Stop Running on Empty and Start Leading with Intention

Is your calendar jammed but your business still feels stalled? In this episode of CEO Amplify, I break down the real reason your time feels hijacked and how to reclaim it.

You’ll learn why productivity hacks aren’t cutting it, how to stop being the bottleneck in your own business, and the exact shifts I walk my clients through to reclaim 5–10 hours a week without losing revenue.

If you’ve been stuck in operator mode, this is your wake-up call to lead with intention and design a calendar that reflects your vision, not your inbox.

• Why “busy” isn’t the same as business growth

• The hidden cost of a chaotic calendar

• Why productivity tools aren’t buying back your time

• How to stop being the bottleneck in your business

• The 5-part CEO Time Shift framework I use with my clients

• What really happens when you start protecting your white space

• How to shift from reaction mode to confident, strategic leadership

• Book a 1:1 session to reclaim your CEO time: Focus & Freedom Session

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow business owner who’s ready to stop running on empty. And if you’re ready to finally reclaim your time, book a private session with me and let’s make your calendar reflect the CEO you’re becoming.

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Enjoyed this episode? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to rate and leave a review. Your feedback not only means the world to me, but it also helps us reach more entrepreneurs like yourself who are ready to amplify their businesses.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Let’s continue the conversation:

• Email: donna@ceoamplify.ca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.dube.96
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-dube/
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Discover how to break free from busywork, reclaim your CEO role, and scale your small business without burning out.

Do you ever finish the day exhausted but realize nothing you did actually grew your business? That’s the trap of busywork and it’s keeping too many small business owners stuck.

In this episode of the CEO Amplify Podcast, I share:

• Why our brains get addicted to busywork and shallow tasks.

• The hidden costs of busywork: time, energy, confidence, and even revenue.

• The Cut, Keep, Delegate framework to finally reclaim your CEO role.

• Practical steps to free up hours each week for growth and strategy.

If you’re ready to grow your business without burning out, this conversation will help you shift from being your own bottleneck to being the leader your business needs.

Resources & Links:

• ✅ Download the free CEO Power Hour Playbook

• ✅ Book your free Focus & Freedom Call

Enjoyed this episode? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to rate and leave a review. Your feedback not only means the world to me, but it also helps us reach more entrepreneurs like yourself who are ready to amplify their businesses.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Let’s continue the conversation:

• Email: donna@ceoamplify.ca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.dube.96
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-dube/
• Subscribe to my email newsletter: https://ceoamplify.ca/#kedit_nbhts40zi

Ever feel like your day gets hijacked by everyone else’s “urgent” requests and your real priorities get pushed to tomorrow (again)? You’re not failing, it's just that you’re stuck in reaction mode. In this episode, I’m sharing my Relief Method, a 3-step, brain-based prioritization framework that helps you cut the chaos, calm your nervous system, and protect the projects that actually move your business forward.

We’ll break down:

• Why your brain tricks you into chasing low-impact tasks

• The science behind why everything feels urgent (even when it’s not)

• My Pause → Prioritize → Protect method to reclaim your time

• Real-life scenarios where urgency derails your day (and how to respond instead)

• How to set simple micro-boundaries that reduce stress for you and your team

🔧 Want to go deeper?
Grab the CEO Power Hour Playbook a free resource to help you protect just one hour a week for deep, needle-moving work. 👉 Download it here

If running your business feels like juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle, workflow automation might be the fire extinguisher you need. I’m breaking down small business workflow automation in plain English, so you can cut the busywork, keep clients happy, and focus on growth.

This isn’t about replacing people with robots. It’s about making your business work smarter so you can lead with calm instead of chaos. Even if you’re a solo entrepreneur or have a small team, automation can give you back hours every week and protect your mental bandwidth.

• The true cost of not automating (hint: it’s more than just wasted time)

• The difference between automation vs. delegation and why you need both

• A 3-level framework for automation that keeps things simple and scalable

• How to use the Rinse and Repeat Rule to spot tasks you should automate first

• The tech audit approach to avoid overwhelm and tool overload

• Common myths and mistakes about automation (and how to avoid them)

• How to calculate the ROI of automation so you know it’s worth the effort

• Eight quick wins you can automate this week to save hours instantly

Too many business owners are building bigger hamster wheels for themselves. Without automation, every repetitive task drains your time, slows response times, and adds stress. With the right systems in place, you can free up energy for strategy, growth, and the meaningful work only you can do.

• Book a Focus and Freedom Call to map out what to automate first.

• Free resource: CEO Power Hour Playbook

Start small, start simple, and build layer by layer. Small business workflow automation isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing less of the wrong things so you have more capacity for the right things.

