Business Blasphemy

Business Blasphemy

Sarah Khan, Chief Ease Officer, is calling B.S. on the hustle-focused status quo of online entrepreneurship and getting real about what it takes to grow a business that doesn't become a statistic. In each episode, Sarah helps navigate the rampant B.S. that permeates business strategy, marketing, operations, and mindset that has business owners hustling and pivoting themselves into burnout. She cuts through the noise and gives you guidance on how to view the status quo with a more discerning eye. If you're ready for success without the B.S., buckle up for hard truths, fun rants, terrible puns and (more than) the occasional curse word.

Episodes

September 26, 2023 25 mins

Have you ever found yourself in a busy networking event, feeling drained and disconnected as you attempt to navigate the sea of pitches and self-promotion?

That's where I found myself recently, moderating a panel for a local Women's Enterprise Centre event. As an introvert, I was anticipating the usual energy suck. But instead, I found myself energized, and it set off a light bulb moment. Networking (aka connecti...

Mark as Played

Have you ever wondered how our digital age's obsession with instant gratification is impacting our businesses, our goals, and our patience? 

This week I take a quick look at the change technology has wrought and how it's influencing our expectations in life and in biz. I share my philosophy on the concept of "active patience," a practice that combines consistent efforts towards our goals while understan...

Mark as Played

Have you ever had a business contract abruptly terminated by a client without any warning? I've been there, and it's a gut-wrenching experience that leaves you pissed off, inconvenienced, and questioning yourself. 

So, I decided to reach out to others in the business world to hear their tales of "Clients Behaving Badly." The response was astounding, with stories that opened up a Pandora's box of si...

Mark as Played

Do you ever wonder why it's so hard for high achievers to shift their mindset? And why traditional mindset coaching methods aren't always the best approach to growth?

In this very candid episode, I talk to Marianne Smith (Daugherty), a psychotherapist and trauma trained therapist all about nervous system regulation and how dysregulation impacts high achieving entrepreneurs, CEOs, and founders.

Drawing fr...

Mark as Played

As the scent of fresh notebooks fills the fall air and September excitement takes hold, something else takes hold, too.

The Fourth Quarter Push.

You know what I'm talking about. The online business world equivalent of "if your workout doesn't make you want to puke, you aren't doing it right."

You'll start to hear a lot of messaging around pushing harder and how you still have...

Mark as Played

Have you ever felt drained, overworked, and yet still unappreciated by your clients?

That's where Chanel Robe found herself, not once, but twice. Now, she passionately advocates for balancing client needs with personal boundaries. 

In our conversation, Chanel shares her own journey from burnout to brilliance, illustrating why setting healthy boundaries in business and life with grace is so critical.
Bound...

Mark as Played

To scale or not to scale? Not gonna lie -- too many people confuse scaling with growth and vice versa.

Brace yourselves as we break down the reality that only a minority -- a mere 22% of small businesses launched in the past decade -- have succeeded in doing: scaling.

In this week's episode we take a look at how scaling a business differs from growing a business and what it actually requires planning for as a CEO/Founder.

Then, w...

Mark as Played

Why do small businesses fail? This week we examine the 5 most common reasons why businesses don't survive long term. 

Join me as I illustrate how multiple factors can contribute to a business's downfall, including cashflow issues, weak marketing, and the founder themselves.

And don't worry -- I don't leave you hanging. You'll get several possible solutions to each problem helping you to pr...

Mark as Played

We've all been privy to the lessons of air travel shit shows.

And truth be told, there's a lot we can learn from the madness of air travel.

Picture me stuck on hold for 36 hours, trying to retrieve money from a canceled flight. Or dealing with a cancelled flight and losing a day of our vacation. Or dealing with a cancellation on the way back and a rerouting.

It was an eye-opening experience on how things beyond our...

Mark as Played

Do you ever find yourself in "default mode"?

Let me backtrack...It's no secret that corporate programming runs deep.

