The Superabound Podcast

352: Creating a life most only dream of (Part 2 with Tricia Dempsey)

If you have ever wondered why your business feels heavier than it "should," this conversation will give you a clean reframe: your energy is not a nice-to-have. It is the primary asset. Erin Aquin and Tricia Dempsey unpack what it looks like to protect that asset with real boundaries and real systems, so the business can grow without costing you your health, your relationships, or your joy. In Part 2 of their conversation, you will hear a candid behind-the-scenes story about what happens when boundaries slip, and why the answer is not to be tougher. It is to design support structures that serve people well without asking the founder to be endlessly available. This is a conversation about building a business that protects your life, not one that consumes it. What you will learn: * Why founder energy is often the real bottleneck, and why pushing through is rarely the right solution * How to reset boundaries without becoming less generous, less caring, or less customer-centric * A practical way to think about saying no as simultaneously saying "yes" to the Vision you are building toward * Why strong boundaries are easier to hold when you have multiple support pathways (systems, team, and clear containers) instead of relying on heroic founder effort * How to treat your clients like capable adults, and why that respect changes the quality of people you attract Featured Resources: * Learn more about Tricia and her work at ThriveHive [https://www.jointhrivehive.com/] If today's conversation lit something up for you, Erin can help you create the mindset, strategy, and structure to build a business that supports the life you want. Learn more about coaching with Erin at besuperabound.com/consultation Enjoyed the show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps other creative entrepreneurs find the show!

351: Creating a life most only dream of (Part 1 of my conversation with Tricia Dempsey)

If you have ever wondered whether leaving an employer is too risky, this conversation will help you map a practical path toward building a business that supports the life you want. Join Erin as she sits down with Tricia Dempsey of ThriveHive [https://www.jointhrivehive.com/] to unpack what it really takes to build a lean, purpose-aligned business that creates meaningful impact, stable income, and more freedom. The best part is Tricia did it all without recreating the same old corporate model with different wallpaper. In this episode, you will learn * Why relying on one employer can be the riskiest model for anyone * What it takes to avoid building a business that feels like a repeat of your last job, and how to build around energy, purpose, and capacity. * How Tricia runs a high-impact company with a lean team using systems, clear ownership, and weekly rhythms. * What it looks like to evolve as a leader, from doing everything yourself to building an effective team that you can trust. Who this episode is for * Business owners and consultants who want a more sustainable model, (including even taking Fridays off). * Corporate leaders considering a move into consulting or entrepreneurship. * Anyone who wants systems and leadership practices that support growth without burnout. Featured Resources: * Learn more about Tricia and her work at ThriveHive [https://www.jointhrivehive.com/] If today's conversation lit something up for you, Erin can help you create the mindset, strategy, and structure to build a business that supports the life you want. Learn more about coaching with Erin at besuperabound.com/consultation [../../consultation] Enjoyed the show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps other creative entrepreneurs find the show!

350: How Not to Settle in Your Business

Are you putting up with "fine" when you really want "fantastic"? In this episode, Erin and Steve explore why business owners tend to settle and, more importantly, how to stop. With AI and new tech making high-level work more accessible than ever, there's just no reason to stay stuck in situations that drain your energy (and your bank account). We're helping you get clear on the signs that you've started settling—from the vendor who never quite delivers to the employee you wish would leave. What we're talking about: * How to spot those excuses you've been making for underperformance. * How building our own course library gave us the freedom to finally ditch a subpar service provider. * Why you don't have to settle for team members who are weighing you down. Featured Resources: * Superabound Course Library: Want to see the platform Steve (and Codex) built that gave Erin and Steve the freedom to upgrade their business? Check it out at CoursesForCreatives.com [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.coursesforcreatives.com&authuser=2] . * The Superabound Book Bonuses: See the course platform from the inside as you get the bonuses to their book Superabound at besuperabound.com [https://besuperabound.com/book]/book [https://besuperabound.com/book]. Enjoyed the show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps other creative entrepreneurs find the show!

