Podcast - Boss Project

Episode 1000: Show Notes

Dear listener, we have hit 1000 episodes! I don’t think I ever imagined saying that out loud! But somewhere along the way, this little show became a thread that wove through nearly every season of my life and every version of my business. And before I step away, I want to write you a letter.  

The End of a Chapter, Not the End of the Story

Abagail Pumphrey of The Strategy Hour Podcast

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The 1000 Episode-Long Era 

When this podcast started, I didn’t know where it was going to go. I could never have predicted that it would be in the top 15 business podcasts in the world or go on to reach millions of entrepreneurs. I thought I was here to teach strategy, but looking back, this podcast didn’t just document my business journey; it mirrored my life. I have considered quitting 1000 times before, but I never did because I knew there was more work to be done.  

Being the host of this show has always been one of the most meaningful parts of my life, and I have realized that this podcast has never just been about business. In between all the business tactics and strategies, there has been a lot of truth. I shared vulnerable stories, talked about friendship, marriage, infertility, loss, grief, and joy, and I am so grateful for this platform. This podcast has helped me process things and, at times, been my own, awkward form of therapy.  

What’s Next?  

Over the last few episodes, I have shared how my definition of ‘enough’ has changed, how my values have shifted, and how lately, I have had to admit that I don’t know what’s next. This isn’t goodbye. I’m not closing my business or calling it quits. But, for the first time in 1000 episodes, I am going to take a break so that I can figure out what the next chapter looks like. I am calling this the end of a chapter, not the end of the story. I don’t know what form the next version will take yet, but I know it will grow from the same heart that built this.  

While I’m on a break, you have 1000 episodes waiting for you to listen to! Maybe you’ll stumble across an old episode that hits differently now, or one that reminds you of how far you’ve come. If you want to know what’s happening when I’m ready to share what’s next, you have to make sure you’re on my email list because that’s where I’m going to keep showing up. I want to stay connected with you, so please make sure you’re on that list! I hope these episodes remind you that you can build something beautiful and still be yourself while doing it.  

Until the next chapter, I am Abagail, and this has been the Strategy Hour. 

 

Quote ThisI am so grateful you’ve given me this space and this platform to express a little more of myself with the hope of you feeling a little less alone.

 

Highlights

• The 1000 Episode-Long Era. [0:00:35]  

• What’s Next? [0:3:27]

OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail hosts the twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, which is recognized by INC and Forbes as one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

New Beginnings, New Chapter, End of an Era, 1000 Episodes  

We Mentioned:

Digital Product Jumpstart

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Episode 999: Show Notes

I’ve recorded nearly a thousand episodes of this show, and yet this one has been one of the hardest to sit down and share. Over the past few months, life has forced me to slow down through surgery, recovery, and a lot of unexpected stillness. And in that quiet, I’ve had to ask some uncomfortable questions about what really matters, where I want to spend my time, and what’s sustainable for me right now. 

What’s Next for Me (And Maybe, for You Too)

Abagail Pumphrey of The Strategy Hour Podcast

Listen on your favorite podcast player

This isn’t about the business. Profit is up, things are running smoothly, and I’m proud of what we’ve built. It’s about the podcast. And it’s about giving myself permission to pause. After eight years and nearly a thousand episodes, I know it’s time to take a break, even if I don’t know exactly what’s next. Things are going to look a little different for a while, and honestly, I’m okay with that. I don’t have to have it all figured out, and neither do you! So, let’s take a breath together and step into whatever’s next. 

Evolving After 1,000 Episodes 

I really want to think through how the podcast can evolve, because the things I’m called to share aren’t just strategy anymore. It’s not just tactics and tools and frameworks to help you build a business. I care a lot more about you — your mind, your heart, your health — not just how much money is going into your bank account! And I don’t know if the existing version of the show is really meant to evolve into that in this way, in this format. 

So I’ve been considering a lot of options. Would that mean doing reruns until I’m ready to figure out the next step? Would it mean changing the name of the show and keeping the same feed? Or would it mean starting something completely new? I couldn’t really land on anything. It’s not that I’m being indecisive, I just don’t want to make a decision I’ll want to take back later. 

So I’m waiting. I’m waiting until I’m more certain about what’s next. And honestly, there’s a kind of peace in that. For someone who’s spent years teaching consistency and strategy, it feels strange to be in this place of pause. But I know that whatever comes next deserves the same care and attention I’ve given everything up until now. 

