Do you actually need a business exit strategy — or did a business influencer just make you feel like you do?

In this episode, Puja (Roop Creative Agency) and Britt (Merit Media) push back on the "build it to sell it" narrative taking over business culture, and make the case for the lifestyle business: keep the money you make, serve the people you love serving, and build something your kids might actually want.

Then they get into the part nobody says out loud: influencer math. What business influencers' revenue claims conveniently leave out, why their "6 years in business" might really be your 14, and how the entrepreneur comparison trap quietly convinces successful founders they're failing.

In this episode:

• Exit strategy vs. legacy — why "sell for millions" became the default goal, and who it actually makes sense for (hint: product, rarely service)
• The Instagram influencer who shamed someone's 5pm log-off and cold plunge — and what her "exit" flex really tells you
• Influencer math: the real estate, stocks, and hidden revenue streams behind "my business made me millions"
• Bootstrapping a business, defined honestly — choosing between business cards and the kids' trampoline trip
• Why funded founders (the "Chads of the world") play a different game than bootstrapped women — and why comparing the two breaks your brain
• "How many of those years were successful?" — the one question to ask before taking anyone's business advice
• Pivoting as the exit nobody talks about: leaving old versions of your business (and yourself) without selling anything
• Redefining success: running a sustainable business through a pandemic, IVF, loss, and everything the highlight reel hides

If you've ever felt behind because of someone's Instagram — this episode is the recalibration.

Take it to the socials: are you planning an exit, dreaming of one, or building a legacy? And if there's an influencer claim bugging you, DM us — we won't share it, we just want to debunk it.

TAGS: business exit strategy, lifestyle business, business influencer red flags, business influencer income claims, bootstrapping a business, entrepreneur comparison trap, building a business legacy, solopreneur success, women entrepreneurs, service business owner

Working from home boundaries are the difference between running your business from home and letting your business run your home. In this episode, Puja (Roop Creative Agency) and Britt (Merit Media) get honest about the work from home guilt trip — why founders feel it, why moms building businesses feel it double, and the exact boundaries that make it stop.

Whether you're a kitchen-table CEO or you've commandeered the whole basement (guilty), this one is full of practical work from home tips for founders who want harmony without burnout.

In this episode:

• Why a separate workspace changes everything — even if it's just a room divider, a bookshelf, or a corner you claim as yours
• The "wardrobe switch" and other start-of-day rituals that flip your brain into work mode (and out of it at 5pm)
• Setting work hours as a small business owner — including the friend who runs her entire practice on a two-day workweek
• Why working from the couch kills your focus, and the one room your desk should never face
• Summer camp guilt, kids at home, and why trying to work and parent at the same time means failing at both
• The pre-kid version of yourself you have to let go of — and the acceptance that finally makes work life balance as an entrepreneur possible
• Founder burnout prevention that actually works: micro-traditions, transition ceremonies, and heavy (heavy!) boundaries

If you've ever googled "why do I feel guilty working from home" — this episode is your permission slip.

Tell us on socials: are you thriving working from home or barely surviving? We want your tips, and if you're feeling guilty, we'll talk you out of it.

TAGS

working from home boundaries, work from home tips for founders, setting work hours small business, work life balance entrepreneur, home office boundaries, founder burnout prevention, work from home guilt, work from home mom, small business owner tips

In this episode of We'll Circle Back, founders Puja Malhotra of Roop Creative Agency and Britt Holmes of Merit Media are back with another Nobody Asked episode — and this one goes everywhere. They kick things off with rapid fire questions that quickly turn into anything but rapid, covering coffee orders as emotional indicators, most used apps, working styles, phone boundaries and the funniest things their kids think they do all day. Britt shares the story of how her kids genuinely believed she was an employee at the coffee shop, and Puja's four year old makes a surprise appearance by calling his mom out for not knowing the five times table. If you're a founder, a mom, or just someone who needs a laugh on a Tuesday, this episode is for you. Send us your questions — business, founder life, or anything keeping you up at night — and we'll answer them on a future episode.

Keywords: founder podcast, women in business podcast, female founders, founder mom life, work life balance for founders, funny founder stories, business podcast for women, We'll Circle Back podcast, nobody asked series, founder lifestyle

In this episode of We'll Circle Back, founders Puja Malhotra of Roop Creative Agency and Britt Holmes of Merit Media break down the content snowball strategy — a simple approach to content creation that lets you create once and repurpose everywhere. They cover how to turn one blog post into a full week of content across Instagram, LinkedIn, newsletters and more, why your social media is now your business card, the scheduling tools they actually use (Later and Buffer), how AI fits into content creation without losing your brand voice, and why you don't need to hop on every trend to show up consistently. If you're a founder who's been avoiding content creation, this is the episode that's going to change that.

