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June 12, 2025 18 mins

What if the very thing you’re calling “freedom” is actually fueling your burnout?

We’ve been sold the idea that flexibility equals freedom. That being able to work from anywhere, say yes to everything, and keep our business in our head is somehow empowering. But let’s be honest, it’s exhausting.

Today I’m flipping the narrative! Because the truth is, real freedom doesn’t come from flying by the seat of your pants. It comes from structure. It comes from systems that give you your time, your energy, and your life back.

If you’re overwhelmed, on the verge of burnout, or just tired of feeling behind all the time, this is the mindset shift you didn’t know you needed.

Here’s what we’re going to expand on today:

2:09: The moment I realized my business was draining me and how that changed everything

4:57: Why messy operations quietly kill your confidence, clarity, and capacity

6:45: How building systems is a protective response, not a restrictive one

9:27: Simple ways to start systemizing today without getting overwhelmed

10:13: The role of the Back Office POWER Checklist in helping you determine where to start making changes

11:18: A quick win challenge to help you start building your first system

Resources Mentioned:

📋 Grab the Biz Ops Checklist, a fillable PDF, to quickly audit your back office, spot inefficiencies, and create a smoother, more efficient operation!

🔧 Ready to simplify your back office and finally feel in control?

Join The MY-T Society Systems & Sanity Suite, your space for smart systems, sanity-saving tools, and real support. You’ll get plug-and-play templates, strategy driven resources, and access to expert guidance so you can run your business like a pro without the overwhelm.


Let me know your thoughts! Click here to send me a text.

Tired of feeling stuck behind the scenes?

Book a POWER In Motion Jumpstart Session! A 60-minute call where we’ll pinpoint what’s holding you back and build a 30-day action plan you can use right away.

It’s the perfect first step before joining the Founders Circle.  Book your session here.

Leave a Rating and Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/mindyourtime







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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You ever sit down to rest, but your mind is still
running through everything youdidn't get done that day.
Guess what?
I've been there too, and ittook burning myself out to
realize that self-care is waymore than just bubble baths, a
day at the spa and a fewboundaries.
Real systems are also self-care.

(00:23):
They support you when you'renot working.
So today I'm talking about howbuilding systems can help you
reclaim your time, protect yourpeace and finally breathe again.
Welcome to the Mind your Timepodcast.
I'm Shannon Baker, your copyloving host and business
operations strategist.

(00:43):
Each week, I'll share practicalinsights and bold strategies
rooted in my power and motionframework to help you streamline
your operations, reclaim yourtime and build a business that
supports your life.
Whether you're just startingout or scaling to six figures
and beyond, these episodes willhelp you take control and create
success on your own terms.
So grab a cup of coffee or yourfavorite beverage and let's

(01:05):
dive into today's topic.
A question I get asked often ishow did I go from being a
virtual assistant to someone whospecializes in business systems
?
Well, let me tell you whatfinally made me realize that
systems were more than justsomething that's nice to have.

(01:27):
So, a few years into buildingmy virtual assistant business, I
found myself snapping at myhusband over something so small
that, honestly, I can't evenremember what it was.
But I do remember how tired Ifelt Not just physically tired,
but mentally exhausted andemotionally drained.

(01:50):
I would spend days keepingeverything in my head Client
deadlines, follow-ups, content Istill hadn't created and new
leads were coming in that Ineeded to chase.
I wasn't prioritizing restingat night and I was always
creating lists in my head.
So I'd work my job during theday, sit down for dinner, and

(02:14):
then I would suddenly remember Iforgot to send an email or I
forgot to finish something for aclient for a client.
And those moments when I wouldactually make time to do
something for myself, like getmy nails done and get a pedicure

(02:34):
I felt guilty that I wasn'tusing that time to be more
productive and get somethingdone.
So, after being on this hamsterwheel for years, it hit me I
had built a business that wassolely dependent on me.
It really was like having asecond child that required more
time and attention than thefirst one, which was my actual
living and breathing daughter,and it was draining the very

(02:57):
energy that I needed to show upin every other part of my life.
That moment, right there is,when I realized that having
systems is self-care.
So today I want to unpack that,because whether you're just
starting your business, scalingfaster than you anticipated, or

(03:19):
feeling the weight of it allafter being in business for many
years, the truth is a messyback end leads to burnout.
Systems are how we protect ourpeace, and getting started
doesn't have to feeloverwhelming.
So let's break this down alittle bit more.
Let's start by talking abouthow messy operations actually

(03:41):
drain your time, energy and yourfocus.
See, when you run your businesswithout systems, it's like
trying to run a marathon instilettos.
Now, I love me some stilettos,but they are not the right
footwear for a race.
You can move forward in them,but your progress is going to be
slow and painful.

