I’m getting real with you today and publicly sharing about the most vulnerable time in my life. I’m opening up about my personal story and the hardest season I’ve faced. More importantly, I’m sharing how my team carried me through this time. The real truth is that work isn’t just about business, but it can support your life in ways you never expected.

From this conversation, you’ll gain powerful lessons on leadership, resilience, and the impact of intentional, strategic planning. I want you to be inspired to take action, whether that’s leading differently, building a stronger culture, or setting up your business in a way that truly supports you and your people. You’ll discover the power of a team during life’s hardest moments, how systems allow you to work less and achieve more, and the necessity of a sustainable business model. Join me, Melissa Kay, along with Kaitlyn Beaver, for a closer look at this topic.

Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.

Show Highlights:

• Melissa’s story from two years ago: massive change, heartbreaking loss, and starting over with nothing
• My life today is far above anything I could have ever imagined.
• Our team: We have each other’s backs.
• Supporting each other–and what that looks like in the day-to-day
• Even on a remote team, reaching out regularly can be enough.
• Setting up systems and processes with step-by-step outlines
• Kaitlyn’s #1 tip for getting started with efficient systems
• Taking ONE step in the right direction can move you toward eliminating key team member dependency.
• Delegating more means the business owner can work less.
• Putting systems in place creates wins for you and your team.
• Refining the existing systems in your business
• A sustainable business model begins with a clear, compelling vision.

Resources:

Don’t wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!

Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.

Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!

Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!

Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players’ development and retain your A-players!

Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today!

Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About Profit!

Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book,

Are your A-players on the verge of burnout? As a business leader, it can be easy to overlook the needs of your top performers, assuming that they’ll always push through to get the job done. But what happens when your A-players start to crack under pressure? In this episode, we dive deep into the hidden costs of burnout, including losing your top talent or risking their health. Learn how to foster a work environment that not only helps your team thrive but ensures they have the energy and passion to keep performing at their highest level. Join Melissa Kay and Kaitlyn Beaver as they explore why A-players need other A-players, how to avoid burnout, and the essential steps you can take to build a sustainable, thriving team. Discover why it’s not just about productivity; it's about creating a culture of support, balance, and mutual growth.

Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.

Show Highlights:

• The heartbreaking account of a coaching client facing burnout after 10 long years with no real vacation
• Melissa’s personal story of health issues at her job in 2004—and what happened next
• Being a legacy builder and passing on your vision
• Kaitlyn’s experience in watching her mother and learning harmful life lessons about work
• Being “all in” doesn’t mean having no boundaries around taking care of yourself
• Your children are watching and learning from your relationship with work.
• What A-players need in a sustainable work environment:
• Time for space and rest
• A coaching culture of support, curiosity, and understanding
• Working for a company that cares is EVERYTHING.
• A burned-out team member is not going to show up as an A-player.
• Asking powerful questions can start the process in the right direction.
• The business owner sets the tone and should lead by example.
• Kaitlyn’s advice about learning to rest and recharge
• Investing in team members’ personal goals and celebrating their wins
• An overview of our A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course

Resources:

Don’t wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!

Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.

Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!

Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!

Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players’ development and retain your A-players!

Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today!

Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your...

Today, Dr. Sabrina Starling and Melissa Kay chat about how micromanaging can really hurt employee morale, lead to burnout, and interfere with team efficiency. They talk about how crucial it is to build a workplace where autonomy and trust are front and center, which can boost performance, job satisfaction, and keep employees around longer. They stress that business owners need to get better at delegating so they can focus on the big stuff and give their team members more power and share some practical tips, like using the "10,000 Hour Activity" chart and setting up efficient systems to help listeners get better at delegating and improve their business overall.

Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.

Show Highlights:

The crippling effects of micromanaging:

• Need for constant approval
• A shutdown of creativity
• Second-guessing every move
• Freezing up and burning out
• Stagnancy for the entire team
• The root of micromanaging is inefficient systems.
• Stop being a micromanager! Build your delegation muscles!
• Where to start and what to look for to successfully delegate
• You can become a Delegation Ninja at work AND at home!
• Systems, clear expectations, and guidelines
• Results to expect when you work from your strengths on $ 10,000-an-hour activities as a business owner
• Start assembling your team of A-players today. Check out our How to Hire the Best Course.

