Feeling burned out or stuck in a business that no longer brings you joy?

Ready to grow without sacrificing what matters most? In this inaugural episode of “The Business You Really Want,” hosts Gwen Bortner and Tonya Kubo tackle the emerging trend of entrepreneurs “burning down” their businesses to start over (or call it quits). Drawing from Gwen’s 40 years of cross-industry experience, they offer a fresh perspective on building sustainable success without sacrificing your values or sanity.

Listen for these juicy nuggets:

• 2:41 – The genesis of the podcast and why it’s needed now
• 5:45 – The problem with the “burn it down” approach
• 9:45 – Marketing’s limitations in solving systemic issues
• 13:36 – The importance of defining success on your own terms
• 18:21 – Real-life examples of misaligned business growth
• 24:32 – The courage required to redefine success
• 27:34 – The value of outside perspective in solving critical business problems

Does this episode hit a little too close to home? Try this:

• Before making drastic changes, identify what success really means for you
• Look beyond your product and marketing to find the root cause of your problems
• Seek outside perspectives, if necessary, to discover alternatives you might not have considered
• Focus on aligning your business with your values and goals
• If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review.

Check out Episode 2, where Gwen and Tonya cover practical steps to assess and transform your business model.

Have questions? Email Tonya at [email protected] to potentially have your question featured in a future episode.

💡GET NOTIFIED OF NEW RELEASES: www.thebusinessyoureallywant.com

💡 Subscribe to our GEARshift newsletter: pages.everydayeffectiveness.com/gearshift

—

Connect with Gwen:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gwen-bortner

Connect with Tonya:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyakubo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTonyaKubo

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyakubo

Twitter/X: https://x.com/tonyakubo

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tonyakubo

#podcast #entrepreneurship #businessadvice

Feeling burned out or stuck in a business that no longer brings you joy? 

Ready to grow without sacrificing what matters most? Join Gwen and Tonya in Episode 1 as they share their journey and practical strategies to help female entrepreneurs build sustainable, value-aligned businesses.

🔑 Key Points:

• Facing Challenges: Tonya shares her experience with burnout and financial struggles.
• Finding Alternatives: Gwen discusses various options for restructuring a business.
• Podcast Purpose: Helping female entrepreneurs build fulfilling businesses.

⏱ Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Tonya's Story: Financial struggles and burnout.
• [00:01:00] Exploring Options: Gwen on business restructuring.
• [00:04:00] Avoiding the Burn It Down Approach: Why starting over isn't always necessary.
• [00:09:00] Defining Success: Building a business aligned with personal values.
• [00:19:00] Overcoming Misconceptions: Common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
• [00:27:00] Future Episodes: What to expect and how to get involved.

✍️ Key Quotes:

• "It's not easy to publicly admit you almost went bankrupt." - Tonya
• "The business you really want is within reach, even if you're financially tapped out and physically burned out." - Tonya
• "There are options, and most of the time, you don't know." - Gwen
• "Bigger is bigger, and better is better. And those aren't necessarily the same things." - Gwen

Have questions? Email Tonya at [email protected] to potentially have your question featured in a future episode.

💡GET NOTIFIED OF NEW RELEASES: www.thebusinessyoureallywant.com

💡 Subscribe to our GEARshift newsletter: pages.everydayeffectiveness.com/gearshift

__________

Connect with Gwen:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gwen-bortner/

Connect with Tonya:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyakubo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTonyaKubo

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyakubo

Twitter/X: https://x.com/tonyakubo

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tonyakubo

#podcast #entrepreneurship #businessadvice

Have questions? Email Tonya at [email protected] to potentially have your question featured in a future episode. Subscribe and leave a review!

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or uncertain about how to grow your business without sacrificing what matters most to you?

Welcome to The Business You Really Want: the show for women who are ready to build a sustainable, fulfilling business aligned with their values.

Join Gwen Bortner, a seasoned business advisor with over 35 years of cross-industry experience in operations, and Tonya Kubo, marketing strategist and online community builder, as they share their unique, holistic approach to entrepreneurial success.

Each episode is packed with practical strategies, real-life examples, and empowering insights to help you navigate the challenges of running a values-driven business. Leverage your strengths, optimize your operations, and create a business that lights you up and allows you to make a meaningful impact. 

Subscribe to the show and make sure to stay in touch at TheBusinessYouReallyWant.com, where we share our favorite business-building resources and updates on upcoming events designed to support you on your entrepreneurial journey.

Gwen Bortner is an operational strategist and business advisor with four decades of experience spanning more than 40 industries.

As the host of The Business You Really Want podcast, Gwen shows female entrepreneurs how to design sustainable, fulfilling businesses aligned with their values.

Each week, Gwen and co-host Tonya Kubo share practical strategies, real-life examples, and keen insights to help listeners navigate the challenges of running an impact-driven business.

Feeling burned out, stuck, or unsure about how to grow your business without sacrificing what matters most? This podcast offers the guidance and perspective needed to build the business you really want.