The Inspired Entrepreneur

You Don't Need More Strategy - You Need More Play

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/fan_mail/new] Season 3 Episode 7 | You Don't Need More Strategy - You Need More Play Welcome home, inspired entrepreneurs. In the relentless pursuit of growth, we have been conditioned to believe that rest is a reward and play is a luxury. We push harder, optimize longer, and build cultures around a dangerous, unspoken ideology: that continuous, grinding work is the only path to scale. But what if the very thing you are stripping out of your calendar is the exact catalyst you need for your next breakthrough? In this episode, we're joined by Mia Sundstrom, CEO of the National Institute for Play. As a former Division 1 gymnast and granddaughter of play researcher Dr. Stuart Brown, Mia dismantles the myth that playfulness opposes professionalism. This conversation is a wake-up call for "go-mode" founders, proving true innovation can't be forced—it must be played with. *In This Episode, Mia Opens Up About:* *- The Biological Imperative: *How her grandfather’s study of mass murderers revealed that play is not a learned behavior, but an ancient, sub-cortical necessity embedded in our brains—just like our need for oxygen and sleep. *- The High-Achiever’s Trap:* The pivotal realization during her gymnastics career that holding onto outcome-driven pressure was slowly stamping out the joy, and how letting go of the metrics unlocked her greatest freedom. *- Escapism vs. True Play:* A vital framework for distinguishing the deep, state-altering power of authentic play from the numbing, long-term detriments of social media and addiction. *- The Paradox of Serious Play:* Why granting yourself the permission to be silly and laugh at your mistakes is the most potent, psychologically safe way to command respect and ground your team. *🔗 Connect with Mia Sundstrom * Website: https://www.nifplaystore.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playinstitute/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-national-institute-for-play/posts/?feedView=all YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@NI-FPlay 📘 Featured Resource: The Play Journal We have a brand-new Play Journal that includes 90 days of reflection and practice to help you create healthy, sustainable habits around play. Grab yours here: https://www.nifplaystore.org/ *𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬:* Website: www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett *✨ Ready to Build with Intention?* If you are ready to stop circling the same problems and actually shift what’s underneath them, let's move past the surface. *👉 Discover Your Path:* Take The Aligned Pathway Assessment tool: https://www.inspiredbusinessperformance.com/assesment-page *👉 Dive Deeper:* Visit our Alignment Lab for more resources: https://www.inspiredbusinessperformance.com/alignment-lab ✨ 𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒓𝒔! ✨ Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBea Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/support] Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBeat.com / Shutterstock Canada, ULC Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult qualified experts for medical, legal, mental health, or business matters.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬: Website :www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett

Season 3 Episode 6 | You’re Not Running Your Business—Your Past Is

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/fan_mail/new] Welcome home, inspired entrepreneurs. Success in business is often framed as a lack of discipline, the wrong strategy, or needing to "try harder." But if you are doing the work and not seeing the results you know are possible, we need to look deeper. In this episode we explore If your business isn't working the way you want it to, perhaps it’s not the business. Perhaps it’s you. In This Episode, Deborah Explores: * The Safety Mechanism * The Sneakiness of Avoidance * The Identity Ceiling * The Bike and the Bond Featured in The Founder's Pulse: Eric Cruz - Progressive Health & Performance  https://www.instagram.com/progressive_hp/ https://www.facebook.com/progressivehealthperformance [https://www.facebook.com/progressivehealthperformance]   Vivian Welch Vivians IO https://www.facebook.com/Vivians.AI.CRM [https://www.facebook.com/Vivians.AI.CRM] Instagraminstagram.com/vivians.io [https://www.instagram.com/vivians.io/]  Zachary Bach. Real Estate Agent  Instagraminstagram.com/zbhomes [https://www.instagram.com/zbhomes] www.facebook.com/Zacharywjbach [https://www.facebook.com/Zacharywjbach]   Vincent Shields Epic Dog Academy.  linktr.ee/epicdogacademy [http://linktr.ee/epicdogacademy] Instagraminstagram.com/epicdogacademy [https://www.instagram.com/epicdogacademy/] Faceookfacebook.com/epicdogacademy [https://www.facebook.com/epicdogacademy] Elyse Montanez - Life Of The Barty  https://www.facebook.com/lifeoftheBARty [https://www.facebook.com/lifeoftheBARty] Instagraminstagram.com/lifeofthebarty [https://www.instagram.com/lifeofthebarty/]   🔗 Connect with Us:  Website: www.inspired-bp.com [https://www.inspired-bp.com/] The Alignment Lab: https://www.inspiredbusinessperformance.com/alignment-lab [https://www.inspiredbusinessperformance.com/alignment-lab] Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance  Facebook: @deborahannhartnett   ✨ Ready to Build with Intention? If you are ready to stop circling the same problems and actually shift what’s underneath them, let's move past the surface. Join us in the Alignment Lab to practice aligned action in real-time. ✨ 𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒓𝒔! ✨ Disclaimer: The Inspired Entrepreneur podcast and content posted by Deborah Hartnett is presented solely for general information, educational, and inspirational purposes. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis or treatment. Users should seek the assistance of qualified professionals for any such conditions or decisions. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/support] Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBeat.com / Shutterstock Canada, ULC Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult qualified experts for medical, legal, mental health, or business matters.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬: Website :www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett

