is your business completely dependent on you? If you take a vacation, will everything fall apart? If so, you are in the Business Owner Dependency Trap, and today’s episode reveals how to get out of it, change everything, and take your life back from your business. Business owners can escape...
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392: Why Most Small Businesses Plateau — And How to Start Growing Again
When you go into business, you work really hard to get things going, but as you achieve success, the business takes over your life, right? You want to keep growing your business, but you can’t work more. You’re already exhausted and stretched too thin. If you’re tired of being the fixer, the one...
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391: Emotional Burnout in Entrepreneurs: How to Build a Successful Business Without Losing Yourself with Robin Berning
Do you ever feel like anxiety is running your life and business? From the outside, your business may look successful, yet internally, you feel exhausted, stretched thin, and disconnected from yourself. Entrepreneurship doesn’t just demand strategy; it demands your energy, heart, capacity, and...
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390: Stop Being the Bottleneck: How to Build a Self-Managing Business Model
Does your business slow down the moment you step away? If every decision, approval, or problem still funnels through you, you’re not alone, but YOU are the bottleneck. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling break down how you can stop being the bottleneck and start building a...
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389: How to Stay Grounded as a Business Owner (No Matter What’s Going On)
Do you ever feel like your mind is running faster than your business can keep up? When everything feels urgent, noisy, and heavy, staying grounded can feel impossible. In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Starling and Melissa Kay share their #1 grounding ritual: the simple, repeatable practice they…
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388: The Hardest Boundary I Ever Set in My Business
Do you ever say yes in your business when every part of you wants to say no? Boundaries are easy to discuss, but incredibly difficult to live out, especially when payroll, clients, and team expectations are on the line. In this episode, we get real about the hardest boundaries we’ve ever set in…
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387: Loneliness, Leadership, and Retaining Your Best People for Small Business Owners with Dov Baron
Loneliness isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a leadership and culture issue. In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Starling sits down with repeat guest and leadership expert Dov Baron to explore the growing epidemic of loneliness within organizations, and why it’s quietly eroding trust, engagement, and...
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386: The Real Reason Most Business Owners Don’t Have a Life Outside Work
Do you know the real reason most business owners don’t have a life outside work? It’s because of the survival trap. This is what happens when you take on clients, projects, or work outside your sweet spot, just to cover payroll, patch cash flow gaps, or respond to immediate crises. There is a...
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385: How to Handle Employee Raises When Revenue is Low (Business Owner Strategies)
If you’re worried about giving employee raises when revenue is tight, you’re not alone. In this episode, we explore ways to reward your team without putting your business at risk. You’ll discover smart ways to structure raises when cash flow is limited, how to communicate compensation changes...
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384: What to Look for in an Accounting Firm with Tammy Little
Most business owners wait way too long to get financial support, not because they don’t need it, but because they think their books are too messy, too far behind, or too embarrassing to hand over to a professional. In this episode, Tap the Potential’s Lead Strategist, Melissa Kay, talks with…
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383: How to Plan Your 4 Week Vacation®️ in 2026 (Without Your Business Falling Apart)
Does the idea of taking a real vacation make you anxious instead of excited? If stepping away for even a day feels risky, the thought of taking four whole weeks probably feels impossible—but it’s not. You don’t need a massive team or endless cash flow to make it happen. In this week’s episode,...
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382: Be a Gift Through Your Leadership: Small Habits That Create Big Impact on Your Team
Are you feeling the pressure to do all the things this holiday season: gifts, events, wrapping up the year, and taking care of everyone? What if the most meaningful gift you could give wasn’t something you could buy? What if you discovered how small, intentional leadership actions, like...
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381: If I Could Give Every Business Owner One Gift…
Are you craving more time, more freedom, and a team that actually takes ownership? Dr. Sabrina says, “If I could give every business owner one gift, it would be the ability to empower your leadership team to run the business without you.” In this week’s episode, she shares the gift she wishes…
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380: Strategic Planning Series Part 2 of 2
Do you want to work fewer hours each week? We can get you on track to make it happen! Take charge now and plan ahead for a healthier, happier 2026 as a business owner. When you join our Better Business Better Life program, our guarantee to you is that you will shave 10 hours off your workweek, go...
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379: Strategic Planning Series Part 1 of 2
It’s become an annual tradition to share our Strategic Planning Series with our listeners, and there is no better time to do it than right now, on the cusp of a new year. Dr. Sabrina Starling hosts this two-part series that begins with this episode. She is “The Business Psychologist” and the…
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378: How to Make Your Time Worth $10,000 an Hour
What tasks in your business, when completed, make other tasks easier or unnecessary? Those are your $10,000 an hour activities, and they should be at the top of your daily to-do list. By prioritizing these tasks each day, you can stop working at a set time, leave the office, and prevent work from...
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377: How to Raise Prices Without Losing Customers (Business Owner Strategies That Work)
Are you struggling to raise your prices because you are afraid of losing clients? You are not alone! In this episode, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling explore specific strategies to increase your rates while keeping your best clients satisfied confidently. You’ll learn the mindset shifts that...
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376: How Focusing on the ONE Thing Moves Your Business Forward (and Makes Everything Else Easier)
Are you feeling pulled in a hundred different directions and wondering why nothing seems to move your business forward? It’s not about doing more, it’s about doing the right ONE thing. In this episode, we are diving into how narrowing your focus can accelerate results, reduce overwhelm, and...
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375: How a Leadership Mindset of Presence Improves Focus, Teamwork, and Results
Are you struggling to get your team focused and aligned, but are left wondering why the results aren’t what they should be? In this episode, we delve into how simply being fully present as a leader can transform your team, decision-making, and business outcomes. You’ll learn why presence is the...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
You work hard in your business.On the Profit by Design Podcast, we ask the BIG question:What has your business done FOR YOU lately?Join Dr. Sabrina Starling, The Business Psychologist™ and founder of Tap the Potential weekly, as she brings you tips, tools and strategies to support YOU in making intentionally profitable AND sustainable business decisions to live the lifestyle you desire. After all, work supports life, not the other way around. Dr. Sabrina is the author of the The 4 Week Vacation® and the How to Hire the Best Series.Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.
HOSTED BY
Dr. Sabrina Starling
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Profit by Design have?
Profit by Design currently has 429 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Profit by Design about?
You work hard in your business.On the Profit by Design Podcast, we ask the BIG question:What has your business done FOR YOU lately?Join Dr. Sabrina Starling, The Business Psychologist™ and founder of Tap the Potential weekly, as she brings you tips, tools and strategies to support YOU in making...
How often does Profit by Design release new episodes?
Profit by Design publishes regularly with 429 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Profit by Design?
You can listen to Profit by Design on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Profit by Design?
Profit by Design is created and hosted by Dr. Sabrina Starling.
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