Podcast Summary: The Doula Darcy Podcast

Episode: Why I Don't Do CEO Days
Host: Darcy Sauers
Date: September 24, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Darcy Sauers, business coach for doulas, challenges the popular "CEO Day" concept. She shares why she doesn't dedicate a specific day to CEO-style business tasks, explains her alternative approach of "island days," and discusses the importance of taking intentional time away from routine to achieve better business growth, inspiration, and self-care. Drawing on her own experiences in corporate life and doula work, Darcy provides actionable advice and mindset shifts for fellow doulas.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What is a CEO Day?

• Traditionally, a "CEO Day" is a set day each week or month for business owners to handle administrative tasks, strategic planning, or big-picture thinking.

• Darcy’s perspective:

  • She doesn’t resonate with corporate or CEO terminology, which reminds her of her former constricted 9-to-5 life.
  • Prefers a more flexible and freeing approach to business management.

  Quote [01:08]:

  "The whole reason I started my business is because I didn't want to be a corporate girly anymore. And when someone says CEO, I just instantly picture a guy in a suit who works 80 hours a week..."

2. Darcy’s Alternative: The "Island Day"

• Inspired by her coach, Amber Lillistrom, Darcy blocks out Wednesdays as her "island day."

  • It’s literally an “island” in her workweek: not bookable, no coaching, meetings, or office hours.
  • She uses this time as a buffer or, ideally, for rest and leisure.

• Personalized Freedom:

  • Sometimes works for a few hours if needed, but often does not.
  • In winter, uses Wednesdays as a personal ski day; in summer, goes to the beach or relaxes outdoors.

  Quote [02:49]:

  "If I want to work, I'll work. If I don't want to work, I don't. And a lot of times in the winter, Wednesdays are my ski day..."

3. The Real Purpose: Working On Your Business

• Emphasizes that the key is carving out time to shift perspective—time to work “on” rather than “in” the business.

• Best business ideas often emerge when doing non-work activities; freedom and play fuel creativity.

  Quote [05:38]:

  "My best ideas for business come when I'm having fun, when I'm in free flow, creative juices flowing, having a great time. Way more effective than just chaining myself to my desk..."

4. Adapting the Idea for Your Life

• Recognizes not everyone can dedicate a full day every week.

• Alternatives:

  • Try an hour a week, three hours a week, a business retreat, or even a five-minute mental break.
  • Any intentional pause to step outside daily tasks is valuable.

  Quote [09:06]:

  "So if one day a week is not attainable for you right now, try an hour a week or an hour a day or a three-hour block of time, one day a week, or one business retreat a year."

5. The Importance of Retreats & Peer Community

• Attending or hosting retreats is a powerful way to break routine, connect with like-minded professionals, and gain fresh perspectives.

• Darcy shares her own experiences at various retreats (in Maine, Florida, Sedona, and more).

• Her Doula Village and “hive mind” sessions provide similar benefits virtually: time to share, brainstorm, and work “on” the business.

  Quote [12:44]:

  "That’s another example of working on your business... You sitting there listening to other doulas... it starts to spark things in your brain. Ooh, maybe I could do something like that."

6. Mindset: Value Your Time and Growth

• Encourages listeners to value themselves enough to schedule time for self and business growth.

• Building a business is self-work; it’s okay to start small, but commitment to consistent, intentional pauses matters.

  Quote [18:47]:

  "Entrepreneurship is the biggest self discovery, self work journey you can go on. So working on your business is really working on yourself and it's really so important."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On recreating work-life balance:
  [03:32] "My whole impetus for creating passive income was the time freedom, the location freedom, the financial freedom that would give me...the exact opposite of the corporate grind."
• Winter Wednesdays on the slopes:
  [04:20] "On Wednesdays in the winter you find me there skiing with a bunch of 80 year old men that don't wear helmets and maybe a girlfriend or two of mine..."
• On mental load and motherhood:
  [10:39] "We just get into this rhythm as humans and especially as moms, I'm gonna say the mental load of motherhood. So carving out time for yourself where you can step out of that hamster wheel..."
• On “empire building sessions”:
  [16:19] "One person... on Mondays she has a 90 minute slot, I think, and it's called her empire building session. It's blocked on her calendar. No one can book a meeting with her..."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:46 — Episode intro & Darcy’s opinion on CEO days
• 02:20 — Explanation of "island days" & weekly schedule
• 04:15 — The value of rest and time off in sparking creativity
• 07:20 — Retreats as a tool for business and personal breakthroughs
• 09:06 — Tips for fitting strategic thinking time into busy lives
• 11:54 — The power of group office hours & peer learning
• 15:00 — Real-life examples of “empire building” time
• 17:56 — Mindset, self-worth, and scheduling time for yourself

Final Takeaways

• Reject the rigidity: You don't have to emulate corporate routines to be successful.
• Create your own rhythm: Find pockets of time—whether hours, days, or retreats—just for strategic thinking and rest.
• Community fuels growth: Engaging with peers, in person or virtually, enhances creativity and support.
• Honor your growth: Time spent working on your business is time invested in yourself and your future.

Call to Action

Darcy invites listeners to connect with her on Instagram (@thedouladarcy) to share their own approaches to “island days” or strategic business time.

For more insights or community, join the Doula Marketing Group on Facebook or explore the Doula Village and upcoming retreats.