Learning to Be Okay with Not Knowing

I’m excited about this opportunity because I’ve never really slowed down to the level I’m talking about now. I’ve taken off the full month of December before, but this is different. Aside from a few Black Friday emails and sponsorship obligations, things are going to be quiet in November. I’m giving myself real space to pause. 

I don’t know yet if that means a shift in what I offer, how I show up, or what comes next. In the meantime, I know what I’ve built continues to help tens of thousands of entrepreneurs, and that’s something I’m proud of. I want you to continue to use the resources that are already available. But more than anything, I’ve been thinking about what it means to not know, and how that can actually be okay! 

We’ve painted a picture that certainty is required: that as business owners, we always need goals, plans, and KPIs. But sometimes not knowing is exactly where you’re supposed to be. There’s power in the pause, in the slowdown, in the in-between. Because honestly, this clarity didn’t come until I finally stopped moving so fast! 

Trusting What You’ve Built (and What’s Still to Come) 

I still deeply care about my mission and the vision of this company! I want to see more small business owners financially free and more people building success in their own way. 

This season has reminded me to trust what I’ve built. Even while I’ve been sick and doing less, the business keeps running. It continues to support my family and make an impact, which is such a gift! My community and programs will keep going, and I’ll still show up in your inbox with resources that meet you where you are. I might be quieter for a while, but I’m still here. 

I don’t have the full vision yet, but I know this next chapter will be bright and meaningful. I’m still working on my book, still finding my rhythm, and still letting this next season unfold. You don’t have to have it all figured out! I don’t either, and maybe that’s exactly the point.

 

Quote ThisYou don't have to skip to certainty. There's some really powerful opportunities in the not knowing, in the pause, in the slowdown.

 

Highlights

• Evolving After 1,000 Episodes [0:03:50]  

• Learning to Be Okay with Not Knowing [0:06:43] 

• Trusting What You’ve Built (and What’s Still to Come) [0:12:25] 

OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail hosts the twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, which is recognized by INC and Forbes as one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

Uncertainty, Next Steps, Taking a Break, Clarity

We Mentioned:

Digital Product Jumpstart

Join the Co-op

FreshBooks

Episode 998: Show Notes

I used to think values were something you discovered once and then lived by forever, like a moral compass that stayed fixed. But I’m starting to wonder if they’re more like constellations. They shift a little as you move through different seasons of life. For a long time, I treated my values like a checklist: family, creativity, freedom. Those were the things that mattered. But when they stopped feeling aligned, I felt completely disoriented. 

It wasn’t that my morals changed. Rather, it was that my priorities matured. And while that process can feel confusing and uncomfortable, it can also make space for who you’re becoming. Sometimes the same value takes a new shape. For instance, freedom might look less like flexibility and more like emotional peace. Today, I’m sharing what it felt like to go through that shift, what helped me slow down and listen, and how I began to see my values in a new light.

When What Used to Matter… Doesn’t Anymore 

Abagail Pumphrey of The Strategy Hour Podcast

Listen on your favorite podcast player

The Trip That Changed Everything 

For me, this shift happened all at once, and I didn’t know what to do with it. Back in August, I went on a trip I thought would help me grow my faith and deepen a few friendships. Instead, it completely changed the pattern of my life. 

I don’t want to downplay it. The trip was special. It was a great opportunity to grow and learn about things I had never learned before. But I don’t think it was so much the experience itself as it was the break from routine and the chance to slow down and really reflect. I had planned to post every day while I was gone, but that didn’t happen, and that was okay. I didn’t need anyone to get a hold of me. For the first time, I had space to just be. 

When I came home, I felt distraught. It was like I woke up from my own life. The things that once mattered to me didn’t matter anymore. It wasn’t apathy or depression: I was grounded and doing well. It was just that something else had become more important. And it didn’t all fall into place at once. It was more like working on a thousand-piece puzzle, sorting and shifting things until they started to make sense. 

Learning to Live in the Liminal Space 

I didn’t know it at first, but I was in what’s called a liminal space. It’s a place of transition, the threshold between one destination and the next. It’s that awkward in-between where you’re no longer who you were but not yet who you’re becoming. Think of it like being in a hallway or an airport, waiting to arrive somewhere new. 

For me, it felt lonely, isolating, and strange, but also oddly relaxing. Like sitting in a waiting room long enough to actually read a magazine and realizing you can finally slow down. You don’t want to be there, but part of you knows it’s necessary! 

