Growth Feels Heavy? Do This.

Speaker 1: [Music] I'm Melanie Bar. Welcome back to the Sheila Tip podcast, your go-to place to empower you to live the life and business that you crave. I'm here to talk about everything from having the courage to make life and career leaps to the details of how to lead effectively, create successful teams, implement strategies for growth, and infuse tech innovation. I'm here to celebrate your wins and navigate through your challenges. I live in the city now, but I grew up in a town of a thousand people. I've navigated major life leaps, a senior level corporate career, worked in professional sports, and now as a successful entrepreneur who loves business, technology, family, and making meaningful connections with you and the She Built It Community. I also love a good workout and dose of self-care.

Speaker 1: Magic happens when we focus on the part of ourselves and our business that brings us joy. So, turn up the audio, open your favorite notes app, grab your favorite drink, and here we go. When you're in a season of growth, really building something, there's a unique kind of pressure that comes with it. It's exciting, but it's also demanding and it's not easy. You're solving problems, leading people, managing details, and trying to keep your eye on the bigger picture all at once. And somewhere in the middle of that, you have to find a way to stay motivated. Here's the thing I've learned after years of building and scaling. Staying motivated isn't about everything being great all the time. It's about perspective, discipline, showing up every day and taking care of the person steering the ship and keeping it all running. For me, it starts with how I begin my day. I don't dive right into email or Slack or meetings. I start with something that clears my head. At first, I read a business or motivational book as I'm sipping my morning coffee to wake up. I put myself in a good mindset and then a workout, a walk, or 10 minutes of going over my to-do list for the day. It's not about having a perfect morning routine, although I love routines. It's about protecting your mindset before the day starts pulling at it. You can't lead well from chaos. And here's something many business leaders learn the hard way. When things get busy, I know I'm guilty of this, too. The first habits to go can be the ones that keep us sane.

Speaker 1: Don't skip the workouts. Don't push off the healthy meals. And don't sacrifice sleep for another late night on your phone or computer. Those things don't slow you down. They sustain you. They give you the energy to think clearly and lead with intention. The next big piece for me anyway is about staying in your zone of genius. You can do a lot of things. Most leaders and founders can.

Speaker 1: But that doesn't mean that you should. As your business grows, your energy needs to shift towards leading, building relationships, and making strategic decisions. Delegate the rest, especially the work that drains you. There is someone out there who loves to do the things that you dread. Let them do it. That's how you scale without burning out. It also matters who you surround yourself with. Growth can feel lonely sometimes. Often actually. You need people to remind you of the big picture when you're deep in the weeds. People who challenge you, steady you, keep you focused, and celebrate your wins. The right people don't just lift your mood, they help you stay on course. And one mindset that helps me, every business has 20% that you don't love. The followup, the logistics, the maintenance, the work that just has to get done. But don't let that 20% drain the energy that you could be putting into the 80% that you do love. The creative ideas, the clients, the moments that remind you why you started. If you're in a stage where growth feels heavy, you're not alone. Remember, this is what building looks like. It's uncomfortable. It stretches you. But that stretch means progress. You're not stuck. You're growing. Keep going. Keep leading. Keep taking care of yourself while you build because that's how you create a business and a life that actually lasts and that you love. Thank you for joining us today. I'd love to hear from you. Reach out to me at hell@ shebiltit.com on our shebuilt website or at sheiluiltit on social. Thank you to my editor Rich Duffolino who always makes us sound good. Until next time, let nothing stop you from experiencing the life and business that you crave.