Life, Business and Everything in Between

EP 13: Entrepreneur vs Business Owner - Build Systems That Set You Free | Dr. Collette Portis

In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between, Leslie sits down with Dr. Collette Portis, founder of Red Development Group, for a powerful conversation about authenticity, sustainable systems, and what it really takes to build a business that lasts. Language Note: This episode includes occasional strong language.  Collette shares how her entrepreneurial journey started at age 11, why there’s a difference between being an entrepreneur and being a business owner, and why system-building is the path to freedom. They talk about root-cause problem solving, business assessment, strategy vs implementation, and why getting outside help is not weakness, it’s wisdom. They dig into: * Why identity matters, you are more than your business * The difference between entrepreneurs and business owners (systems = freedom) * How Red Development Group assesses, strategizes, and implements change * The cost of poor structure and a hard lesson in tax debt * Why women often over-serve at their own expense * Getting outside help and learning to trust gut vs heart decisions 🔗 Connect with Dr. Collette Portis: * Email: collette@reddevelopmentgroup.com [colette@reddevelopmentgroup.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colletteportis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/colletteportis/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colletteportis/ [https://www.instagram.com/colletteportis/] Books mentioned: * Drama Free — Nedra Glover Tawwab * Business Secrets of the Bible — Rabbi Lapkin * Outwitting the Devil — Napoleon Hill Keywords: business systems, entrepreneur vs business owner, sustainable growth, implementation, KPIs, leadership, women in business, outside help, consulting, operations

EP 12: Preparing Your Business to Run Without You - Delegation, Data, and Trust | Megan Bond

In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between, Leslie Shields sits down with Megan Bond, owner of Panther City Marketing, for a candid conversation about preparing for maternity leave as a business owner and building a company that can run without you. Megan shares what she’s putting in place before baby arrives, including delegation, reducing approval bottlenecks, and building trust with her team. They also unpack what data-driven marketing really looks like, how to improve lead quality, and why protecting mental health through boundaries is part of building long-term business value. They dig into: * Maternity leave prep as an entrepreneur (and how to plan for a season of reduced capacity) * Delegation, team trust, and removing yourself as the bottleneck * Data-driven marketing decisions and lead quality * Boundaries that protect mental health (and the business) 🔗 Connect with Megan / Panther City Marketing: * Website: https://panthercitydigitalmarketing.com/https://panthercitydigitalmarketing.com [https://panthercitydigitalmarketing.com] * Email: megan@panthercitydigitalmarketing.com [megan@panthercitydigitalmarketing.com] * TikTok / Instagram / Facebook: @panthercitymarketing 🔗 Connect with Leslie Shields / The Shields Agency: * Website: https://www.theshieldsagency.com [https://www.theshieldsagency.com] * Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/]

EP 11: From Solo to a Team of 12: Hiring, Culture, and Client Boundaries | Michelle Crim

In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between, Leslie Shields sits down with Michelle Crim, founder of Dynamic Development Strategies, for a candid conversation about scaling a consulting business, building a healthy team culture, and setting boundaries that prevent burnout. Michelle shares her unexpected launch story, including how a major health crisis became the catalyst for starting her firm, and how she grew from a solo consultant to a team of twelve. They talk documentation and workflows, hiring intentionally, working across generations, client expectations, and the “not sexy” parts of entrepreneurship like financial anxiety and mental resilience. They dig into: * Launching a business during a personal health crisis (and why it worked) * Scaling from solo to a team of 12, including retired and part-time talent * Documentation, policies, and remote-work guidelines that keep teams aligned * Client boundaries: their crisis is not your emergency * Defining success beyond revenue: impact, team satisfaction, and fulfillment 🔗 Connect with Michelle Crim: * Website: https://www.dynamicdevelopmentstrategies.com/ [https://www.dynamicdevelopmentstrategies.com/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellecrimm/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellecrim/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellecrim/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleWestCrim [https://www.facebook.com/MichelleWestCrim] 🔗 Connect with Leslie Shields: * Website: https://www.theshieldsagency.com [https://www.theshieldsagency.com] * Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/] Keywords: nonprofit consulting, fundraising, entrepreneurship, hiring, scaling a service business, company culture, remote work, client boundaries, burnout prevention, Fort Worth, North Texas

EP 10: When Life Shifts and Business Doesn’t Pause - Resilience and Leadership | Tamara Carlen

What happens when your personal foundation changes and your business doesn’t pause? In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between, Leslie Shields welcomes back Tamara Carlen, founder of Ensemble Coworking, for a raw and honest conversation about leading through divorce, identity shifts, and grief. Tamara shares what it looked like to walk through a divorce after nearly three decades of marriage while continuing to run her business. They talk about self-care that actually regulates your nervous system, shifting leadership energy, vulnerability, and redefining success as alignment and peace instead of nonstop growth. Key Takeaways: * Big life disruptions change how you lead, even when business can’t pause * Nervous system regulation is a leadership tool, not a luxury * Softness and vulnerability can strengthen leadership and client connection * “Rooted and aligned” becomes your decision filter * Redefine success around peace and intention, not constant growth Connect with Tamara: * https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetamaracarlen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetamaracarlen/] * https://www.ensemblecoworking.com [https://www.ensemblecoworking.com] Connect with Leslie / The Shields Agency: * https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/] * https://www.theshieldsagency.com [https://www.theshieldsagency.com]

Bonus Episode: Community + Resources That Help You Scale | Tamara Carlen

Bonus note: This is a throwback conversation recorded in April 2025 (from our Facebook Live days), with the most timeless clips pulled for today. If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsure where to find business support, or like you’re building alone, this episode is for you. Leslie revisits key insights from a 2025 conversation with Tamara Carlen, focused on how entrepreneurs can leverage community resources, navigate funding options, and reframe the mindset around debt and profitability. You’ll hear clips on: * Ensemble’s mission and the power of community + collaboration * What Sparkyard is and how it connects entrepreneurs to resources * Practical tools at the Fort Worth Library and Tarrant County College * Why debt isn’t automatically failure * How funding helps you scale * Cash flow realities: payroll timing + why a line of credit protects your business Connect with Tamara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetamaracarlen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetamaracarlen/] https://www.ensemblecoworking.com [https://www.ensemblecoworking.com] Connect with Leslie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/] https://www.theshieldsagency.com [https://www.theshieldsagency.com]