Profit by Design

Hosted by Dr. Sabrina Starling

BusinessExplicit

Website RSS feed

Episodes

422

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

You work hard in your business. On the Profit by Design Podcast, we ask the BIG question: What has your business done FOR YOU lately? Join Dr. Sabrina Starling, The Business Psychologist™ and founder of Tap the Potential weekly, as she brings you tips, tools and strategies to support YOU in making intentionally profitable AND sustainable business decisions to live the lifestyle you desire. After all, work supports life, not the other way around. Dr. Sabrina is the author of the The 4 Week Vacation® and the How to Hire the Best Series. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 3, 202622 min

417: You Love Your Business. But It’s Taking Too Much From You. Part 2

When we go into business as an entrepreneur, there almost always comes a point when it starts to take over our lives. We began our dive into this topic in our last episode, and we’re continuing in this second part of the discussion. Kaitlyn Adelle and Melissa Kay begin this episode by offering a behind-the-scenes look at Tap the Potential’s Better Business, Better Life program. If you’re on the fence about joining the program, this is the episode you need to hear! Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: What it feels like to begin the Better Business, Better Life program: “I’m no longer alone on an island.” The problem when a business owner tries to do “all the things” Being with like-minded people who understand your struggles but want you to succeed is everything to an overwhelmed entrepreneur. Work fewer hours and achieve better results! It IS possible! Our results are unmatched: 95% of our clients achieve the promised results. (Our proven results are based on client feedback.) Imagine getting back a chunk of your time and spending it with your family. Our Better Business, Better Life Assessment is the place to get started! Melissa and Kaitlyn share stories of hope from real clients. We exist to give business owners hope again. What is it costing you to wait? Giving us five hours a week could give you your life back. Book a call with Kaitlyn today! Resources: Ready to build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it? Book a call with Kaitlyn at www.tapthepotential.com .

August 27, 202625 min

416: You Love Your Business. But It’s Taking Too Much From You. Part 1

You love your business, but is it taking too much from you? Most entrepreneurs didn’t start a business because they wanted to work all the time, carry every decision, or spend their evenings thinking about what still needs to get done. They started because they wanted to build something meaningful and have freedom in their lives. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Kaitlyn Adelle are having a real conversation about what it means to take your life back from your business–and why we believe you can build a successful, profitable business without sacrificing the life you’re building it for. If your business is successful but still depends too heavily on you, this conversation is for you. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Melissa’s perspective on the mission of Tap the Potential and what they want to accomplish in the lives of entrepreneurs The importance of celebrating wins with our clients Time with your loved ones is one thing you can’t get more of once it’s gone. Kaitlyn’s perspective on the mission to allow entrepreneurs to have more LIFE Using motivators to hold our clients accountable The common struggles most business owners face: overworking, underperforming team members, untracked KPIs, and insufficient job descriptions and onboarding plans, The root of the overwhelm is a systems-and-people problem. Addressing the higher-level problem is key. Resources: Ready to build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it? Book a call with Kaitlyn at www.tapthepotential.com .

August 20, 202623 min

415: Why Your Team Doesn't See the Business Like You Do (And How to Change That)

“If everyone on my team cared about this business as much as I do, we would be unstoppable.” If you’ve ever had that thought, you are not alone. But here’s the leadership shift that changes everything: Your team doesn’t need to care about the business the way you do; they need to understand how their work creates value. If your team members have never been shown what success really looks like, how their role impacts profitability, how to solve problems rather than waiting for direction, and why their contribution matters—they will remain task-focused instead of becoming the business builders you want (and need) them to be. In this episode, Kaitlyn and Melissa discuss why ownership isn’t a personality trait but a leadership skill to be developed. When your team understands the impact they have on the business, everything changes. They will stop simply completing tasks and will start improving the business. Join us to discover how to help your team think like leaders without expecting them to think like owners. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Powerful questions to ask so your team members understand their roles If you don’t have clarity, your team will not have clarity. Every team member has their own $10,000 an hour activities. Understanding ownership is the key. (It’s a skill to be developed.) Your business impact > job descriptions The benefits of extended owner vacations for your team: opportunities for growth, trust, and alignment Your immutable laws are the key to attracting the right team members AND the right clients and customers. Leadership Bootcamp: an amazing opportunity for your A-players If you want your team to understand their impact and how their work creates value, book a call with us today! Resources: If today’s conversation made you realize your business depends too much on you, take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment . In about 10 minutes, you’ll discover the biggest constraint keeping your business from supporting your life.

