12. From Insight to Action – Real-Life Success Stories

In this special episode of The Business You Really Want, Gwen Bortner and Tonya Kubo reflect on listener feedback and dive into real-life success stories. With insights from reviews, they discuss the challenges female entrepreneurs face, the pressures of traditional success metrics, and how to take action based on your unique definition of success. Whether you're just starting your business or navigating the complexities of growth, this episode is packed with practical advice on aligning goals with your values and protecting your time.

Here’s what you can expect in this episode:

• 2:20 – The major themes from listener feedback: Time management, success, and learning from mistakes
• 4:00 – Avoiding business mistakes before they happen
• 7:56 – The pressure women face to meet traditional success metrics
• 8:30 – The importance of defining your own success and avoiding societal pressure
• 11:52 – Why time pressure feels more intense for women in business
• 14:39 – How a patriarchal society has impacted the way we define success
• 18:30 – Integrating your personal life and business goals, instead of compartmentalizing them
• 21:20 – Why small business owners and solopreneurs feel short on time, and how to stop filling every moment
• 22:48 – The importance of adding and keeping margin in your schedule
• 25:00 – Working less may not make you less productive
• 27:10 – You’re only productive 60-80% of the time you work
• 30:00 – The time you need to accomplish something may be relative to you
• 33:23 – Don’t add more to your plate as soon as you’ve cleared something else from it
• 36:10 – If I free up time, how do I not fill it with other stuff?
• 39:30 – The value of accountability and finding someone who can provide true, non-judgmental feedback

Key Takeaways:

• Define your own success: Success means different things to different people. Take the time to decide what it means for you—don’t let society define it for you.
• Question best practices: Just because something is labeled a “best practice” doesn’t mean it’s the best for you. Learn to question everything and trust your instincts.
• Create margin in your life: Make room in your schedule for unexpected opportunities or challenges. Having white space helps you avoid burnout and allows for creativity.
• Don’t compartmentalize: Instead of trying to separate your personal life and business goals, treat them as part of the same journey.
• Accountability matters: Find someone who can give you honest, non-judgmental feedback and help you stay on track with your goals.

Ready to take action on your insights? Try this:

1. Define success for yourself: What does success look like for you right now? Be specific, and let go of societal expectations.
2. Create margin in your schedule: Set aside time each day or week for nothing. Protect that space and resist the urge to fill it with more work.
3. Seek accountability: Find someone who can offer objective insights and hold you accountable without judgment.
4. Reflect regularly: As your life changes, so will your definition of success. Take time every few months to reassess your goals and make adjustments as needed.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The Everyday Effectiveness team practices true accountability internally and in partnership with their clients. If you’d like to experience the Weekly Course of Action for yourself, join the waitlist here: https://forms.gle/eqSzk6oktYdoCUaM9

Leave a review on Apple:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review!

Also, be sure to check out Episode 13, where we dive deeper into balancing personal and professional priorities to create a sustainable business model.