Season 3 Episode 5 | The Inner Work of Leadership: Why You Can’t Scale What You Won’t Face

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/fan_mail/new] Welcome home, inspired entrepreneurs. In this powerful episode, we are joined by Dr. Jason Branch—executive performance coach, licensed therapist, and creator of the 3 Parallels framework. Dr. Jay specializes in taking leaders where they most fear to go: into "the basement." This conversation is a roadmap for the high-achiever who has realized that the very strengths that got them here are the same ones preventing them from getting there. 🧠 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🔹 The "Basement" Rule: Why you are required to deal with your own "stuff" so you don’t project it onto your team.  🔹 Why the "Old Self" Screams: How perfectionism and past patterns drown out the "whisper" of your future self.  🔹 The Three Indicators of Business Friction: How to diagnose if you have a systems issue, a process issue, or a people issue.  🔹 Identity Death: What specific parts of a founder’s identity must die for the next level of leadership to emerge.  🔹 The 16-Second Shift: Why presence is the ultimate tool for breaking through neuro-pathway "walls."  🔹 Gator University: The mission behind decolonizing leadership and creating spaces for true self-mastery. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Jason Branch * Website: www.DrJbranch.com [http://www.drjbranch.com] * Community: Gator University [https://www.skool.com/gator-university-1745/about] * Podcast: The 3 Parallels Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@3ParallelsPodcast] * Social: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-branch-phd-lpc-acs-2b318621/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dr.jasonbranch/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jason.branch06/] 🔗 Connect with Us: * Website: www.inspired-bp.com [http://www.inspired-bp.com] * Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/inspiredbusinessperformance] * Facebook: @deborahannhartnett [https://www.facebook.com/deborahannhartnett] ✨ Ready to Build with Intention? If you are ready to stop circling the same problems and actually shift what’s underneath them, let's move past the surface. 👉 The Alignment Lab: A space for founders to practice aligned action in real-time. Join the Lab [https://bit.ly/inspiredprofitandgrowthaccelerator] 👉 One-to-One Coaching: High-touch, direct work for leaders ready to face their "basement." Only 15 spots available annually; 4 currently remaining. ✨ 𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒓𝒔! ✨ Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/support] Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBeat.com / Shutterstock Canada, ULC Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult qualified experts for medical, legal, mental health, or business matters.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬: Website :www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett

Season 3 Episode 4 | From Busy to Aligned: The Real Path To Scaling Your Business