You might be in that same in-between, wondering what to do other than wait. There’s no checklist to move through it, but you can start by paying attention to how you spend your time, energy, and money. Those things always reflect what you value. You need to know what drains and fuels you. Maybe your old self kept saying yes because it aligned with ambition or a need for validation. But what would it look like now to choose projects and people that give back energy? 

The Gentle Work of Realignment 

I recently spoke at a few virtual summits that went really well. They reached a lot of people and brought in hundreds of new leads. Part of me thought, “You’ve done this before, why not do it again?” And my immediate reaction was no. I had no desire to. It wasn’t about skill or ability. I just wasn’t interested. When something gives you the ick, pay attention. Stop choosing what drains you and start choosing what gives back. 

For years, I thought being an introvert meant every interaction would leave me tired. But I was just in the wrong rooms, trying to be a version of myself that was likable instead of aligned. When you’re surrounded by the right people and projects, even as an introvert, you feel energized. The same goes for money. If you were truly investing in what matters, what would that look like? Money is an expression of your values. When it’s misaligned, it feels off. When it’s aligned, it feels great! 

Slowing Down to See What’s Next 

I used to think the goal of any transition was to get through it quickly. But the pause is what reveals everything. Slowing down does not create new values; it helps you uncover the ones that are already there! When the noise quiets, you can finally ask, “Who am I?” and “Who am I becoming?” 

I have absolutely slowed down in this season, both by choice and by force. Sitting in ambiguity, without rushing back into structure, is what helps you see what is next. For me, that meant stepping back from social media, reading more, doing puzzles, and spending time on things that grounded me. 

Some of your values will probably still be the same, but how they show up may look different. If freedom was once about flexibility and time, maybe now it means peace. If creativity used to mean high output, maybe now it looks like slower, more intentional work. It is okay to change. Values are not fixed; they’re living agreements between who you were and who you’re becoming. The only way to hear clearly again is to slow down long enough to listen!

 

Quote ThisOur values are really just a reflection of how we spend our time, energy, or money.

 

Highlights

• The Trip That Changed Everything [0:04:22]  

• Learning to Live in the Liminal Space [0:06:23] 

• Finding Alignment [0:11:56] 

• Slowing Down to See What’s Next [0:16:25]

OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail hosts the twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, which is recognized by INC and Forbes as one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

Values, Transitions, Liminal Space, Finding Alignment 

We Mentioned:

Digital Product Jumpstart

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FreshBooks get 50% off for 6 months

Episode 997: Show Notes

We all want to feel fulfilled, satisfied, and ‘enough!’ I think, ultimately, when we’re searching for ‘enough,’ we’re searching for satisfaction. I want you to know that your feeling enough will never just be satisfied by numbers on a page or by a certain amount of money. I used to think that satisfaction meant making a certain amount of money and being secure in my income. But then I realized that I wasn’t actually satisfied, and I didn’t feel whole. I had been focused on what everyone else needed for so long, and it wasn’t until this summer that I felt like I could focus on myself again. So how has my definition of ‘enough’ changed?

How My Definition of “Enough” Has Changed

Abagail Pumphrey of The Strategy Hour Podcast

Listen on your favorite podcast player

What Does it Mean to Be Satisfied? 

I recently looked at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs again because I realized that having all of your needs met must be the definition of satisfaction. Ideally, you need every single layer of needs to feel fulfilled, but the first layers have to be fulfilled first before you can move on to the next. I spent a lot of time focusing on safety; I wanted to sustainably make enough income so that I could take care of my safety needs, and I worked my butt off to do so. I remember when I felt like I was satisfied in this area of my life, and I still felt lost and incomplete. Instead of figuring out what was going to make me feel whole, I distracted myself by helping other people.  

The Importance of Love and Belonging 

This summer, for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could explore what I need again. I used to think that if I was going to feel satisfied, I needed to make sure everyone else felt safe and secure, and while that was coming from a good place, it also meant I was ignoring my other needs: love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization! I realized that I was never going to be enough without community. I wanted to be hyper-independent, but we all need love and a sense of belonging. You need other people to take care of you, too! For me, I avoided intimate friendships out of fear of rejection, and I had to go and find those friendships. You can only become the best version of yourself when you feel seen and validated by the people around you.  

What is ‘Enough’?

