Ambitious But Exhausted with Ash Hartney

Feeling disconnected from yourself as you build your business? Book a Bathhouse experience and explore Ash's upcoming retreat:
https://thebathhouse.try.be/ 

In this episode of the Ambitious but Exhausted Podcast, Ash shares the five foundations that keep a business steady before a crisis hits. She challenges the obsession with revenue and explains why profit, a strong why, boundaries, systems, and your genius zone deserve the CEO's attention first.

Drawing on 15 years in business, Ash offers a practical way to work backwards from the profit you want, pay yourself consistently, reduce unnecessary costs, and stop becoming the bottleneck in your own company. It is a direct conversation for business owners who want more clarity, capacity, and resilience without adding more overwhelm.

Ash dives into:

◼ Why revenue can grow while your business still feels unprofitable
◼ How to work backwards from the weekly profit you actually want
◼ Why your wage, tax, and operating costs need to be planned for
◼ How protecting profit can matter more than chasing a revenue milestone
◼ Why a powerful personal why helps you keep going through hard seasons
◼ How boundaries stop a founder from being on call for every decision
◼ Why clear systems and accountability help your team work without you
◼ Where AI and automation can remove low-value admin work
◼ How to identify your genius zone and spend more time in it
◼ Why you may need better systems before you hire more people

00:00:00 Why sales do not matter without profit
00:00:41 How to set a weekly profit target
00:02:59 Planning for wages, tax, and operating costs
00:04:38 Protecting profit when revenue falls
00:05:08 Finding a why that survives the hard times
00:06:50 Boundaries and avoiding the founder bottleneck
00:08:20 Systems, accountability, and AI automation
00:08:59 Finding your genius zone as a business owner
00:09:20 The lesson Ash learned rebuilding her first business
00:10:35 Automate before you hire more people
00:11:00 The five foundations every CEO needs

Let's Connect:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney
https://www.instagram.com/the_bathhouse_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bathhouse_

Feeling overwhelmed in business and need space to reset, reflect, and get clear? Book your Bathhouse experience and explore Ash's upcoming retreat:
https://thebathhouse.try.be/ 

In this episode of the Ambitious but Exhausted Podcast, Ash speaks directly to business owners feeling the pressure of rising costs, shrinking margins, and decisions they have been putting off. Drawing on her own recent revenue decline and the changes she has made to protect profit, she explains why avoidance and overwhelm can be more expensive than taking decisive action.

Ash shares a practical, personal approach to reviewing your numbers, addressing expenses and staffing, protecting marketing, finding bottlenecks, and reclaiming the mental space needed to lead. This is an honest conversation about making the hard calls without losing yourself in the process.

Ash dives into:

◼️ Why a fall in revenue does not have to mean the same fall in profit.
◼️ The difficult conversations with staff, contractors, and suppliers that business owners often delay.
◼️ What Ash learned from a friend who put her business into voluntary administration.
◼️ How holding on to roles that no longer serve the business can quietly drain margins.
◼️ Why reviewing your profit and loss statement can be the first step out of overwhelm.
◼️ How Ash used AI to identify potential overspending and uncover opportunities to reduce costs.
◼️ Why wages, hours, and subscriptions need regular review, rather than automatic renewal.
◼️ Why Ash believes marketing should not be the first thing cut when the market slows.
◼️ How identifying bottlenecks, systems, and AI opportunities can make a business more efficient.
◼️ Why time away, journaling, and a support network can help restore clarity when you feel stuck.
◼️ The "eyes of the administrator" framework for questioning every cost and improving cash visibility.
◼️ Ash's weekly bill-paying routine and the questions she uses to protect business survival.

00:00:00 The pressure business owners are feeling right now
00:00:38 Revenue down 33% while protecting profit margins
00:01:16 How Ash moved out of overwhelm during Covid
00:02:00 The beauty-box pivot that kept the team moving
00:04:12 Rising costs, tax pressure, and thinner margins
00:04:44 The hard conversations business owners avoid
00:05:37 When carrying staff and contractors costs too much
00:06:26 Using a profit and loss statement to find the gaps
00:07:11 Wages, subscriptions, and the costs to review
00:08:05 Why marketing should not be cut in a slow market
00:09:08 Bottlenecks, AI, and creating more capacity
00:10:42 Getting out of overwhelm to find clarity
00:11:21 Journaling, support, and asking yourself the hard questions
00:11:58 Running the business through the eyes of an administrator
00:13:01 Ash's weekly bill-paying and cash-visibility routine
00:13:45 Final questions to help your business survive and grow

Follow Ash Hartney for more insights and updates:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a/ 

Let's Connect:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney
https://www.instagram.com/the_bathhouse_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bathhouse_

Need space to reset while you build your business? Book your Bathhouse experience:
https://thebathhouse.try.be/ 

In this episode of the Ambitious but Exhausted Podcast, Ash explains why hiring more people does not automatically create more output, and why the real bottleneck is often the founder.