349: How to Spot and Stop Early-Stage Burnout

If you have ever looked "fine" on the outside while feeling fried, foggy, or oddly disconnected from the business you used to love, this episode is for you. Early-stage burnout rarely announces itself. It shows up as low-grade anxiety, constant firefighting, and a calendar packed with things that do not actually move you toward your Vision. In this conversation, Erin and Steve name the real root of early-stage burnout: it is often not the number of things you are doing. It is the number of non–Vision-aligned things you are doing. You will discover: * Why burnout can start before you look "overwhelmed" on paper. * How the Goal Swamp keeps you productive without feeling fulfilled. * What "Static" is, and how to treat it like wisdom instead of a problem to eliminate. * Why the first signs of burnout are often spotted by the people closest to you. * The leadership skill nobody teaches: protecting your time and energy like it is sacred. You do not need to wait for a breakdown to change your week. You can spot early-stage burnout sooner, name what is actually happening, and make decisions that protect your life and your business. Resources mentioned: Your Best Week For more support on stopping early stage burnout in your life, get Your Best Week [https://besuperabound.com/bestweek], a five-day on-demand class designed for busy leaders and business owners who want their work to be supported by their life, not the other way around. If you have been telling yourself, "I just need to push through," this is your interruption. Your Vision is allowed to lead again.

348: Leading with Vision — Part 2 of My Conversation with Annyse Balkwill of LuminUS Group

In this powerful continuation of my conversation with Annyse Balkwill, we dive deep into what it actually takes to leave the corporate world behind and build a business aligned with your Vision, and not someone else's template. Annyse shares the raw truth about her transition: the crying in the fetal position, the three months of no work, and the moment her mentor threw her into the deep end with her first facilitation. Annyse's story is the real journey of building something meaningful while everyone around you questions your sanity. What We Explore * The breaking up that comes with breaking free: Why leaving corporate life means losing parts of your identity and how to navigate that grief * The entrepreneurial muscles you actually need. Spoiler: it's not just confidence. It's stubbornness, humility, and the ability to hold a Vision no one else can see yet * The mantra that built a business: How "I show up and do good work and good work will follow" became Annyse's entire strategy (and why that's more powerful than any marketing plan) * Why purpose-first business isn't optional: The connection between loving the humans you work with and building genuine commercial success * The water crisis no one's talking about: Why aging infrastructure and the need for visionary women leaders in water are interconnected challenges * What transformation actually looks like: Why entrepreneurship isn't something to master but a practice that reveals who you're capable of becoming About Annyse Balkwill Annyse built her career in the water industry for over two decades as a chemical engineer, designing water treatment plants globally and serving as a global product manager at GE Water & Process Technologies. Ten years ago, she founded LuminUS Group Management Consulting Inc. to impact the industry at a broader level, working with leadership teams to unlock potential and create conscious cultures that propel meaningful action. Through coaching, facilitation, and experiential learning, Annyse and her team help clients transform businesses, integrate teams post-acquisition, and build the visioning and storytelling skills imperative for creating sustainable momentum. She hosts Meaningful Conversations with Annyse, a podcast elevating women's voices in the water sector, and believes that investing in women for leadership roles is essential to meeting the significant challenges the industry faces. This Episode Is For You If * You're considering leaving corporate life but terrified of what comes next * You've already made the leap and need reassurance that the fear and uncertainty are part of the path * You want to build a business rooted in genuine relationships rather than marketing tactics * You're curious about how purpose and profit actually work together in practice * You believe business should be a spiritual practice, not just a revenue generator Resources: * Connect with Annyse and learn more about LuminUS Group at www.luminusgroup.ca [http://www.luminusgroup.ca/] * Listen to the podcast: Meaningful Conversations with Annyse [https://www.luminusgroup.ca/podcast] * Purchase the LuminUS deck at www.luminusgroup.ca/shop [https://www.luminusgroup.ca/shop] Listen now to hear how Annyse turned her intention into reality, and why the journey never stops asking you to grow.