Resources:

Don’t wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!

Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.

Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!

Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!

Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players’ development and retain your A-players!

Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today!

Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About Profit!

Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️.

Learn more about our courses, Coach Approach and Leadership Bootcamp at...

Are you a business owner who can fully trust your team–and let go? That’s very different situation from being a business owner who is stuck in the weeds of the day-to-day and can’t be the visionary for their business. Today’s episode is inspired by recent discussions with several business owners in our Better Business Better Life program about freeing up their time to be the visionary for their business. This is what most business owners want, but they struggle to get to the point of “letting go and trusting” their team. Join Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina as they dig deep into your business vision, empowering your team to deliver key results, and how autonomy leads to a greater buy-in and growth on your team.

Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.

Show Highlights:

• Your clear, compelling vision determines the direction of your business (Think of a canvas and a paint-by-numbers project.)
• The key is building trust over time in your competent A-players and allowing them to innovate.
• Dr. Sabrina’s advice to a business owner with gaps and missed opportunities all over the place (Is this you?)
• Creating systems and the space for your sweet spot in serving customers and clients
• Ongoing communication and clear expectations for your A-players
• The value of time blocks for personal development and creative thinking time
• Autonomy creates the buy-in to go along with the business vision and key results—and employee engagement will soar.
• Your next steps to address gaps in communication, delivery, and systems
• Book a call so we can help! Email Kaitlyn today!

Resources:

Don’t wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!

Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.

Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!

Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!

Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players’ development and retain your A-players!

Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today!

Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About Profit!

Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️.

Learn more about our courses, Coach Approach and Leadership Bootcamp at

Today, Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina dive into what it means to "lead with love" in their organization. Melissa shares her appreciation for Dr. Sabrina's supportive way of leading, which focuses on mentoring and creating a healthy work environment. They chat about how important one-on-one meetings are, encouraging vulnerability, and building a culture where everyone feels safe and supported. They also touch on personal growth, tackling perfectionism, and how having a coaching culture positively affects team members and their families.

Dr. Sabrina shares how her unique leadership approach led to a 25-hour work week, stellar team retention, and a work-life balance that benefits EVERYONE.

Tune in to hear how you can bring these practices into your own organization!

Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.

Show Highlights:

• Leading with love is more than just a catchy phrase; learn how Dr. Sabrina puts this core value into practice every day.
• The most pivotal actions for Dr. Sabrina in learning about “the judger pit” (from Change Your Questions, Change Your Life by Marilee Adams) and learning to be curious (from The Coach Approach by Mark Stephens)
• Melissa’s journey—how things have changed for her
• The magic happens in 1:1 meetings with A-players!
• The secret to leading with love comes with insights:
• Relationships are more valuable than any task that needs to be done.
• LOVE really means “Letting Others Voluntarily Evolve.”
• The impact of a coaching culture with a business owner who “leads with love”
• Want this kind of culture at your business? Book a call with us today to find out more!

Resources:

Don’t wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!

Want to know the best attracting and recruiting strategies for small businesses? We can help! Learn more about our How to Hire the Best course.

Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!

Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!

Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players’ development and retain your A-players!

Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today!

Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About Profit!

Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better...

Retaining team A-players on your team can sometimes be difficult. Today, Dr. Sabrina Starling and Melissa Kay delve into the critical topic of retaining high-performing employees, often called "A-players." They’ll highlight the significance of fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes employee growth and development, which is essential for both individual and organizational success. You’ll hear key insights and actionable strategies, providing a comprehensive guide for small business owners looking to enhance employee retention and drive business growth.

Tune in to hear more!

Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.

Show Highlights:

• The key to business growth is retaining A-players.
• A clear, compelling, vivid vision is #1!
• The Tap the Potential Strategic Planner will help you create your vision.
• Difference between a big, hairy, audacious vision and a small vision
• What will you say NO to in order to focus on your big vision?
• The A-player’s ownership in getting the team where they need to go within the vision
• Understanding the “Yes, and” technique and mindset
• Melissa’s take on fostering a coaching culture and building trust
• Dr. Sabrina’s advice to business owners about realizing what’s possible
• The value of 1:1 meetings in a coaching culture
• Learn more about The A-Player Development Plan!