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/fan_mail/new] You know what no one tells you about building a business? You can be working all day… and still not be moving anything forward. Your calendar is full. Your mind is busy. Your to-do list never ends.  But underneath it all is the question: Is this actually working? In this episode, Deborah Hartnett unpacks one of the most common challenges founders face—being constantly busy, yet deeply misaligned. Because businesses don’t stall from lack of effort… they stall from lack of alignment. Episode Summary In this grounding conversation, Deborah explores the difference between activity and aligned action—why so many founders feel stuck not because they’re doing too little, but because their energy and focus are fragmented. Blending science, strategy, and real founder insights, she reveals how cognitive overload, task-switching, and reactive decisions quietly drain clarity, creativity, and momentum. Through the Founder Pulse segment, entrepreneurs echo the same truth: growth doesn’t come from doing more, but from simplifying and aligning what matters most. In This Episode, We Explore: • Busy vs. Aligned — why productivity doesn’t always equal progress • Cognitive Overload — how fragmentation impacts performance  • The Illusion of Momentum — why “doing more” can still keep you stuck • Founder Identity — when busyness becomes self-worth • Scaling Through Simplicity — why less often scales better • Aligned Decision-Making — focusing on what truly matters • Structure + Soul — balancing systems with values • The Maturity Shift — moving from urgency to intentional leadership Founder Pulse Segment Featuring: Nancyrose Hernandez 🌐 Employment Law Attorney & Business Owner [https://nrhlawoffice.com/]📱 Facebook: @lawofficeofnancyrosehernandez 📸 Instagram: @lawofficeofnancyrosehernandez Abel Dominguez 🌐 Temecula Valley Junk Pickup & Victory Dumpster Rentals [https://www.temeculajunk.com/]📱 Facebook: @TemeculaValleyJunkPickUp 📸 Instagram: @temeculavalleyjunkpickup Alex Kowalkoski 🌐 Prime Media Consulting [https://primemediaconsulting.com/]📱 Facebook: @PrimeMediaConsulting 📸 Instagram: @primemediaconsultinginc Julie Seal-Gaustad 🌐 JSG Action Coach [https://jsgactioncoach.com/]📱 Facebook: @JSGActionCoach 📸 Instagram: @jsgactioncoach Robert Welsh 🌐 Vivians.io [https://www.vivians.io/]📱 Facebook: @Vivians.AI.CRM 📸 Instagram: @vivians.io Scaling Through Simplicity: Simple scales better than complexity. Aligned Decision-Making: Focus on what truly matters most. Structure + Soul: Align systems with your values. The Maturity Shift: Choose intentional over urgent. #ConsciousLeadership #FounderIdentity #BusinessStrategy #AlignedGrowth #EntrepreneurMin Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/support] Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBeat.com / Shutterstock Canada, ULC Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult qualified experts for medical, legal, mental health, or business matters.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬: Website :www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett

Season 3 Episode 3 | Why Most Businesses Stay Stuck: The Basics Founders Skip (with Heidi Luerra)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/fan_mail/new] You’ve probably heard the advice: bootstrap your business. And you’ve probably also heard: raise capital and scale fast. But what many founders struggle with is knowing which path is right for them. In this episode of The Inspired Entrepreneur Podcast, Deborah Hartnett sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and startup advisor Heidi Luerra to explore the real differences between bootstrapping and raising investment—and the business fundamentals founders often overlook. Drawing from more than two decades of entrepreneurial experience, Heidi shares what it takes to build a company from the ground up, the lessons she learned growing RAW Artists Inc. from her kitchen table into an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company, and why strong business fundamentals matter before pursuing funding. 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝗪𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲: Bootstrapping vs. Raising Capital Key differences between building with your own resources and bringing in outside investors. The Reality of Building from Zero Heidi’s journey growing RAW Artists from a kitchen-table idea into a global company. Founder Fundamentals Why understanding business operations, sales, and development matters before raising funding. The Investor Perspective What angel investors look for when evaluating startups. Democratizing Access to Funding How platforms like Cherub help connect founders with investors. Resilience in Entrepreneurship The mindset founders need to build and sustain successful companies. About Our Guest Heidi Luerra is a bootstrapping founder, startup advisor, angel investor, and speaker focused on entrepreneurship, fundraising, and business development. She built RAW Artists Inc. from $0 into a multi-million-dollar company with 65 employees and four global offices, earning recognition on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list. She now serves as VP of Community & Partnerships at Cherub, helping connect fundraising founders with angel investors and expand access to funding opportunities. Connect with Heidi Website www.HeidiLuerra.com [http://www.HeidiLuerra.com] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/heidiluerra/ [https://www.instagram.com/heidiluerra/] LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiluerra/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiluerra/] Newsletter Building Bold — A No-Nonsense Newsletter for Bootstrappers https://heidiluerra.substack.com [https://heidiluerra.substack.com]  #InspiredEntrepreneur, #Entrepreneurship, #StartupFounders, #Bootstrapping, #StartupFunding, #AngelInvesting, #BusinessGrowth, #FounderJourney, #InspiredEntrepreneurPodcast  ✨ Remember to like, subscribe, and share this episode with fellow entrepreneurs! ✨ Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2469350/support] Music Credit:  “Who I’ve Always Been” by Beza, licensed via PremiumBeat (License #7089927, Order #5573317) © PremiumBeat.com / Shutterstock Canada, ULC Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult qualified experts for medical, legal, mental health, or business matters.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬: Website :www.inspired-bp.com Instagram: @inspiredbusinessperformance Facebook: @deborahannhartnett