Now, ‘enough’ is not just about finances for me. It’s about relationships, choosing calm, being present, having joy, peace, and happiness. I don’t know if you’ll ever really know if you have enough. But my hope is that you realize that you are enough and you don’t have to be anyone but you! ‘Enough’ is not some destination; it is something that constantly evolves with you, and I don’t want you to get hyper-focused on one piece of the puzzle. I want you to ask yourself what you have convinced yourself you need in order to feel enough, and where you may be neglecting your personal needs. If I can leave you with anything, it’s the encouragement to put a little less on your to-do list, and a little more emphasis on the community you want to build.  

 

Quote ThisYou don’t have to keep acting a certain way because you think that’s what people want from you.

 

Highlights

• What Does it Mean to Be Satisfied? [0:03:31]  

• The Importance of Love and Belonging [0:12:58]

OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail hosts the twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, which is recognized by INC and Forbes as one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

Enough, Self-Actualization, Fulfillment, Satisfaction, Acceptance

We Mentioned:

Mel Robbins The Let Them Theory

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Episode 996: Show Notes

Sometimes the business that got you here can’t take you where you want to go! Today, we are talking about when it’s time for experimentation and reinvention. This is not so much about how much energy you have to give and more about when you know that change is vital. Yes, it’s scary to make changes, but sometimes leaning into that discomfort helps you reinvent yourself and your business. It’s easy to get a false sense of security around what worked before, but that can quietly become a cage that prevents you from considering other options. I’m curious, what are you maintaining because it feels safer, not because it’s still working? 

How to Know When It’s Time for Experimentation & Reinvention

Abagail Pumphrey of The Strategy Hour Podcast

Listen on your favorite podcast player

Signs That It’s Time to Experiment 

These signs are actually pretty recognizable and have some practical cues as well! The first sign sounds kind of obvious, but we often try to ‘band-aid’ this; you’re uninspired. Red flag number one is when you start dreading doing what you used to love. Another sign it’s time to experiment is if you’ve hit a plateau or if you’re even starting to go backwards. You may already be kind of aware that something has to change, but you may not know what needs to change yet. The final sign that it’s time to experiment is that you might be feeling a little jealous or a little curious. This feels like a quiet desire to explore something new that’s tugging at you.  

Reinventing Strategically  

I’ll be honest, sometimes you may think that walking away is the easiest thing to do. But I want you to be strategic and not chaotic. I don’t want you to make decisions from a place of emotional dysregulation. You can start with micro-experiments, so it feels less crazy! Start to think of this more like testing than pivoting. Reinvention is going to come after clarity, so collecting data is essential to becoming clear on things! Try something new, track results, make adjustments, and trust what the data and energy are telling you. It’s really that simple! One successful experiment can become the blueprint for your next chapter. 

The Power of Debriefs 

I want you to learn the difference between knowing when you need rest and when you’re excited and ready for something new. These things are not the same, and if you do the opposite of what you need, it won’t help the way you want it to. I find that debriefs really help me gauge whether I’m making the right choice in the right season by learning from my experiments. Change can be scary, but it isn’t punishment! It’s an invitation and opportunity to move in a new direction. I just want you to take one small step, and then tell me about the results of that experiment. Every business will hit this point, and the ones that thrive will be brave enough to reinvent!

 

Quote ThisSometimes the business that got you here can’t take you where you’re trying to go.

 

Highlights

• Signs That It’s Time to Experiment [0:08:31]  

• Reinventing Strategically [0:12:27] 

• The Power of Debriefs [0:16:01]

OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail hosts the twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, which is recognized by INC and Forbes as one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

Reinvention, Experimentation, Pivoting, Business Changes, Innovation 

We Mentioned:

Digital Product Jumpstart

Join the Co-op

FreshBooks Use this link to get the best offer

Episode 995: Show Notes

Have you ever looked at someone else’s business and thought, ‘Why does everything seem to be working out for them?’ Well, you’re not alone. We need to normalize this: not everyone is going to be going through the same season of business at the same time. I’d love to tell you it was predictable, and we could all match our energy to the seasons of the year, but that’s just not necessarily how life works. We have to be mindful of where we’re at, where we’re going, and what we can give in each season. By the end of this episode, you’re going to be able to recognize the season that you’re in, and I’m going to give you permission to be in it instead of fighting against it! I’m going to help you make some smarter operational decisions because of it, so I hope you’re ready.