She shares three practical ways to unblock your team, protect your time, and create a business where people can make decisions, follow clear processes, and focus on work that actually moves the needle.

Ash dives into:

◼️ Why an eight-hour workday can produce only three hours of real output
◼️ How founder approvals can quietly slow down an entire team
◼️ Why more hires do not fix a business that is already bottlenecked at the top
◼️ How a simple approval workflow can give your team momentum without losing oversight
◼️ Why your team cannot follow a process that only exists in your head
◼️ How to turn repetitive tasks into documented procedures
◼️ Why SOPs, training, and regular check-ins create consistency
◼️ How tools such as Scribe and AI can help document internal workflows
◼️ Where automation can save time without replacing meaningful human work
◼️ Why founders should automate repetitive admin before hiring for it
◼️ How clear job descriptions and KPIs create direction for a team
◼️ The questions to ask before deciding an employee is underperforming
◼️ Why training, resources, communication, and accountability are leadership responsibilities
◼️ How to identify the real cause of lost productivity before adding payroll

00:00:00 Why more staff does not always create more output
00:00:42 The hidden cost of unproductive team time
00:01:28 Why small teams can sometimes be more profitable
00:02:16 Bottleneck one: every decision waits for the founder
00:03:09 How simple approval systems give teams momentum
00:03:58 Bottleneck two: the process lives in your head
00:04:54 How to document repetitive tasks and build SOPs
00:05:53 Bottleneck three: manual work that should be automated
00:06:42 How automation can save time, money, and attention
00:07:21 Why job descriptions and KPIs matter
00:08:13 The questions to ask before blaming an underperforming employee
00:09:03 How clear direction, training, and feedback unlock potential
00:09:21 The founder checklist for building a more productive team

Let's Connect:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney
https://www.instagram.com/the_bathhouse_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bathhouse_

Need a place to pause, reset, and reconnect with yourself? Book your Bathhouse experience:
https://thebathhouse.try.be/

In this episode of the Ambitious but Exhausted Podcast, Ash  names the four limiting beliefs that quietly keep ambitious women overworked, stuck, and disconnected from the success they have already built.

She shares practical questions to challenge each belief, explains how they show up in a growing business, and offers a healthier definition of success that is built on alignment, gratitude, contribution, and freedom.

Ash dives into:

◼️ Why working harder is not always the answer to business growth
◼️ The hustle belief that says you must do more to have more
◼️ How three needle-moving priorities can replace an overwhelming to-do list
◼️ Why strong leaders focus on delegation, accountability, and the highest-value work
◼️ The control belief that makes founders feel they must do everything themselves
◼️ How to identify the work you should own and the work you should delegate
◼️ Why systems, clear roles, and training create more freedom for founders
◼️ The permission belief behind “I’m not ready yet”
◼️ How fear of rejection can stop you from pitching the idea that could change your business
◼️ Why waiting for a milestone will not make you feel successful
◼️ How moving goalposts create a constant feeling of not being enough
◼️ Why contribution, progress, and alignment are valid measures of success
◼️ How past setbacks can become the lessons that strengthen your next chapter
◼️ A practical exercise for replacing an old belief with a more useful one

00:00:00 The four beliefs keeping ambitious women stuck
00:00:43 What success and financial freedom really mean to Ash
00:01:36 Belief one: if I want more, I need to do more
00:02:22 How to identify the three priorities that move the needle
00:03:19 Why long to-do lists do not always grow a business
00:04:04 Delegation, organisation, and leadership as growth skills
00:04:46 Belief two: no one will do it as well as me
00:05:39 How to release control and let your team learn
00:06:34 Finding the work you are best positioned to do
00:07:29 How systems and role clarity create founder freedom
00:08:15 Belief three: I’m not ready yet
00:09:09 Why pitching the scary idea matters more than waiting
00:10:06 Belief four: I’ll feel successful when I get there
00:11:17 Why success is not a number, title, or milestone
00:12:17 The dusty award submission that changed Ash’s perspective
00:13:41 How to see business setbacks as lessons, not failure
00:14:27 The new-belief exercise to practice every day

Let's Connect:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney
https://www.instagram.com/the_bathhouse_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bathhouse_

Ready to reset and reconnect? Book your experience at The Bathhouse:
https://thebathhouse.try.be/

In this episode of the Ambitious but Exhausted Podcast, Ash shares the business mistake that nearly cost her family everything: ignoring her gut about a manager, allowing the wrong culture to spread, and then making decisions from overwhelm instead of clarity.

