Podcast Summary: The BossBabe Podcast Episode 444

Title: Your Work is Not Your Worth: The Real Path to Freedom + Your Most Profitable Year in Business Yet
Host: Natalie Ellis
Release Date: January 2, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 444 of The BossBabe Podcast, host Natalie Ellis engages in a profound conversation with co-host Lindsay, reflecting on their achievements in 2024 and setting intentions for 2025. This episode delves into themes of authentic business growth, the importance of aligning work with personal values, effective goal-setting strategies, and redefining freedom within the entrepreneurial journey.

Reflecting on 2024: Success Through Alignment

Natalie and Lindsay begin by celebrating 2024 as BossBabe's highest revenue and profit year to date. Notably, this success was not driven by aggressive financial goals but rather by a commitment to building a business aligned with their core values and integrity.

[00:23] Natalie: "The goal has been, let's build something that is deeply aligned with us, is impactful, let's serve, let's show up, let's not compromise our values, our integrity, our priorities. And this is the result of it."

Lindsay attributes this achievement to their strategic focus on eliminating non-essential activities and maintaining a relentless commitment to what truly moves the needle.

[01:37] Lindsay: "Everything we said yes to, we went all in on. And the things that were interesting but weren't actually going to move the needle, we said no to, and it worked."

Team Dynamics and Operational Excellence

A significant factor in their success was the evolution of their team structure. Natalie discusses the importance of having a dedicated and aligned team, emphasizing the need to make swift decisions about team members to maintain overall cohesion and productivity.

[03:13] Natalie: "It's on me to make decisions like that very quickly. And I used to really struggle with that."

Lindsay complements this by sharing lessons learned about hiring, such as the importance of not expanding the team prematurely and ensuring that every new hire aligns with the company’s priorities.

[02:35] Lindsay: "We started cutting things off and still ended up here. It's just relentless in making sure everything aligns."

Both hosts highlight the effectiveness of maintaining a lean team that adheres to simplified systems and processes, proving that a small, committed team can achieve substantial results without unnecessary complexity.

Authenticity and Integrity in Business

The conversation shifts to the critical role of authenticity in building a sustainable business. Natalie and Lindsay express frustration with superficial business practices and the prevalence of “shiny object syndrome” among entrepreneurs.

[09:02] Lindsay: "The time of I can kind of half-ass it and make a seven-figure business has passed."

Natalie underscores the importance of long-term brand building over short-term gains, advocating for steady and predictable growth grounded in integrity.

[12:13] Natalie: "Growing slower, growing in a way that feels really aligned, growing from a place of integrity in your own work."

They discuss challenges such as plagiarism and the necessity of staying true to one’s brand to avoid erosion of trust and authenticity.

Reinventing Goal-Setting: Embracing Anti-Goals

Introducing the concept of “anti-goals,” Natalie draws inspiration from Andrew Wilkinson's Never Enough. This approach focuses on defining what entrepreneurs don't want, thereby clarifying their true aspirations.

[16:02] Natalie: "It's kind of us thinking about all the things I didn't want and setting goals from that place."

Lindsay elaborates on how this mindset shift helps prioritize personal well-being and aligns business objectives with genuine desires rather than societal expectations.

[19:20] Lindsay: "Freedom doesn't mean I'm going to only work 10 hours a week. Freedom means choosing how you work."

Redefining Freedom in Entrepreneurship

A central theme of the episode is the redefinition of freedom within the entrepreneurial context. Both hosts emphasize that freedom is not the absence of work but the ability to choose how and where one allocates their efforts.

[26:30] Lindsay: "Freedom means choosing how you work right now for some future priority."

Natalie expands on this by discussing freedom as a mindset that transcends financial security, highlighting the importance of mental clarity and contentment with one's choices.

[29:29] Natalie: "Freedom isn't available when you're struggling to meet basic needs. But once those are met, freedom becomes a mindset."

They caution against equating self-worth solely with professional achievements, advocating for a more holistic view of personal value.

[33:05] Lindsay: "Our impact on the world has nothing to do with the work we do or how we make money."

Integrating Personal Identity with Business Goals

Natalie and Lindsay explore the necessity of aligning personal identities with business objectives to prevent burnout and maintain passion in their ventures. Natalie shares her journey of embracing motherhood and how it has reshaped her approach to business and personal growth.

[37:23] Natalie: "If you're wanting to build a freedom-based business, you're here for the long run. You want to build something that adds to your life, not takes away from it."

Lindsay adds that integrating personal creativity and authenticity into business operations fosters a more meaningful and sustainable entrepreneurial experience.

[33:05] Lindsay: "I want to buy from people who really love what they do and it's an outlet for their art form."

Practical Strategies for 2025: Embracing Simplicity and Flexibility

Moving forward, Natalie and Lindsay outline practical strategies for 2025 that focus on maintaining simplicity in planning, embracing flexibility, and continuously aligning business practices with personal values and evolving definitions of freedom.

Natalie introduces the concept of "white space" – deliberate periods of undistracted time to reflect and find solutions internally.

[23:33] Natalie: "White space is where the answers you're needing will be found in the work you're avoiding."

Lindsay emphasizes the importance of weekly check-ins to ensure that energy is being directed toward desired outcomes and personal well-being.

[45:00] Lindsay: "Having this foundational planning allows us to make hard decisions calmly rather than reactively."

Conclusion

Episode 444 of The BossBabe Podcast provides a comprehensive exploration of building a business that not only achieves financial success but also fosters personal fulfillment and authentic growth. By prioritizing alignment with core values, embracing anti-goals, redefining freedom, and integrating personal identity with professional endeavors, Natalie Ellis and Lindsay offer invaluable insights for female entrepreneurs aiming to create impactful and sustainable businesses in 2025 and beyond.

Notable Quotes

• [00:23] Natalie: "The goal has been, let's build something that is deeply aligned with us, is impactful, let's serve, let's show up, let's not compromise our values, our integrity, our priorities. And this is the result of it."

• [01:37] Lindsay: "Everything we said yes to, we went all in on. And the things that were interesting but weren't actually going to move the needle, we said no to, and it worked."

• [09:02] Lindsay: "The time of I can kind of half-ass it and make a seven-figure business has passed."

• [19:20] Lindsay: "Freedom doesn't mean I'm going to only work 10 hours a week. Freedom means choosing how you work."

• [23:33] Natalie: "White space is where the answers you're needing will be found in the work you're avoiding."

• [26:30] Lindsay: "Freedom means choosing how you work right now for some future priority."

• [29:29] Natalie: "Freedom isn't available when you're struggling to meet basic needs. But once those are met, freedom becomes a mindset."

• [33:05] Lindsay: "Our impact on the world has nothing to do with the work we do or how we make money."

• [37:23] Natalie: "If you're wanting to build a freedom-based business, you're here for the long run. You want to build something that adds to your life, not takes away from it."

Note: Promotional segments, including announcements about the BossBabe planner available at Walmart and offers for free digital masterclasses, have been intentionally excluded from this summary per the podcast summary guidelines.