August 13, 202624 min

414: How to Turn Payroll Into Your Biggest Profit Driver

What if payroll wasn’t your biggest expense, but your biggest profit driver? The most profitable business owners don’t focus on keeping payroll costs under control, but they help every person on their team create more value. The difference in perspective about payroll is everything . If your team members don’t know what success looks like and how they create value, solve problems, and make decisions, they become very expensive task-doers. If you develop leaders instead of simply managing employees, your team begins to solve problems before they reach you, improve the customer experience, eliminate costly mistakes, increase efficiency, and create more profit without adding more work to your plate. In this episode, Melissa Kay and Kaitlyn Beaver are sharing why the most profitable businesses have a leadership development strategy that dissolves payroll problems. Join us now to learn how your team can make your business stronger every single day. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Supporting your team and driving profit for your business Your team members’ time is worth $10,000 an hour, too! (Do they know your vision, mission, and purpose?) Find where profit is leaking with your team and turn it into growth and opportunities. A personal example from Kaitlyn’s career when she was looking for a chance to grow Creating roles based on what your business needs Turning payroll into your profit driver requires alignment among your vision/mission/values, team members’ roles, their key results, and KPIs. Helping your team members shine as they achieve (and exceed!) their key results If you want to turn your payroll into your biggest profit driver, book a call with us today! Resources: If today’s conversation made you realize your business may be relying too heavily on you, take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment . In about 10 minutes, you’ll discover the biggest constraint holding your business back and learn where to focus next.

August 6, 202627 min

413: The Hiring Mistakes We See Every Single Week

The hiring mistakes we see every single week have nothing to do with finding “good people.” We’ve noticed the same patterns over and over again: hiring too fast because you’re overwhelmed, settling because you need a body in a position, writing job ads that attract the wrong candidates, and expecting new hires to “figure it out.” Is it any wonder why your turnover rate is high? The truth is that hiring challenges are rarely just hiring challenges. They are often leadership challenges. In this episode of the Profit by Design podcast, Kaitlyn and Melissa pull back the curtain on the conversations we’re having with business owners every week. We share the most common hiring mistakes we see, why they happen, and what the best business owners do differently to build an A-player team. If you’re frustrated with hiring and wonder why your team isn’t performing the way you’d hoped, this conversation is for you! Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Our How to Hire the Best program helps you stand out as an employer of choice. Avoid costly hiring mistakes. Melissa’s perspective on hiring with intention (“What does my company need right now?”) Writing job descriptions vs. job advertisements Hiring for skills vs. hiring for character Your business culture should be obvious to anyone who applies for a job! Understanding how to implement an A-player development plan with one-to-one check-ins on their goals, successes, and trajectory Common mistakes by business owners: not blocking off time to welcome a new team member, not having human connection as part of your onboarding process, and not building a culture of community on your team A magic question to ask any team member: “How might I support you?” If you are up against hiring challenges, book a call with us today! Resources: And if today's conversation has you thinking, "I can totally relate to this," don't stop there. Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment to discover the biggest constraint keeping your business from supporting your life. In about 10 minutes, you'll have a clearer picture of where to focus next. 👉 tapthepotential.com/assessment