Ash explains why bad hires are usually not a screening problem but an override problem, how values alignment protects a team, and the hiring process she now uses to build a culture that supports both the business and the people inside it.

Ash dives into:

◼️ Why your gut is often the first warning sign in a bad hire
◼️ How hiring someone who looks right on paper can still damage a business
◼️ The $250,000 second-location decision that became Ash’s biggest lesson
◼️ How a toxic team culture can quietly grow behind a founder’s back
◼️ Why ignoring small operational issues creates bigger financial consequences
◼️ What Ash learned after discovering a private team group criticising her and the business
◼️ Why firing an entire team can sometimes be the only way to protect the culture
◼️ How overwhelm, betrayal, and stress can lead to worse business decisions
◼️ The legal and financial fallout of walking away from a commercial lease
◼️ Why the right team can help a founder rebuild after a major setback
◼️ How values alignment improves communication, loyalty, and performance
◼️ Why a values exercise can reveal who is truly aligned with your business
◼️ How paid trial shifts show you what an interview cannot
◼️ Why letting your existing team help choose new hires protects culture
◼️ How strong brand culture creates freedom, flexibility, and better customer experiences

00:00:00 The bad hire Ash knew was wrong in the first ten minutes
00:00:56 The $250,000 second-location decision
00:01:50 Why the manager looked perfect on paper but felt wrong
00:03:12 Discovering the private Facebook group and a toxic team culture
00:04:14 Firing the whole team and trying to rebuild the business
00:05:34 Cash issues, customer complaints, and the cost of overwhelm
00:07:13 Walking away from the lease and nearly losing everything
00:09:19 Rebuilding through hard work and the right team
00:10:26 Why values alignment matters more than a perfect CV
00:12:12 How Ash built a stronger culture at The Bathhouse
00:13:46 Why paid trial shifts reveal what interviews hide
00:15:18 Letting your team help choose the right people
00:16:07 Why culture is the glue that holds a business together
00:16:39 How brand culture creates freedom for a founder

Let's Connect:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney
https://www.instagram.com/the_bathhouse_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bathhouse_

If you are running on empty and need space to reset, recharge, and reconnect with yourself, book your Bathhouse experience here:
https://thebathhouse.try.be/ 

In the first episode of the Ambitious but Exhausted Podcast, Ash shares the personal health crisis that forced her to confront the cost of putting herself last, and why burnout often shows up in a business long before it shows up in the body.

She breaks down the three warning signs she missed, how stress, guilt, and emotional overwhelm affected her finances, team, and relationship, and the practical tools that helped her reconnect with her health, clarity, and purpose.

Ash dives into:

◼️ Why putting your business, family, and everyone else first eventually catches up with you
◼️ The personal spiral that led Ash to a life-threatening health wake-up call
◼️ Why running on empty can affect your business long before you recognise it physically
◼️ How an emotionally unregulated leader can see stress show up in cash flow
◼️ Why team culture and dynamics shift when a founder is no longer truly present
◼️ How unresolved stress can spill into your closest relationships
◼️ Why every founder needs a business that can continue operating without them
◼️ How daily coping habits can quietly make stress worse over time
◼️ Why yoga, breathwork, and quiet reflection became key parts of Ash’s recovery
◼️ How guilt and the belief that you are “not enough” can block growth as a woman and leader
◼️ Why journalling and time away can reconnect you with your most valuable ideas
◼️ How to slow down, reconnect with your why, and stop being so hard on yourself

00:00:00 The real cost of putting yourself last
00:00:48 How Ash reached breaking point in life and business
00:01:54 The health crisis that became a serious wake-up call
00:04:46 Surgery complications, fear, and the long recovery
00:06:31 Why your business needs to run without you
00:07:52 What running on empty was really costing Ash
00:08:24 The first business warning sign: cash flow
00:09:19 The second warning sign: team culture and leadership
00:10:19 The third warning sign: relationships and emotional wellbeing
00:11:54 Yoga, breathwork, and reducing alcohol as recovery tools
00:13:19 Guilt, self-worth, and the subconscious belief of not being enough
00:14:28 Why quiet space, journalling, and travel create clarity
00:15:34 Ash’s message for women who feel overwhelmed and stuck
00:16:22 Reconnecting with your why in a world of constant noise

Let's Connect:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney
https://www.instagram.com/the_bathhouse_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bathhouse_

In this episode of Poolside Perspectives, we sit down with Fergil Mestanov, seasoned beauty industry leader, business mentor, and mum of two, whose 26-year career has spanned everything from launching high-performing skin care clinics, to now leading the charge in luxury fashion retail.

Fergil shares her inspiring journey of entrepreneurship, motherhood, and finding balance after burnout. With a no-fluff approach to business, she opens up about the realities of leadership, what really drives client loyalty, and why taking time out was the best decision she ever made.

