The Mindful Marketing Podcast: Building a Business Without Burnout
Host: Andréa Jones
Episode Release Date: June 17, 2025
1. Introduction to Building a Business Without Burnout
In this compelling episode of The Mindful Marketing Podcast, host Andréa Jones delves deep into the critical topic of maintaining a healthy work-life balance while growing a business. Focusing on the concept of setting boundaries, Andréa shares her personal journey and practical strategies to prevent burnout, particularly in the high-pressure world of marketing and social media.
2. Andréa’s Personal Journey: From the "Laptop Lifestyle" to Real Boundaries
Andréa begins by debunking the romanticized "laptop lifestyle," emphasizing that true relaxation means not working, even if you're physically at the beach.
Andréa [00:00]: "Laptop lifestyle means you are working on the beach. And I strongly believe now that if I'm at the beach, I ain't working."
She reflects on her 11-year experience in business, highlighting a turning point in 2017 when managing 40 clients led to severe anxiety and panic attacks triggered by constant notifications and overwhelming responsibilities.
Andréa [05:30]: "I was miserable because I was starting to get these, like, anxiety-ish panic attacks over the notifications on my phone emails."
Recognizing the need for change, Andréa sought therapy and coaching, which led her to take a two-week break and incorporate meditation into her daily routine. This shift allowed her to set effective boundaries, resulting in significant business growth, including nearly $900,000 in revenue in 2022.
3. Defining Boundaries in Marketing and Business
Andréa clarifies that boundaries are not walls but social agreements that protect one’s mental and emotional well-being. She discusses how setting boundaries in business—such as managing responses to messages and setting work hours—can lead to a more sustainable and fulfilling entrepreneurial journey.
Andréa [12:45]: "Boundaries are not walls. I think boundaries are more like social agreements, if you will."
She shares her approach to managing Instagram DMs and text messages by not expecting immediate responses, thereby reducing stress and maintaining her energy levels.
4. Managing Parasocial Relationships and Social Media Pressures
The episode explores the concept of parasocial relationships, where audiences feel a sense of entitlement over personal interactions due to a personal brand’s visibility. Andréa addresses the challenges of dealing with negative comments and maintaining boundaries to protect her mental health.
Andréa [20:15]: "This is called parasocial relationship because it's my face. Because I have so much content out there, they feel like they have an entitled access to me."
She emphasizes the importance of deleting harmful comments and blocking toxic interactions to uphold her boundaries.
5. Hard Work vs. Hustle: Finding the Balance
Andréa distinguishes between “hard work” and “hustle,” advocating for a balanced approach that avoids the extremes of overworking or becoming disengaged. She criticizes the relentless hustle culture promoted by figures like Gary Vaynerchuk, which often leads to burnout, especially for introverts.
Andréa [25:50]: "I'm a believer that there is space between the soft life, laptop lifestyle and hustle. Every day, wake up at 4am, sleep for four hours lifestyle, okay?"
She shares her strategy of being consistently available without being overwhelmed, leveraging her assistant to maintain involvement without personal exhaustion.
6. Knowing Yourself: Preferences and Values as Strategy
A key takeaway from the episode is the importance of self-awareness in setting boundaries. Andréa urges listeners to understand their preferences and values, using them as strategic tools to streamline their business operations and marketing efforts.
Andréa [35:20]: "Preferences are a strategy. I think oftentimes where we start feeling burnt out and like lines are being crossed is that we're trying to do all of the things and then we feel resentful with the feedback that we're getting."
She illustrates this with her own experience of preferring video content over written emails, leading her to adopt video recordings and AI tools to manage communication more effectively.
7. Practical Steps to Implement Boundaries
Andréa provides actionable advice for listeners to establish their own boundaries:
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Control Notifications: Decide which notifications are essential and turn off the rest to minimize distractions.
Andréa [45:10]: "Do you want your email on your phone and do you want those notifications?"
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Set Response Times: Determine specific times to check and respond to messages rather than reacting instantly.
Andréa [47:35]: "I usually batch respond to stuff, batch respond to messages and things. It just works for my brain."
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Communicate Clearly: Use clear communication strategies, such as scripts, to assert boundaries without appearing unfriendly.
Andréa [50:00]: "Because sometimes I'll be like, listen, I want to say no to this person, and I need help saying no in a way that will let them know that I'm serious."
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Define Business Hours: Clearly state business operating hours on your website and email signatures to manage client expectations.
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Adapt Over Time: Recognize that boundaries may need to shift based on personal circumstances and business needs.
Andréa [1:02:15]: "Boundaries can change over time. Try it out and see what works for you."
8. Embracing Values and Authenticity in Business
Andréa underscores the significance of aligning business practices with personal values, particularly in fostering diversity and inclusion. She discusses how authentic value-driven marketing builds trust and attracts like-minded clients, contrasting it with companies that superficially adopt values for marketing gains.
Andréa [1:15:40]: "If you believe the same things you do, there's an inherent trust in that."
She shares her practice of displaying pronouns in her email signatures and social media profiles to signal her commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that her brand attracts clients who resonate with these values.
9. Conclusion: Sustainable Success Through Boundaries
Wrapping up the episode, Andréa reinforces that setting boundaries is essential for long-term success and personal well-being. She encourages entrepreneurs to view boundaries as invitations that attract the right clients and create a harmonious work environment. Andréa also highlights the importance of using tools like ChatGPT to facilitate boundary-setting and effective communication.
Andréa [1:20:50]: "They're inviting people in. I want you to think of them as a value signal so that you find the right clients and customers that align with you."
By embracing boundaries, Andréa illustrates how business owners can thrive without sacrificing their mental health, ultimately building a resilient and prosperous business.
Key Quotes with Timestamps:
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On Boundaries:
"Boundaries are not walls. I think boundaries are more like social agreements, if you will."
[12:45] -
On Parasocial Relationships:
"This is called parasocial relationship because it's my face. Because I have so much content out there, they feel like they have an entitled access to me."
[20:15] -
On Hard Work vs. Hustle:
"I'm a believer that there is space between the soft life, laptop lifestyle and hustle. Every day, wake up at 4am, sleep for four hours lifestyle, okay?"
[25:50] -
On Preferences as Strategy:
"Preferences are a strategy. I think oftentimes where we start feeling burnt out and like lines are being crossed is that we're trying to do all of the things and then we feel resentful with the feedback that we're getting."
[35:20] -
On Setting Boundaries:
"Because sometimes I'll be like, listen, I want to say no to this person, and I need help saying no in a way that will let them know that I'm serious."
[50:00] -
On Values and Authenticity:
"If you believe the same things you do, there's an inherent trust in that."
[1:15:40]
This episode of The Mindful Marketing Podcast offers invaluable insights for entrepreneurs seeking to build successful businesses without succumbing to burnout. By sharing her authentic experiences and practical strategies, Andréa Jones empowers listeners to set meaningful boundaries, align their business practices with personal values, and ultimately achieve sustainable growth and well-being.