Enjoyed this episode? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to rate and leave a review. Your feedback not only means the world to me, but it also helps us reach more entrepreneurs like yourself who are ready to amplify their businesses.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Let’s continue the conversation:

• Email: donna@ceoamplify.ca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.dube.96
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-dube/
• Subscribe to my email newsletter: https://ceoamplify.ca/#kedit_nbhts40zi

If your business is growing but you’re feeling more pressure than peace, you’re not alone and you’re not doing it wrong. In this episode, we’re talking about what scaling without burnout actually looks like for small business owners, and why a Fractional Director of Operations (DOO) might be the missing piece between your vision and sustainable growth.

You’ll learn:

• The real meaning of scaling (and why it’s not just about making more money)

• How to know if you’re ready for a strategic partner in your business

• The difference between a DOO, a VA, and an OBM

• Five ways a DOO helps you grow without adding more to your plate

• A real client case study showing what’s possible when you stop doing it all yourself

If you’re stuck in the day-to-day, juggling team questions, tech fires, and endless decision-making, this conversation will show you how to protect your time, energy, and vision while still growing your business.

📌 Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Book your Focus & Freedom Call: https://tidycal.com/ceoamplify/focus-and-freedom-roadmap-session

• Related episode: 5 Ways to Conquer Overwhelm in Your Small Business

• Related episode: How Small Business Systems Simplify Growth and Make Scaling Sustainable

Enjoyed this episode? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to rate and leave a review. Your feedback not only means the world to me, but it also helps us reach more entrepreneurs like yourself who are ready to amplify their businesses.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Let’s continue the conversation:

• Email: donna@ceoamplify.ca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.dube.96
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-dube/
• Subscribe to my email newsletter: https://ceoamplify.ca/#kedit_nbhts40zi

Workflow optimization isn’t just for massive corporations. As a small business owner, your time is your most precious resource. If you’re constantly putting out fires, chasing deadlines, or redoing tasks that should’ve been smooth, you don’t need more time. You need better workflows. When your systems are messy, outdated, or non-existent, everything feels harder than it should. Today, I’m breaking down five workflow optimization fixes that can free up hours each week, reduce team friction, and help you scale without burning out.

Want expert help streamlining your business operations? If you’re tired of juggling systems and want someone to come in, clean it up, and help you build a business foundation that scales—book an Operations Strategy Call. We’ll audit your current workflows, spot the inefficiencies, and create a plan that saves you hours (and headaches) every week. www.ceoamplify.ca/ops

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Enjoyed this episode? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to rate and leave a review. Your feedback not only means the world to me, but it also helps us reach more entrepreneurs like yourself who are ready to amplify their businesses.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Let’s continue the conversation:
Email: donna@ceoamplify.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.dube.96
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-dube/
Subscribe to my email newsletter: https://ceoamplify.ca/#kedit_nbhts40zi

Losing a team member is frustrating, exhausting, and expensive. For small business owners, keeping your best people is essential if you want to grow sustainably without burning out. To avoid losing trust and momentum when a team member leaves, you don't have to offer expensive perks - instead, build a culture that makes people want to stay working with you. Today, we'll go over 5 strategies to motivate and retain your team members without spending money. Even better, these procedures will help your team members stay clear on your mission.

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Enjoyed this episode? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to rate and leave a review. Your feedback not only means the world to me, but it also helps us reach more entrepreneurs like yourself who are ready to amplify their businesses.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Let’s continue the conversation:
Email: donna@ceoamplify.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.dube.96
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-dube/
Subscribe to my email newsletter: https://ceoamplify.ca/#kedit_nbhts40zi

Every small business owner faces tough choices when it comes to investing money back into their business. Maybe you’ve found yourself staring at a tempting coaching program, a shiny new software tool, or that “limited time” offer that promises growth, but you’re unsure if it’s really worth it. Today, we’ll break down the best way to make these investment decisions with confidence, no panic, and no wasted dollars. I’ll share a simple but powerful rule I live by, how your business stage changes what investments make sense, and even a personal story that might save you from buyer’s remorse. Whether you’re just getting started or scaling toward consistent six figures, this guide will help you spend smarter so your business grows sustainably.

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Enjoyed this episode? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to rate and leave a review. Your feedback not only means the world to me, but it also helps us reach more entrepreneurs like yourself who are ready to amplify their businesses.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Let’s continue the conversation:
Email: donna@ceoamplify.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.dube.96
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-dube/
Subscribe to my email newsletter: https://ceoamplify.ca/#kedit_nbhts40zi