July 30, 202621 min

412: What the Best Business Owners Do Differently

What separates the business owners who thrive from those who stay stuck? After coaching hundreds of business owners, we’ve noticed that those who create the biggest transformations aren’t necessarily the smartest, the busiest, or the ones working the longest hours. In this week’s episode, Melissa Kay and Kaitlyn Beaver pull back the curtain on the patterns they see every day while coaching business owners and leading conversations with entrepreneurs across the country. You’ll learn the mindset shifts that lead to sustainable growth, what the best business owners do that others overlook, the habits that create stronger teams and better leadership, and why some owners grow with confidence. In contrast, others stay stuck in survival mode. Join us for an honest conversation about what we have learned from the business owners building businesses that truly support their lives. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Top mindset shifts for sustainable growth: (Hint: Working less is more!) Create space for innovative thinking. Focus on $10,000-an-hour activities. Taking “time off” doesn’t just mean going on vacation. The value of time audits in pinpointing your issues Delegation is a true gift to your team members. It fosters growth AND trust. Clear systems make delegation easier! Do you know the sweet spot of your business? Examples from Melissa of giving clients a better life ONE small step forward can make the biggest difference in your business and your life! Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment today! Resources: If this conversation leaves you wondering what your next step should be, take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment . It will help you identify the biggest opportunity in your business so you can stop guessing and start building a business that truly supports your life. Work should support your life–not the other way around!

July 23, 202622 min

411: How I Prepared My Business for a 6-Week Vacation

What if you could step away from your business for six weeks… and everything kept running? For many business owners, even taking a long weekend feels impossible. It’s not because you don't have a great team or you don’t work hard enough. It’s because your business still depends on you for too many decisions. The freedom you’re looking for isn’t found by working harder; it’s built through intentional leadership, clear systems, and a self-managing team. In this episode of the Profit by Design Podcast, Dr. Sabrina Starling shares how she prepared her business for her 6-week vacation—and the lessons every business owner can apply to create more time, more freedom, and a more sustainably profitable business. Imagine signing off for six weeks and returning to a more confident team, a business that’s still growing, and a life that finally feels aligned with why you became an entrepreneur in the first place. Join Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina to learn how to make this dream a reality in your business! Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Dr. Sabrina’s hard rule about “no takebacks” after delegating tasks for her vacation Practical steps of vacation preparations for Dr. Sabrina (How she prepares her team) The key to creating a sustainable business and job stability for your team Focus on key results for team members. Dr. Sabrina’s mandate to her team about using AI for repetitive activities The incredible results our clients are experiencing because of innovation and creativity Melissa’s example of freeing up her time by offloading tasks to others The business owner’s trap: “I am the ONLY one who can do this.” Give your team members more confidence, ownership, and job stability! Ready to discover what’s keeping your business dependent on you? Find out more about our Better Business, Better Life program. Learn how to slash ten hours off your work week! Book a call with Kaitlyn today! Resources: Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment to identify your biggest opportunity to create more time freedom, stronger leadership, and a sustainably profitable business! Work should support your life–not consume it!

July 16, 202623 min

410: The Business is Growing. Is Your Life?

Could your business survive without you for six weeks? For most business owners, the answer is NO. It’s not because they aren’t capable, but because the business has been built to depend on them. If taking a week off feels impossible, it’s a sign that you’re carrying too much of the business on your shoulders. In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Starling shares how she prepared to take a six-week vacation without her business missing a beat. It’s not about working harder before you leave; it’s about building the right systems, developing a self-managing team, and leading in a way that creates true freedom. Imagine coming back from vacation refreshed, instead of returning to chaos, missed opportunities, and a mountain of problems waiting for you. That’s what happens when you intentionally build a business that supports your life. The measure of a healthy business isn’t how hard the owner works, but how well the business performs when the owner steps away. In this episode, you’ll discover why owner dependency is limiting your growth, the leadership shifts that make time away possible, how to build trust and accountability with your team, the systems every business needs before the owner can truly unplug, and why taking extended time away is one of the best tests of a healthy business. Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Dr. Sabrina is on the brink of a six-week vacation! Hear her explain how she prepared. What we are risking when we don’t prioritize vacations “What is your biggest fear if you were away for two weeks?” Melissa’s perspective, as a team member, on Dr. Sabrina’s vacations The #1 reason you should take vacations is so that your team can grow and break their dependency on you. The key to preparing for an extended vacation is to have the right systems in place. “What 20% of my effort gets 80% of my results?” “What 20% of what you do in your life produces 80% of your impact on those you love?” Getting your business shrunk down to size–not taking over your life! Ready to take your life back from your business? Need help knowing where to start? Book a call with Kaitlyn today! Resources: Take the Better Business, Better Life Assessment to identify the next steps toward creating a sustainably profitable business that gives you more time, more freedom, and more peace of mind.

