What does it take to scale a business without burning out? Samantha Doyle breaks it down, sharing her journey from high-level business acquisitions to building her own strategic coaching practice. We dig into what makes a company valuable, why so many small businesses never sell, and how owners can shift from doing everything to leading with intention.

Scaling isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people. We talk about company culture, why high performers can sometimes be a liability, and how to build a business that runs without the owner. Samantha also shares insights on imposter syndrome, navigating male-dominated spaces, and the power of finding the right support system.

If you’re ready to scale, sell, or create a business that gives you more freedom, this episode is packed with real-world strategies and insights you won’t want to miss.

What happens when a love for trees, a passion for lights, and a heart for people collide? You get Lindsay Lights—a true business misfit who's on a mission to brighten the world in more ways than one. From studying forestry to running a thriving Christmas light installation business, Lindsay shares how grief shaped her purpose, why trees tell a deeper story, and how holiday lights became her way of spreading hope.

In this episode, we dive into the magic of trees, the emotional power of light, and the delicate balance of running a business while staying true to your mission. Lindsay opens up about personal loss, finding resilience, and her dream of building a light-themed park. We also talk about the challenges of networking, following your intuition in business, and why creativity and strategy go hand in hand.

If you've ever felt like you don’t quite fit the mold, this one’s for you. Join us for a heartfelt, inspiring conversation with someone who truly lights up the world.

Running a business with an ADHD brain isn’t about forcing yourself into traditional productivity methods—it’s about creating a structure that actually works for you. For years, I fought against my own brain, feeling overwhelmed by endless ideas, time blindness, and executive dysfunction. No matter how hard I worked, I felt like I was always behind. Everything changed when I stopped trying to fit into systems designed for neurotypical minds and built a business that supported how I actually think.

In this episode, I share how I learned to work with my brain instead of against it. I talk about the power of delegation, how hiring an executive assistant transformed my productivity, and why traditional goal-setting and organization methods don’t always work for neurodivergent entrepreneurs. I break down the systems that keep me moving forward, how I manage my energy instead of just my time, and why true productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about focusing on what truly matters.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, scattered, or stuck in a cycle of unfinished projects, this episode will give you a new way to approach work, delegation, and growth—one that actually fits how your brain works.

What happens when you spend years building a business, sell it for a great exit, and then find yourself asking, now what? That’s exactly what Shawn Day faced after selling his cleaning company, and in this episode, he opens up about the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey.

We dive deep into the evolution from a natural-born salesperson to a business leader, and why recruiting and company culture became his obsession. Shawn shares the hard lessons he learned about hiring—how investing in people can make or break a business, why most business owners focus on marketing but neglect recruitment, and the mindset shift needed to build a team that actually sticks around.

But it’s not just about business mechanics—we also get into the personal side of entrepreneurship. Shawn talks about the struggles of identity loss after selling his company, dealing with ego, and the emotional weight of transitioning from being a workaholic to figuring out what truly matters. He shares insights on overcoming comparison traps, learning to lead with intention, and finding purpose beyond just the grind.

This conversation is raw, real, and packed with wisdom for any business owner who’s ever felt stuck, unsure, or just plain tired of the hiring game. If you want to build a thriving business without burning out, this one’s for you.

What’s it really like to work with a high-energy, visionary entrepreneur? In this episode, Melody pulls back the curtain on her working relationship with Kristine, her executive assistant and collaborator. They dive deep into the challenges of managing a sparkly-brained business owner, and striking a balance between control and delegation.

Kristine shares her journey from joining the company as a virtual assistant to becoming Mel's trusted right-hand partner, revealing how she helps keep Melody on track (even when new ideas are constantly coming). They talk about the cultural differences between the U.S. and the Philippines, the biggest misconceptions about executive assistants, and why trust is the foundation of a truly successful working relationship.

You'll also hear about the challenges of shifting from managing tasks to managing a person, how Kristine learned to push back and set boundaries, and what it takes to transition from support staff to collaborator. Plus, Melody gets real about being a recovering micromanaging, and the systems they use to stay (mostly) sane in a fast-growing business.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes a visionary-executive assistant relationship thrive, how to find (or be) a great EA, or why every business owner needs their own “Melody Manager,” this episode is packed with insight, humor, and honest reflection.

In this episode of Business Misfits, we explore the intersection of ethics, purpose, and profitability in the modern business landscape. How do you stay true to your values when faced with difficult decisions? Can a business prioritize integrity and still achieve sustainable growth? We tackle these pressing questions and share real-world insights to help you align your mission with your bottom line.

From navigating ethical dilemmas to building a culture rooted in trust, we dive deep into the challenges and rewards of leading with authenticity. You’ll hear strategies for fostering meaningful connections with your team, customers, and stakeholders while staying competitive in a fast-paced world.