(04:03):
And this reminds me of howthings were early on in my
business.
My inbox was totally out ofcontrol.
Project details were scatteredin multiple notebooks.
I had no idea how to findanything quickly, and every task
took more time than it shouldhave.
But what I didn't realize atthe time was how much it was

(04:24):
really costing me and I'm notjust talking about time, but it
cost me mentally, emotionally,and it was exhausting.
See, when your back end ismessy, you're constantly in
reaction mode.
You're always putting out fires, saying yes to things that you
should have said no to, sayingyes to things that you should

(04:47):
have said no to, and then youfeel guilty for dropping the
ball.
That really what you weretrying to do was never in your
lane to begin with.
That was exhausting and it waskeeping me awake at night.
Now, for you, this might look alittle different.
This might look like youbouncing between multiple
notebooks like I was multipleGoogle Docs, or your inbox is
filled with multiple emails justto onboard one new client.

(05:09):
No wonder you're tired beforeyou even start working.
And if that's not you, maybeyou're one who has big goals,
but every client or teamquestion comes through you.
You have become the bottleneckin your business, and any growth
that does happen becomes justanother form of overwhelm.

(05:33):
Then again, you may just bemissing details.
Things are falling through thecracks, and it's not because
you're failing.
It's because your systems arefailing you.
That's the kind of invisible,nonstop labor that's wearing you
out.
No matter what the case may be,this operational chaos doesn't

(05:53):
just slow you down.
It has a huge impact on yourconfidence, and that's a price
we don't often calculate when welook at things.
So let's talk about why buildingsystems is actually a
protection, not a restriction.
Now I'm gonna be upfront insaying that this requires a
mindset shift, because systemsaren't about rules, which is

(06:14):
what many people think.
They're actually about gettingyou relief.
They protect your time, yourboundaries, your brain, your
energy, and they free up spaceso you can rest, think, create,
lead and live.
Now I've heard some people saythat systems make their business
feel too rigid and that theywant flexibility to do things

(06:36):
the way that they want.
But true freedom doesn't comefrom that chaos.
It comes from having structurein the way your business
operates.
So let me illustrate this foryou.
When you use a calendar whetherit's a hard copy or digital and
, by the way, I use both itdoesn't restrict your day.
It is a visible reference pointthat holds space for what

(07:00):
really matters.
Using it consistently makes ita repeatable process that
doesn't kill creativity, butactually protects it.
Now let's talk about life withsomething like a simple
onboarding system.
Let's talk about life withsomething like a simple
onboarding system A newqualified lead books, a
consultation with you and I usethe word qualified, because the

(07:22):
intake form with your onlinescheduler gathers the data that
you need before you even get onthe call.
And while you're on the call,you close the sale, you get paid
and you have a signed contract.
Then you send your welcomeemail, which, by the way, is a
template that you copy paste.
Paid and you have a signedcontract, then you send your
welcome email, which, by the way, is a template that you copy
paste, customize and send.
One other thing that's in thatwelcome email is a link for this

(07:46):
new client to schedule akickoff call with you, and the
link to that kickoff call has anintake form that gathers the
remaining information that youneed, and you really did not
have to lift a finger.
This type of system is abouthonoring your time and creating
a consistent client experience.

(08:08):
It's not cold, it's not robotic, it's actually a pleasant
experience for your new clientand, most importantly, it's
efficient.
Now, inside the founder circle,you get access to the resources
you need and my guidance tohelp you build workflows like
this, because they don't justsave you time, they help you

(08:28):
stay in your zone of genius.
So here are a few things thatcreating this kind of system can
do for you.
It will give you confidencebecause you're no longer winging
it, you're not guessing anymore.
A system also increases yourcapacity.
When you have systems in place,you can delegate and trust.
The process will be followedbecause you have one.

(08:49):
One of the biggest benefitssystems create the breathing
room you've been craving.
The biggest benefits systemscreate the breathing room you've
been craving.
You will have time to step back, reflect and reconnect with
your vision and you can enjoylife day to day, because systems
help you build a business thatdoesn't collapse or implode when

(09:11):
you're enjoying life, when lifestarts lifing or when you just
step away.
They don't restrict you, theysupport you, they free you.
They are your business'snervous system.
Now you may be wondering well,where do you start if you want

(09:31):
more peace and less pressure?
Okay, so let's make this feeldoable for you.
Start with one system thatsolves one problem.
It's that simple.
Ask yourself what's the onetask that drains your energy
every single week.
That's your starting point.
Is it managing your schedule?

(09:51):
Then set up a simple onlinecalendar with buffers built in.
Or is it client follow-up?
Well, create an email templateor checklist and if it's
figuring out what to do everyday.
Try a weekly planning systemthat actually works with your
life Now.
If you're not sure where tobegin, no worries, I have

(10:13):
something that will help you out.
The Back Office Power Checklistis a game changer.
It will help you assess yourcurrent systems and identify any
gaps.
It shows you what needs to becreated, what's missing and
what's already working.
So you're not guessing anymore,and members of the Founders

(10:35):
circle in the Mighty SocietySystem Insanity Suite have
access to a video that walksthem through how to complete the
checklist.
So, whether you need to calmthe chaos, whether you're ready
to lead without bottlenecks, oryou just need to feel grounded
again, grab a copy of the backoffice power checklist to help

(10:55):
you get started and, if you'reready to really dive in and take
action, join us inside theMighty Society Systems Insanity
Suite, because you don't have tofigure it out alone.
Imagine logging into a spacethat doesn't overwhelm you but
actually gives you the clarityand confidence you need to
breathe again.
I'm going to tell you a bit moreabout the membership in a
moment, but here's your quickwin challenge for the week.