I admit, with zero shame, that sometimes when things get tough I default to working harder because it's something I can control -- and I know I'm not alone.

This week, I share a technique that I have used to help me shift my perspective when I feel myself diving deeper and deeper into ...

Mark as Played

Mental health is a struggle for a lot of people, and entrepreneurs are no exception. This week I explore the less-talked-about side of entrepreneurship, with Shulamit Ber Levtov, the Entrepreneurs' Therapist, and the unique mental health challenges faced by entrepreneurs.

We talk about everything from the realities of isolation and how relentless hustle culture impacts us, to the tie between self-worth and business su...

Mark as Played

It's time to crack the code of business growth.

AKA Scaling. Yup, that's right - I'm lifting the veil on my "Entrepreneur Growth Hierarchy" -- your new best friend, guiding you through the wild ride of sustainable business growth. This idea was inspired by Maslow's Hierarchy, behavioural sciences, and good ol' business basics.

Just like science says we humans need our basic needs taken ca...

Mark as Played

This week, we're taking a deep dive into the reality of six-figure success in the online business world. We're calling out those misleading tactics and unsustainable practices some businesses use to inflate their image of success. We're focusing on the importance of putting sustainability and ethical business practices before profit, debunking the fantasy of easy big money, and stressing the need for businesses to de...

Mark as Played

Well you're in for a treat! This week we've got the one-and-only Stephanie Mead, digital marketing maestro, on the mic! She's here to tell it like it should be on keeping it real in the marketing world and how to ditch those tired-a$$ perfectionist tendencies. If social media is your main marketing vehicle, you DO NOT want to miss this episode.

In this episode, you'll discover:

  1. How the online space has become ...
Mark as Played

On this off the cuff episode, I answer listener-submitted questions about a variety of different things:

Topics this week include:

  • How I started my journey in the online business space
  • How to keep your passion alive when people just wanna squash your enthusiasm
  • What advice I'd give my 15-year-old self now with hindsight
  • Strategy advice I'd give to newer entrepreneurs
  • What it's like to work with me

It&apos...

Mark as Played
June 13, 2023 24 mins

This week I talk about the fear of being visible in the online business space and the struggles for business owners who think and act differently from mainstream beliefs. From gatekeeping to censorship, the struggle is REAL, and that's why being crystal clear about your beliefs and values goes a long way to helping you overcome the fear of visibility. 

I also get a little vulnerable this week, and share my personal ex...

Mark as Played

This week, Sarah welcomes Amber Dancy to discuss how business owners can increase their capacity without defaulting to common strategies like scaling their business or adding more time to their day -- the more common advice entrepreneurs are given when they start feeling overwhelm.

They explore the importance of separating personal capacity from business capacity and how having a solid operational foundation is crucial for...

Mark as Played

This week Sarah discusses the many challenges inherent in managing people and delegating tasks as an entrepreneur (or managing people, period), and why overwhelm shouldn't necessarily be the reason you hire in the first place.

Support the show

Connect with Sarah:

Mark as Played

I've got a question for you: If your business was a corporate gig, would you stick around? 

Buckle up, because in this episode, we're talking making the biz enticing enough want to commute for.

What it boils down to is 3 things: 
- Capacity
- Values
- Boundaries

That may seem dull, but you're wrong. These 3 things are the secret sauce to a tasty business experience. Listen in to learn mor...

Mark as Played

Summer is coming. (Shout out to GoT fans everywhere!)

Summer is on its way and that means the kids will be home for the next few months. That can absolutely throw a wrench into any business-related plans you may or may not have had.

Not to mention all the rhetoric you're about to hear about the sales cycle, powering through, not losing momentum, and more.

So -- how do you get through the summer as a ...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.

    Crime Junkie

    If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.

    Around the NFL

    NFL.com's "Around the NFL" crew (Gregg Rosenthal, Dan Hanzus and Marc Sessler) break down the latest football news, with a dash of mirth.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Advertise With Us

For You

    Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

    Connect

    © 2023 iHeartMedia, Inc.