Why Seasons of Business Matter (And How to Recognize Yours)

Abagail Pumphrey of The Strategy Hour Podcast

Listen on your favorite podcast player

Why It’s So Important to Understand That Your Business Has Seasons 

We were made to believe that we were supposed to be hustling all the time, that we were constantly supposed to be growing, that our business was supposed to go up like a jackknife and do incredibly well regardless of who we are, what’s going on in our world, and what next distraction pops up. But instead of you constantly being in ‘go mode’, I want to help you identify the season you’re in that represents the energy you have to give. It’s going to help you identify how your business is feeling, how you want it to function, and how it’s going to grow through this moment in time. While there are probably more buckets you can put this into, I’ve identified four to get us going. 

What Each of the Four Business Seasons Actually Involve 

The first season is a planting season. You’re laying the groundwork, testing things, and coming up with new ideas. It’s all the foundational things that happen in your business. This is not just when your business is starting, but anytime you’re bringing something new to life. A growing season is when you’re expanding your visibility, marketing heavily, and generating demand. If you’re not energetically aligned with that, it’s going to feel like pushing a boulder up a hill. Most people prefer a harvesting season, where you’re reaping the results, optimizing systems, and maintaining momentum. That’s followed by a season of rest, where you’re pausing, reflecting, simplifying, and even letting things die off.  

How You Can Use Slowing Down as a Strategy  

If you don’t wrap your head around this, that internal pressure to always be in growth mode is just going to haunt you. It’s like a slingshot — to get to the big results and leap forward, you actually have to pull back and do less than you’ve done before. Doing less when you know you want to make money and create a sustainable business is going to feel dangerous, but you have to learn to trust yourself. You have to believe in yourself! And if you’re having mindset issues, then you have to start there. But slowing down doesn’t have to be a negative thing. You are giving yourself the rest you need to really launch forward. I think it’s okay to make some decisions that feel off; that’s not a problem. However, you do need to recognize what’s happening so that when that awareness comes about, you can make changes. That can look like setting things down that seem exciting. What if, in business, you thought more about the idea and if it’s not a ‘hell yes’, it’s a no?  

The One Thing You Need to Be Mindful of Through Every Season. 

You all are going to need quieter seasons, whether it’s because you got burnt out or something shifted in your life, or something you couldn’t have predicted came along. You’re going to need that! Rest is required. There’s always going to be seasons of rest, just like in nature. There are still things happening, they’re just slower paced, there’s less energy, and they take less of what you have to give. You often make decisions based on all these external factors, but I encourage you to make more decisions based on your factors. But you’ve got to make sure that you’re putting something down because of fear, but because you’re sure of yourself and you know what you need. I can’t tell you how many times in this business I’ve changed the way I sell entirely to match the season of life that I was in. Now, some of these seasons will be short and others will be longer. You just need to be mindful that not every season will look the same.  

What You Should Reflect on During This Season

Here’s what I want you to reflect on: what is feeling effortless for you, and what feels like you’re forcing it? What are you craving more or less of? This isn’t a time to judge or to make decisions. You’re just creating awareness, and that’s the first act of alignment. Once you have that, you can go into fine-tuning and focus on the adjustments that need to be made this season. If you’re planting, some alignment things could be focusing on research and development, or testing offers. If you’re growing, it’s leveraging systems, hiring strategically, ramping up visibility, and focusing on repeatable marketing and sales processes. If you’re harvesting, double down on what’s working, create evergreen systems, prep for automation, and reduce live launches. If you’re resting, audit, reflect, let go, update SOPs, consider a rebrand, and reimagine your way forward.  

A Path Forward: What You Can Do Next

Success is not constant motion. Every day the sun sets and then it rises, but it’s going to set again every single day. Rest is necessary, and it doesn’t mean you won’t come back. More often than not, that resting season is the most productive in hindsight. It’s where you get clarity and where your creativity comes back. You don’t have to chase this and stress yourself out trying to figure it out. You just need to honor your rhythm. 

If you wake up today, and you’re not feeling it, what are you feeling, what do you need, and how can you do more of that? I’m going to give you a path forward: have a conversation with a biz bestie or a partner and discuss the season you’re in now. What would it look like to stop fighting it? I encourage you to share your reflections on social media, with your community, and the people in your life. If you do choose to share on social, I’d love it if you tagged me. Even if all you do is take a screenshot and share this on social and just write the season you’re in, that will be you claiming it. You can do this! Figuring this out is only going to help you get even further in the future.