Resources:

Don’t wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!

Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!

Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!

Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players’ development and retain your A-players!

Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today!

Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About Profit!

Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️.

Learn more about our courses, Coach Approach and Leadership Bootcamp at www.tapthepotential.com.

Join the Tap the Potential Community on Mighty Networks: www.tapthepotential.com/group

Download...

You’re in for a treat in today’s episode as Melissa Kay, Lead Strategist at Tap the Potential, interviews Donna Leyens. Donna founded Pumpkin Plan Your Business and has helped thousands of small business owners transform their businesses. Join Melissa and Donna to learn more about marketing that works to attract your ideal clients!

Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.

Show Highlights:

• Donna’s role and current work
• Your marketing must be geared toward attracting your ideal clients.
• Your underlying strategy is about who you are trying to reach.
• The Pumpkin Plan framework to identify your ideal clients:
• Use a Top Client Assessment.
• Narrow down who you are speaking to and understand how to speak to them.
• Results to expect when you tweak your marketing message
• Examples of marketing messages to your ideal client
• Tools create clarity and focus in determining your marketing strategy.
• Donna’s perspective on ONE action that business owners can take today

Resources:

Connect with Donna Leyens: Website (find free resources!) and The Pumpkin Plan book by Mike Michalowicz

Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!

Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!

Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players’ development and retain your A-players!

Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today!

Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About Profit!

Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️.

Learn more about our courses, Coach Approach and Leadership Bootcamp at www.tapthepotential.com.

Join the Tap the Potential Community on Mighty Networks: www.tapthepotential.com/group

Download Dr. Sabrina’s Introductory Training: How to Make Your Time Worth $10,000 an Hour

Mentioned in this episode:

TapthePotential.com/assessment

Would you like to have your own personalized list of...

Your dreams are WHO you are! They are the core essence of your being and the purpose for which you were created. Melissa Kay and Dr. Sabrina Starling share their big dreams from a year ago and what’s happened since then. You’ll hear how they’ve dialed in the action plans for Tap the Potential clients to streamline services and upgrade the quality of the services delivered by Tap the Potential. Join us to learn more about dreaming BIG and aligning your vision with action!

Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production.

Show Highlights:

• Melissa’s big dreams for 2025 as the Dream Manager at Tap the Potential
• The part that dreams play in your business vision
• Melissa’s perspective on aligning action with your vision
• Identifying your dreams with unlimited resources
• Your dreams are WHO you are!
• The value of seeking support in a coaching culture
• How a Quarterly Action Plan helps you “get out of the weeds” and take the next steps on your journey
• Check out the year-long Dream Manager program! Click here to start realizing your BIG dreams! You can also email Melissa for more information.
• A powerful question to kick off 2025: “What do you want to experience in 2025, both in your business and personal life, and how can you align your actions today to make those dreams become a reality?”

Resources:

Don’t wait! Download your Strategic Planning Guide and 2025 Tap the Potential Strategic Planner today!

Retain, grow, and deeply engage your A-players with the Dream Manager Program! The best way to create buy-in from your team members for your vision is to identify how your vision supports them in achieving their dreams. Enroll today!

Become an employer of choice to attract the A-players you want on your team! We are now enrolling for the How to Hire the Best course. Sign up today!

Sign up for the free A-Player Development Plan/Mini-Course. Track your A-players’ development and retain your A-players!

Ready to take your life back from your business? Want more time for what matters most and more money in your bank account than ever? Book a call with us today!

Get your copy of A Guide To Talking To Your Team About Profit!

Master your time and profit! Give us 20 minutes of your time, take the Better Business Better Life Assessment, and receive a free paperback copy of my book, The 4 Week Vacation®️.

Learn more about our courses, Coach Approach and Leadership Bootcamp at www.tapthepotential.com.

Join the Tap the Potential Community on Mighty Networks: www.tapthepotential.com/group

Download Dr. Sabrina’s Introductory Training: How...