What if the very thing you feared most could be the catalyst for building a life and business you actually love? In this episode of INHABIT, Alessia sits down with entrepreneur and mentor Gabs Hayes, who built a seven-figure consulting firm—only to realize the personal cost was far too high. After losing her son Gabriel, Gabs redefined success on her own terms, shifting from hustle culture to a model that protects mental health, honors family, and still delivers results. You’ll hear her unfiltered take on boundaries, slowing down to speed up, and why releasing control of outcomes is essential for true freedom.

Through candid stories—like missing her kids’ milestone events for client work, taking quarterly “mini sabbaticals” to reset, and creating her Overwhelmed and Over It Village—Gabs shares how intentional business design can replace burnout with balance. She offers practical strategies for setting life-first priorities, crafting a business model that supports them, and finding community to lighten the load. Her tough-love reminder? You have zero control over outcomes, so focus on impact, alignment, and presence instead.

Whether you’re a parent entrepreneur juggling business and family or a driven creative ready to ditch the hustle, this episode delivers mindset shifts, grounded strategies, and permission to work in a way that actually works for you. Listen in for wisdom you can implement today—and start building success without burning out.

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TIMESTAMPS:

[02:07] Gabs Hayes reflects on losing her son and how it sparked a seven-year journey of questioning rules and redefining her life

[05:00] Gabs shares that curiosity and asking about her son by name is far more healing than “I’m sorry” after a loss

[08:26] Gabs reveals how building a seven-figure tech consulting business left her absent from key family moments despite financial success

[11:30] Gabs explains her personal approach to business boundaries, including two focused hours of work daily and designing her model around her life

[15:54] Gabs describes deprogramming corporate habits, loosening formalities like email signatures, and integrating family life into her workday

[21:29] Gabs introduces her “mini sabbaticals” and other ways of slowing down to gain clarity and make better business decisions

[28:44] Gabs discusses the Overwhelmed and Over It Village, a community helping parents in business combat decision overload and isolation

[33:33] Gabs offers tough-love advice on releasing control of outcomes and measuring success by impact instead of revenue

[36:54] Gabs shares how intention changes how she approaches sacrifices, including family decisions about her husband’s work

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Connect with Gabs:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website
• LinkedIn Content Partnership

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KEYWORDS: entrepreneur burnout, building a business with boundaries, work life balance for entrepreneurs, parent entrepreneurs, family first business, intentional business design, mini sabbaticals, redefining success, overcoming hustle culture, decision overload, entrepreneurial mindset shifts, letting go of outcomes, business model design, mental health for business owners, working parents strategies, impact over income

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