 

Quote ThisWe need to normalize this: not everyone is going to be going through the same season of business at the same time.

 

Highlights

• Why It’s So Important to Understand That Your Business Has Seasons [0:01:46]  

• What Each of the Four Business Seasons Actually Involve [0:02:46] 

• How You Can Use Slowing Down as a Strategy [0:05:36] 

• The One Thing You Need to Be Mindful of Through Every Season. [0:14:23] 

• What You Should Reflect on During This Season [0:14:23] 

• A Path Forward: What You Can Do Next [0:26:51]

OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail hosts the twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, which is recognized by INC and Forbes as one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

Alignment, Planning, Rest, Growth, Strategy 

We Mentioned:

Digital Product Jumpstart

Join the Co-op

FreshBooks get 50% off for 6 months

Episode 994: Show Notes

Have you ever hit a milestone you worked your entire life for only to feel absolutely nothing? We often spend so much of our time and attention focused on our future selves that we forget how to live in the present. But it’s not your fault! We were handed this invisible checklist when we were all kids. We’re supposed to get a good education and a good job, buy that house, get married, have those kids, and live that dream life. 

We all thought we would feel a certain way if we did what society said would make us successful. But none of these things actually change who we are. It doesn’t change the emotions we experience in the moment. It just makes us compare ourselves to this inconceivable, impossible representation of what success looks like.   

What Most People Get Wrong About Success

Abagail Pumphrey of The Strategy Hour Podcast

Listen on your favorite podcast player

We’ve created a culture in which we are rewarding the outcome, not the effort. You have to beat yourself at your own game and outdo yourself every time. But eventually, outdoing yourself becomes impossible. Even if you’re not playing the comparison game and you’re only focused on you, how can you continuously do better than yourself all the time?

The One Thing I’m Learning About Success and Life Right Now 

My career has been pretty incredible. I’ve been featured in Forbes and INC, this podcast has been called one of the best for entrepreneurs, I’ve been interviewed by some of the most brilliant minds in business and by CNBC, filmed for a television show, and recorded nearly 1,000 podcast episodes. I’ve worked with over 40,000 small businesses. My website has been read in 189 countries. And that’s just the beginning. 

But today, just sitting feels like an accomplishment. I’m on Day 10 of IVF stimulation medication. I’m so excited about starting my own family, and also incredibly overwhelmed by what that looks like. So many of us find ourselves here — where the good and the hard are tangled together. The things that once empowered us can turn into rules we feel we must follow, or else we’re failing. If we don’t undo these patterns, I think we risk staying stuck — without a path forward

What I Learned When I Finally Slowed Down

This year, I’ve been on my own sort of Eat Pray Love journey. Not necessarily spending a year abroad gallivanting across Italy and India and Bali, but I’ve been trying to rediscover what I really want. I’m moving my body more, and that feels great. I’ve spent more time in prayer and reflection and community. All of those things have helped me to be more present and to feel more content. This morning, after my walk, I was having breakfast in the sun and I realized that everything I ‘had’ to do today was optional. The reason I was able to get there is because of three misconceptions I’ve blown up this year, and today I want to share them with you. 

The first one? Success is about doing more, that we need to grow constantly, scale, expand, and better ourselves. We look for validation and applause. But more is often a disguise for not actually knowing who you are. Who are you without the business? Is your whole identity based on being a founder? Have you been in survival mode for so long that you don’t know what peace feels like anymore? I’m terrified for what’s next unless you let that go. 

How We Lose Ourselves Trying to Follow Someone Else’s Path

We know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to business, yet we’re always looking for one. My right time and your right time could be dramatically different things, but that doesn’t make it any less or more successful. You could, of course take someone else’s steps and go far. I’m not saying that learning from other people is a bad approach. I’ve spent the last ten years teaching online, so I see the value in it. 

But the issue comes when we feel like we have to do it exactly like someone else, and when we force those square pegs into a round hole, and it doesn’t fit, and we feel uncomfortable the whole time, it’s not going to feel good. And it’s not to say that you should always be comfortable. Success isn’t about always having the best day ever or feeling like you have enough, but we can’t continue to think that if we all have the same set of things, we will all feel good.