This conversation is all about empowering you to think differently, challenge the status quo, and embrace the misfit mindset to create a lasting impact—both in your business and beyond.

Mindset Reset: My Journey from Learning to Unlearning

In this episode, Melody discusses the counterintuitive key to growth - unlearning. Melody shares personal experiences, realizations from attending a conference, and tools to help recognize and unlearn old beliefs.

00:30 Information Hoarding

01:04 The Problem with More Knowledge

01:20 The Importance of Unlearning

03:28 Steps to Start Unlearning

04:05 The 'Five Whys' Method

06:18 Practical Exercise

07:29 Ketamine Therapy

09:48 Facing her Fear of Snakes

11:56 Final Thoughts

Melody Edwards is a lifelong entrepreneur with a sparkly brain and a passion for building purpose-driven businesses. Over the past 25 years, she has successfully started, acquired, operated, and sold a variety of unconventional businesses, ultimately leading her to co-found HomeServiceVA.com with her first assistant, Din. Together, they built the company they wished had existed when they first started working together—a virtual assistant matchmaking agency that helps entrepreneurs streamline their operations with effective systems and talented virtual collaborators.

Being diagnosed with ADHD as a young adult changed her life. With newfound insight and understanding, Melody set out to master her brain's unique wiring, creating systems that allowed her to thrive in the "sparkliest" parts of her brain while delegating tasks that drained her. One of the most transformative decisions she made was hiring an Executive Assistant, which expedited her impact by allowing her to focus on the big projects and ideas that energize her.

Through her podcast, The Business Misfits, Melody shares insights from her decades-long business journey and interviews fellow unconventional entrepreneurs to empower others to embrace their inner "Bizfit" and build businesses on their own terms. Her mission is to help purpose-driven business owners craft their path with creativity, intuition, and heart.

Outside of business, Melody is a creative human who loves ALL THE THINGS… friends, AI, singing, bike rides, camping, crafting, ice cream, and building things. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband Matt, their children Sophia and Max, and their dog Shaun.

You can find all her things on www.melodythings.com

All the music you heard on the show today was written and recorded by Melody Edwards.

Hey Bizfit! Let’s Stay Connected

Facebook: @businessmisfits

TikTok: @thebusinessmisfit

Instagram: @homeserviceva

Connect on LinkedIn: @melodysedwards

Find all my things: www.melodythings.com

It's time to sit down with Our Lady of Business, host Melody Edwards, to have her share her entrepreneurial journey as a self-employed technician to systems slaying business owner with all the unique challenges and triumphs she faced along the way. She shares the importance of prompt action in making impactful changes within the business world and how this has played out in her ventures. Listen in as Melody explores the dynamics of sales and marketing, the role of confidence, and the impact of vulnerability on professional perception. Whether you're struggling with niching strategies or seeking to understand different personality types like givers, takers, and matchers, this episode offers valuable insights that can reshape your approach to business and personal growth. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that targets visionary leaders who prioritize ethics and meaningful change. Stay until the end to better understand Melody's vision for this work and how you can play a bigger role in shaping things for the future.

Melody Edwards is a lifelong entrepreneur with a sparkly brain and a passion for building purpose-driven businesses. Over the past 25 years, she has successfully started, acquired, operated, and sold a variety of unconventional businesses, ultimately leading her to co-found HomeServiceVA.com with her first assistant, Din. Together, they built the company they wished had existed when they first started working together—a virtual assistant matchmaking agency that helps entrepreneurs streamline their operations with effective systems and talented virtual collaborators.

Being diagnosed with ADHD as a young adult changed her life. With newfound insight and understanding, Melody set out to master her brain's unique wiring, creating systems that allowed her to thrive in the "sparkliest" parts of her brain while delegating tasks that drained her. One of the most transformative decisions she made was hiring an Executive Assistant, which expedited her impact by allowing her to focus on the big projects and ideas that energize her.

Through her podcast, The Business Misfits, Melody shares insights from her decades-long business journey and interviews fellow unconventional entrepreneurs to empower others to embrace their inner "Bizfit" and build businesses on their own terms. Her mission is to help purpose-driven business owners craft their path with creativity, intuition, and heart.

Outside of business, Melody is a creative human who loves ALL THE THINGS… friends, AI, singing, bike rides, camping, crafting, ice cream, and building things. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband Matt, their children Sophia and Max, and their dog Shaun.

You can find all her things on www.melodythings.com

All the music you heard on the show today was written and recorded by Melody Edwards.

Hey Bizfit! Let’s Stay Connected

Facebook: @businessmisfits

TikTok: @thebusinessmisfit

Instagram: @homeserviceva

Connect on LinkedIn: @melodysedwards

Find all my things: www.melodythings.com