July 9, 202623 min

409: Every Time You Rescue Your Team, You Make the Problem Worse

How many times this week have you answered a question your team could have figured out, fixed a mistake because it was faster, rewritten an email before it went out, or jumped in because you didn't want something done wrong? Most business owners don't realize they're doing it, but every time you rescue your team, you make the problem worse. When you step in and solve a problem your team could solve, you unintentionally train dependency. Ownership isn't built when leaders provide answers. Ownership is built when leaders develop thinkers. Join Kaitlyn Beaver and Dr. Sabrina Starling as they unpack this topic today and offer proven, practical strategies for being the leader your team needs. Join us! Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: The simple truth about business owners and the compulsion to be problem solvers The right leadership skills will help you to NOT over-function. The value in having clear expectations, measurable and monitored results, and accountability on your team Lack of clarity leads the business owner to rescue the team, which creates business owner dependency. Does your team feel safe and supported? Are you holding your team in a place of competence or incompetence? Dr. Sabrina’s examples of leadership skills in action from Tap the Potential clients The cumulative “snowball” effect of a coaching culture Ready to stop rescuing your team? Need help knowing where to start? Book a call with Kaitlyn today! Resources: If you’re listening and realizing that you’ve become the answer for everything, you’re not alone. Most business owners were taught how to work hard, but very few were taught how to coach. That’s exactly why we created Coach Approach. Inside this program, you’ll learn how to: -develop critical thinking -build ownership -create stronger leaders -stop carrying every decision yourself. We will help you identify where dependency is showing up and where ownership is breaking down. Enroll now in Coach Approach and start building a team that thinks, solves problems, and takes ownership without everything routing back to you. Your business should support your life–not require you to carry it every day!

July 2, 202622 min

408: Why Your Team Isn’t Taking Ownership (Even If They’re “Good”)

You’ve hired smart people, so why does it still feel like every question comes back to you? Mistakes keep happening, and your team waits for direction before moving forward. You’re not imagining it, because this scenario is far too common among business owners who build teams but still end up carrying the emotional and operational weight of the business themselves. You hired, trained, delegated, and tried to empower your team. However, it’s exhausting that everything still depends on you, especially for high-performing business owners who genuinely care about doing things well. The truth is, this isn’t usually a hiring problem; it’s a structural ownership problem. Your team may not be underperforming; they may simply be responding to the environment around them. Ownership is built intentionally, and only then can your business become scalable and finally give you some breathing room. In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Starling and Kaitlyn Beaver break down why good employees still struggle to take initiative, the hidden leadership and system gaps creating owner dependency, why delegation alone isn’t fixing the issue, and how to build a team that leads without routing everything back to you. We help business owners build sustainably profitable businesses that support life rather than consume it. Join us! Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential production. Show Highlights: Shifting the dynamic and solving problems at the root instead of putting band-aids on the issues Our Coach Approach program helps you learn to build a coaching culture and a team that takes ownership. Building a mindset around curiosity The goal is for a business owner to say, “I trust my team, and I can delegate to them.” Team members who “come alongside” vs. team members who are “across the desk” In your team members’ emotional bank accounts, are you making more “deposits” or “withdrawals”? (Aim for a 9:1 or at least a 7:1 ratio of deposits to withdrawals.) Ask yourself, “How many problems have I solved in the last two days?” (If it’s more than one, YOU need to be in Coach Approach.) Need help knowing where to start? Book a call with Kaitlyn today! Resources: Ready to stop carrying everything alone? Join our upcoming Free Jumpstart workshop !