Why Success Isn’t Going to Make You Feel Safe 

Even if you have the things that make you feel successful, that illusion of stability, having more money, more status, more control — it’s not going to be what quiets your nervous system. If you’ve been stuck in survival mode for so long, living in anxiety and burnout and disconnection, suddenly having money land on your lap is not going to make those things go away. You have to heal on your own. 

Money obviously gives you space and choices, and I am not denying that, but it’s not going to make you feel safe all on its own. You’re the one who has to work through your insecurities and the things that have left you broken along the way. If anything, trying to control the amount of money you make, the status you have, and the safety nets all around you, is only going to make you more anxious. If you’ve outgrown the metrics you measure your success on, achieving more is not going to create a new experience. 

What It Might Look Like to Put Yourself Out There In New Ways

Things have to shift. We have to tell ourselves need stories. We have to get super curious, and this isn’t about pulling ourselves away and doing a whole bunch of reflection. If anything? I’ve put myself out there more and in new ways. I wonder if success isn’t something you need to chase at all, but something you need to define for yourself. What if it had less to do with what you’re building and more to do with how it feels?

What if you could love your life right now even if it’s not exactly what you expected? I’m not saying you need to know what success means to you or how it’s going to look or how you’re going to get there. In fact, I want you to be thinking about what you should be building that you actually want to maintain. What do you want your day to day life to look like? How can you have more of that now? If you stopped trying to prove your worth by achieving more, what would you do instead? 

I think most people get their idea of success wrong because it was given to them by someone else. I’m so excited to be writing the book that’s going to help you rewrite that future.

 

Quote ThisMoney obviously gives you space and choices, and I am not denying that, but it’s not going to make you feel safe all on its own. You’re the one who has to work through your insecurities and the things that have left you broken along the way.

 

Highlights

• The One Thing I’m Learning About Success and Life Right Now [0:05:29]  

• What I Learned When I Finally Slowed Down [0:13:21] 

• How We Lose Ourselves Trying to Follow Someone Else’s Path [0:20:48] 

• Why Success Isn’t Going to Make You Feel Safe [0:22:41] 

• What It Might Look Like to Put Yourself Out There In New Ways [0:26:27] 

OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail hosts the twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, which is recognized by INC and Forbes as one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

Misconceptions, Success, Money, Goals

We Mentioned:

Eat, Pray, Love

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Episode 993: Show Notes

You know you’re in danger when rest feels more dangerous than your to-do list. If you’ve ever bragged about being overwhelmed, lack of sleep, or saying yes to something you don’t want to do just to feel ‘needed’, you might be a stress junkie, and your body is paying the price! Cortisol addiction is a clinically observed pattern.

When you’re stressed, your body pumps out cortisol and triggers a part of your fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response; your survival mechanism. Over time, these stress-related behaviors can become compulsive, and when stress becomes constant, your body keeps producing cortisol when there is no real danger, which has serious long-term effects on your health. Today, we’re going to unpack why you might be addicted to stress hormones and why you can’t quit. 

Breaking Free From Your Addiction to Cortisol

Abagail Pumphrey of The Strategy Hour Podcast

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Signs That You’re Addicted to Cortisol 

Pretty much every creator I’ve ever met on the internet avoids rest and relaxation, constantly checks their phone, and says yes to everything. These are some of the obvious signs that you’re addicted to cortisol, but I think there are some more subtle ones too. Like craving busyness and feeling guilty for taking rest, and believing that you need to earn your downtime. If you’re doing this, you might be self-sabotaging by seeking out stress. I want you to ask yourself: Do you feel uneasy when life feels too calm? Do you say yes even when you’re overwhelmed? Does rest make you feel lazy? And do you thrive in chaos? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you may be caught in a stress cycle.   

Why You Get Addicted to Stress 

So, now you know how to figure out if you’re stuck in a stress cycle. Next. I want you to really ask yourself why you’re stuck in a stress cycle. Stress can cause a natural high by activating arousal and attention centers in your nervous system, and if prolonged, it can be as addictive as drugs! In other words, your chronically stressed-out brain becomes dependent on these small, euphoric hits. If you’ve been living in this high-alert mode for a while, slowing down might not feel natural. If you want to recover, then you need to show your nervous system that it is safe to rest 

How to Break the Cycle  

Start by giving yourself permission to slow down and reminding yourself that you don’t have to earn rest by completing something. Try to give yourself even five minutes to reset between tasks because then you can reset the cortisol loop and bring yourself back to baseline. You can also focus on calming your nervous system with exercises like box breathing, going on a walk, or even stretching. You can also protect your energy with clear boundaries. Another thing you can do is to reduce your screentime. Even a short digital detox can help lower cortisol production. It is critical to support your sleep, and you need to build a consistent wind-down routine. I also encourage you to nourish your body to keep cortisol levels at bay.  

