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Let's be that founder-to-founder support system we all need. 🤝🏻

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The Founder's Guide to Handcuffing Yourself to Your Business.
Guaranteed.

Most founders don’t realize they’re the ones tightening the cuffs.
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To the business owner who says they want freedom.

And tries to figure out “How can I get all this stuff done?”

That’s not freedom.

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In fact, you’ve asked the wrong question.

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The ‘freedom’ question is actually:

“How can I design this so it gets done without me?”

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Freedom doesn’t come from you doing more, faster.

Freedom isn’t taking a vacation but working double-time the weeks before and after.

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Freedom is having a business where everything still happens when you’re not there.

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And there’s a second piece to this that gets overlooked:

This isn’t just for vacations or sick days.

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❌You don’t build systems so you can occasionally step away.

✅You build them so you can step away anytime you choose.

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💡 For an afternoon on the beach with your kids.

💡 For a day of professional development.

💡 For no reason at all.

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If your business can only run without you under “special circumstances,”

it still depends on you.

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You’re on your way, but you’re not there yet.

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❌ Freedom isn’t a reward you earn later.

✅ It’s a design choice you're making right now.

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The only way you’re building for freedom is if the work that you do now is getting you out of doing it in the future.

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👉🏻 Start that with a simple reframe:

The next time you feel buried or you’re having to make a choice between doing the work or spending your time on something else - don’t ask how to get it all done.

🧠 Ask how you can design it so it gets done without you.

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👉🏻 Don't build a business you resent. Build one that frees you up.

​Book a 20-minute call and let's talk.
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My Leadership Mistakes:
When Radical Candor Goes Wrong

Everybody wants you to 'shoot straight' with them.

Until the lead starts flying.

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Early in my leadership journey, my team and I agreed to practice radical candor.

We wanted a culture of open, honest feedback.

I loved the idea. (Still do.)

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And for a while, it worked.

People were speaking up.

We had challenging conversations.

They were uncomfortable, but productive.

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But there's a reason this is titled 'My Leadership Mistakes'.

Radical Candor can mean different things to different people.

And it's the leader's job to make sure everyone is on the same page and ready to handle it.

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👉🏻 I shared the full story on LinkedIn 😬
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Being Prepared Shapes Your Leadership Identity

I've learned to love it when a founder says,

“I could have been better prepared.”
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Because that’s the moment something deeper shifts.

I'm not talking about the meeting,
I'm talking about their identity as a leader.
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They’re realizing that “show up and figure it out”

isn’t the standard anymore.
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The new standard is “show up ready to make it valuable.”
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That’s what real leadership looks like.
Being intentional before you even walk into the room.
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And that’s exactly what my Leadership Opportunities and Intentions Exercise is built around:

• Recognizing the moments that matter,
• Being clear on the effect you want to have,
• Preparing for them, and
• Deciding in advance how you want to show up as a leader.
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Because every conversation, every touchpoint, every interaction

is a chance to lead - but ONLY if you treat it that way.
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👉🏻 Read: Learn to Recognize and Prepare for Leadership Opportunities →​

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🎙️ Listen or Watch: Leadership Opportunities & Intentions episode →​

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Have a great rest of your week,

P.S.S. Proof I'm real. Debbie left this recommendation on my Linkedin profile last week.

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#golden-1025