Fit For Profit

In this episode of "Behind the Numbers," Shannon interviews Sarah Cooke, a holistic business coach and self-leadership mentor. Sarah shares her approach to helping women grow sustainable businesses by focusing on how they want to live before setting financial targets. They discuss overcoming the "hustle" culture, navigating the challenges of being a "high achiever," and the importance of human connection in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Watch the full episode on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/n3yk_wVSj6w?si=Vesrz5I7nFtDui0r

Business owners will approve team bonuses, cover education costs, invest in retreats, buy lunch for the office, and make sure everyone around them feels supported…

…while quietly avoiding paying themselves consistently.

Not because they don’t value themselves.

Usually because they feel responsible for everyone else first.

That’s the part of entrepreneurship people don’t talk about enough.

For a lot of founders, the pressure is emotional long before it becomes financial.

If this is you, raise your🤚in the comments.

Sometimes the stress isn’t even the big things anymore.

It’s hearing a Slack notification at 8:30pm and immediately feeling your chest tighten because you assume someone needs something from you.

Again.

At a certain stage of business growth, owners become emotionally on-call for everyone around them. Clients. Employees. Contractors. Problems. Questions. Emergencies.

And eventually a lot of founders realize:
“I built a business for freedom… but I don’t actually feel free.”

That’s usually not a time management problem.
It’s a leadership and financial pressure problem.

If this feels familiar, you’re probably carrying more than people realize.