The Power of CBT and DBT 

I understand that it’s easy to feel frustrated by this because all of these tips are difficult to make into a habit. So, I think it’s helpful to have something a little bit more concrete and ‘once-off’ to help you break free of this cycle and build those habits over time. Both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) help you recognize and rewire thought patterns that fuel stress. These are evidence-based approaches that are powerful tools for breaking automatic cortisol-driven responses. And the best part is that you don’t have to do it alone! You can find a therapist to help you through the journey.  

I don’t want you to do all of this at once or on your own! The whole point is to have a calmer life, so I don’t want to stress you out even more. Working on this has really helped me recognize how content I actually am with my life. If you can start to understand why and slowly become more observant, then you can break free of the hold stress has over you. This is something you can keep working on, but I think it might be the most important thing you ever do for yourself, your family, and the people around you. Just take one step at a time. I can’t wait to see you thrive!

 

Quote ThisChronic stress disrupts sleep and poor sleep habits keep— cortisol high.

 

Highlights

• Signs That You’re Addicted to Cortisol [0:04:57]  

• Why You Get Addicted to Stress [0:07:20] 

• How to Break the Cycle [0:08:09] 

• The Power of CBT and DBT [0:17:00]

OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail hosts the twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, which is recognized by INC and Forbes as one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

Cortisol Addiction, Stress, Chronic Overwhelm, Therapy 

We Mentioned:

Dr. Heidi Hanna

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Episode 992: Show Notes

Prioritizing Your Life When Shit Hits the Fan [FAN FAVORITE]

Abagail Pumphrey of The Strategy Hour Podcast

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When life gets messy, the last thing you want is a business that crumbles. In this episode, Abagail walks you through:

• Why you need a support network at home and in business

• How to reimagine your business so it runs without you

• The first steps to creating sustainability and balance

You can’t control when life throws curveballs, but you can build a business that can handle them.

 

Quote ThisIf your business isn’t built for you to walk away, you’re building a business that’s dependent on you.

 

Highlights

• Learning How to Ask for Help. [0:18:23]

• Imagining a Business That Can Run Without You. [0:30:03]

• The Very First Thing You Need to Do. [0:34:40]

OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail hosts the twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, which is recognized by INC and Forbes as one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

Sustainability, Life challenges, Finding balance, Business Security, Business Planning, Stress, Communication

We Mentioned:

Digital Product Jumpstart

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FreshBooks get 70% off for 3 months

Episode 991: Show Notes

Where are you headed?

Maybe you know exactly what that looks like—or maybe you’re not sure yet. Either way, that’s okay. The truth is, every past experience you’ve had has shaped the business (and life) you have today, and those moments—big or small—can guide what comes next.

How to Leverage Where You Are to Get Where You Want to Go [FAN FAVORITE]

Abagail Pumphrey of The Strategy Hour Podcast

Listen on your favorite podcast player

In this episode, I’m walking you through my PACE method, a framework that helps you:

• Position yourself by understanding your current circumstances.

• Define your Aspirations with four simple exercises.

• Unlock your Creativity through experimentation.

• And most importantly, take Execution through messy, imperfect action.

We’ll also talk about setting non-negotiables, aligning your actions with your aspirations, and why progress—not perfection—is the real key to momentum.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, unclear about your next steps, or weighed down by excuses, this conversation will help you find clarity and movement. The journey is the destination!

 

Quote ThisI want you to take action like you already have what you want.

 

Highlights

• Understand Your Positioning  [0:07:47]

• Four Exercises to Define Your Aspirations [0:08:32]

• How Experimenting Boosts Creativity. [0:15:11]

• Execution: Take Messy Action  [0:17:22]

• Three Actionable Mindset Steps [0:19:52]

OUR HOST:

Abagail Pumphrey

Abagail on Instagram

Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook

Abagail hosts the twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, which is recognized by INC and Forbes as one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

Goal Setting, Aspirations, Creativity, Positive Mindset, Growth Mindset

We Mentioned:

Market Shift workshop

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FreshBooks get 70% off for 3 months