Listen in for more on:
 1:15 – How Fergil got her start and grew a 7-day-a-week clinic empire
 4:40 – Life after loss, burnout, and making the bold decision to step away
 7:45 – The best business advice that’s guided her for 26 years
 10:00 – How to take emotion out of tough conversations and lead with clarity
 14:25 – 2025 marketing trends: real people, real stories, real impact
 22:15 – Her biggest personal and professional challenge—and how she came through it

This episode is filled with wisdom, relatability, and that refreshing real talk every woman in business needs to hear!

Fergil’s Links:
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/fergil_business_consultant

Let's Connect:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney
https://www.instagram.com/the_bathhouse_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bathhouse_

In this episode of Poolside Perspectives, we sit down with Jane Mow, globally recognized Personal Brand Stylist and Style Coach, who helps female leaders and entrepreneurs elevate their image with intentional style. With 17 years of experience working with CEOs, keynote speakers, and high-achieving professionals, Jane knows firsthand how aligning your wardrobe with your personal brand can open doors to new opportunities.

From her early days in the fashion industry to leading creative direction for luxury brands and styling television personalities, Jane’s journey has been driven by a passion for transformation—helping women step into their confidence through what they wear. As the founder of What You Wear Is Your Business Card, she teaches women how to build a wardrobe that reflects their identity and positions them for success.

Listen in for more on:

• 1:30 – Where Jane’s journey started
• 7:00 – Overcoming self-doubt and limiting beliefs in personal branding
• 9:00 – Navigating career shifts and embracing change
• 12:45 – The role of determination and alignment in personal growth
• 20:00 – Style tips for mums who want to feel good and dress for success
• 27:30 – How to start building a wardrobe that works for you
• 34:00 – Why creating a style archive can be a game-changer

Get ready to refine your style, boost your confidence, and show up as the expert you are! Don’t forget to show your support by rating, reviewing and sharing this podcast!

Jane’s Links
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/janemowstylist
Website- https://janemow.com
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/janemow?originalSubdomain=au

Let's Connect:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney
https://www.instagram.com/the_bathhouse_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bathhouse_

In this episode of Poolside Perspectives, we sit down with Michelle Pascoe, founder of Optimum Operating Procedures and Services (OOPS) and one of Australia’s leading voices in leadership development and customer experience. From her humble beginnings on a turkey farm in regional Australia to building a thriving training and research business, Michelle’s journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and unlocking untapped potential.

With over 30 years of experience, Michelle works closely with organizations to foster positive workplace cultures, navigate generational diversity, and elevate customer service standards. She’s passionate about helping individuals see the possibilities within themselves and create a life of their own choosing.

Listen in for more on:

• 2:00 – Michelle’s sharing her story. 
• 7:45 – How to get your team on board and drive alignment.
• 13:30 – Leading across generations: Bridging the gaps in workplace dynamics.
• 26:00 – The future of AI in business and what leaders need to know.
• 33:00 – Overcoming adversity: The toughest challenge Michelle has faced in business.

If you’re ready to transform your leadership approach, embrace innovation, and create lasting impact, this episode is for you!

Michelle’s Links:
Website: https://www.michellepascoe.com/
Podcast “Customer Retention Revolution”- https://open.spotify.com/show/587NtMf341AKPX26R53TIW
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/michelle.pascoe/

Let's Connect:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney
https://www.instagram.com/the_bathhouse_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bathhouse_

In this episode of Poolside Perspectives, we sit down with Heidi Anderson, bestselling author, confidence coach, and former top-rating radio presenter, on a mission to help others break free from self-doubt and step into their power. Known for her raw honesty and fearless approach, Heidi first made waves in 2016 when she opened up about her battle with anxiety live on air, sparking a movement of empowerment and authenticity.

With two decades of media experience, Heidi now teaches women how to own their voices through her programs, Shed Your Shit and Drunk on Confidence. From navigating ADHD to building a strong support network, she shares powerful insights on embracing confidence, creating change, and giving the next generation the tools to speak up.

Listen in for more on:
 3:00 – Shit show moments: Heidi’s journey and what led her here.
 13:00 – Dealing with ADHD: How it shows up and ways to manage it.
 19:30 – Recognizing when you’re not okay and making a change.
 26:45 – The power of surrounding yourself with the right people.
 29:45 – Why giving kids a voice and the right tools matters.

If you’re ready to let go of self-doubt, own your story, and step into confidence, this episode is for you!

Heidi’s Links:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_heidianderson
Website - https://www.heidileeanderson.com/

Let's Connect:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney
https://www.instagram.com/the_bathhouse_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bathhouse_