(11:17):
I want you to set a timer for15 minutes and write down the
last task that made you feelfrustrated, then I want you to
list three to five steps that ittook for you to complete it.
That is the beginning of asystem.
Now you get bonus points if yousave those steps somewhere that
you can refer to them in thefuture over and over again,

(11:38):
whether that's Google Docs,notes on your phone or even a
notebook, wherever you keep thesteps.
That's the start of a system.
Boom, that's how easy it is tomake progress.
Now let's talk more aboutwhat's inside the founder circle
and why.
This may be your next best stepif you want to build a business

(12:00):
that works for you, not theother way around.
The founder circle is aself-guided tier of the Mighty
Society Systems Insanity Suitethat meets you right where you
are, and that's whether you'rejust getting started, you're
starting over, or you're readyto finally clean up the chaos
behind the scenes.
So here's what you get accessto when you join.
One is the starter stack.

(12:23):
These are the core tools thatevery member starts with,
because strong systems itdoesn't require something that's
complex.
It just needs to help you getclarity.
It just needs to help you getclarity.
So, again, whether you're juststarting or you're optimizing
what you've already built.
This is where you get thepieces to strengthen your
foundation.

(12:43):
There are also detailed momentummaps available that show you
exactly what systems to buildfirst and in what order, so you
don't have to guess.
Then that back office powerchecklist will help you assess
what's working, what's missingand where to focus next.
But it's also available outsideof the membership, separately,

(13:07):
if you're not ready to jump intothe membership yet.
And here's the bonus.
And here's the bonus If youjoin, you get access to my voice
and strategy guiding you,because this is a private
platform, so you don't have tofigure this out alone, and you
will be among others that havetraveled the same journey or may

(13:30):
even be in the same part oftheir journey as you.
This isn't about doing more,which is one of the reasons I
created this space.
It's about doing the rightthings, but with the right
support.
So if you're thinking well,this is exactly what I need.
I want you to trust thatfeeling and take action, because
the longer you wait to get yoursystems in order, the longer

(13:53):
you're going to stay stuck instress and guesswork, and we
need to end that.
So check out the membership.
Join the Founders Circle todayto get started.
Go to theshannonbakercomforward, slash membership and
start building systems thatprotect your peace, expand your
capacity and support the lifeyou actually want to live.

(14:16):
So let's quickly recap what wetalked about today.
One messy operations drain yourenergy and your confidence.
When everything lives insideyour head and you're constantly
in catch-up mode or putting outfires, you're not running your
business, you're surviving it.
Actually, your business isrunning you and that's not
sustainable and we need to fixit.

(14:37):
I also reminded you thatsystems are not restrictive,
they're protective.
The right structure in yourbusiness helps you lead with
intention, creates capacity foryou and actually gives you the
space that you need to enjoy thebusiness you're building.
In a nutshell, systems give youbreathing room and peace of

(14:57):
mind.
And the third thing that wetalked about today you don't
have to figure it all out alone.
Whether you're not sure whereto start or you've tried and
felt stuck, the Founders Circleand the resources inside of the
Mighty Society Systems InsanitySuite are here to guide you, one
simple system at a time.

(15:18):
And if you still feel you'renot quite ready to take that
step, no worries, just grab acopy of the Back Office Power
Checklist A link to grab that isin the show notes.
Now, before we wrap up, here'ssomething I want you to remember
.
You didn't start your businessto be stuck in a cycle of stress
, second guessing and burnout.

(15:40):
You started it to createsomething meaningful that gives
you freedom, fulfillment andhelps you build a future that
feels.
Aligned Systems are how you getthere and no, this is not a
theory when you create systemsat your own pace and get support
that meets you where you are,that makes progress possible.

(16:04):
So if this episode resonatedwith you and you're ready to
trade chaos for clarity, hustlefor structure and burnout for
peace, I am personally invitingyou to join us inside the
Founders Circle today.
You already have what it takesto build a business that honors
your values and supports yourlife.
So let's build the systems thatmake it stronger, but one

(16:27):
system at a time.
Join us now attheshannonbakercom forward slash
membership.
I cannot wait to see you inside.
Thanks for hanging out with methis week.
If you've made it this far, it'sclear you're ready to shake
things up and take control ofyour business, and I'm here for

(16:48):
it.
But remember, just listening tothis episode won't get you
better results.
I challenge you to break themold and take action today.
Your next move.
Let's connect Head to the shownotes and book a call with me to
learn how the Mighty Societymembership can help you
streamline your back office andreclaim your time.
If you're not ready for thatstep yet, no worries.

(17:09):
Connect with me on Instagram atthe underscore Shannon Baker,
and tell me what resonated mostfrom today's episode.
And if you're loving thepodcast, leaving a review is a
quick way to show your supportand help more entrepreneurs like
you break free from the chaos.
Listening is great, but actioncreates transformation.
Go, make it happen and untilnext time, keep calm and

(17:34):
streamline.
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