Keywords: content strategy for founders, content snowball, repurpose content, social media for small business, content marketing, founder marketing tips, how to create content faster

The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including parenting challenges, self-reflection, personal growth, aging, material possessions, and the joy of plants and gardening. It also delves into the importance of humor, childhood memories, and favorite songs as mood boosters. The conversation covers the power of music, the evolution of music, mindset in business and life, comfort foods and happy places, discipline and self-perception, and engaging with the audience through questions and answers.

Takeaways

• Navigating the challenges of parenting and summer activities
• The significance of personal items and the joy of plants and gardening The impact of music on mood and emotions
• The importance of mindset and discipline in business and life

Chapters

• 00:00 Navigating the Challenges of Summer
• 04:55 Aging and Self-Expression
• 10:05 Finding Calm and Grounding
• 15:10 Favorite Songs and Mood Boosters
• 21:22 Mindset in Business and Life
• 35:27 Engaging with the Audience

The conversation delves into the multifaceted role of AI in business operations, exploring its integration, limitations, and security concerns. Puja and Britt share their perspectives on AI's impact on client communication, administrative tasks, and financial management, highlighting the need for boundaries and reassurance in its use. The conversation delves into the excitement of AI, its impact on content creation and time management, the use of AI for automated admin tasks, the relationship between AI and human skills, interpreting AI results, the value of human expertise, fear and evolution with AI, humanizing AI-generated content, AI in design and art, AI and human connection, understanding the unspoken, human skills vs. AI, privacy and exposure, and AI utilization and concerns.

Takeaways

• AI's role in business spans from administrative automation to client communication and financial management.
• Setting boundaries and ensuring security are crucial when integrating AI into business operations. AI's impact on content creation and time management
• The value of human expertise in the age of AI

Chapters

• 00:00 The Fascination with AI
• 06:37 AI as a Summer Student
• 13:04 Security Concerns with AI
• 19:04 Content Creation and Time Management
• 25:04 Fear and Evolution with AI
• 31:07 Understanding the Unspoken
• 36:51 AI Utilization and Concerns

In this episode of 'We'll Circle Back', Puja and Britt engage in a lighthearted and reflective conversation, exploring childhood memories, personal mantras, personality traits, authenticity, and understanding others. The conversation is filled with humour, vulnerability, and a deep sense of connection. The conversation delves into themes of understanding and grace, coping with loss, personal habits for well-being, planning and flexibility, taking risks and perceptions, misconceptions and vulnerability, and concludes with closing remarks.

Takeaways

• Childhood memories shape our perspectives
• Personal mantras reflect self-empowerment Understanding and grace are essential in dealing with personal struggles and in understanding others.
• Small habits, such as meditation and embodying a future self, can have a significant impact on well-being.

Chapters

• 00:00 Fun and Games
• 05:55 Alone Time
• 12:03 Personality Traits
• 17:57 Understanding Others
• 25:05 Coke Zero vs. Diet Coke
• 32:10 Taking Risks and Perceptions
• 39:04 Closing Remarks

The conversation covers the journey of starting a business, the importance of strategic investment, and the significance of foundational elements like branding, messaging, and business systems. It emphasizes the need for expert advice and financial planning to ensure sustainable growth and success. The conversation covers the importance of readiness, investing in legal protection, setting boundaries with contracts, business structure and legal protection, financial and legal support, and continuous investment and evolution in business.

Takeaways

• Strategic investment is crucial for the success of a business.
• Foundational elements like branding, messaging, and business systems are essential for sustainable growth. Readiness is crucial for business success
• Investing in legal protection and setting boundaries with contracts are essential for business safety and growth.

Chapters

• 00:00 Starting a Business and Business Investment
• 07:26 Investing in Business Systems and Processes
• 14:16 The Importance of Being Ready
• 20:49 Business Structure and Legal Protection
• 29:23 Continuous Investment and Evolution

The conversation explores the themes of audacity and the power of asking. It delves into the fear of investing and asking, recognizing self-worth and deservingness, and encouraging audacious asks. The hosts share personal experiences and insights, emphasizing the importance of embracing audacity and the impact of asking for what one deserves.

Takeaways

• Embracing audacity
• The power of asking

Chapters

• 00:00 Encouraging Audacious Asks

The conversation explores the concept of celebrating wins and the balance between work and celebration. It delves into the mindset of entrepreneurs and their approach to acknowledging achievements. The discussion also touches on the impact of upbringing and learned behaviors on the perception of celebration and self-reward.

Takeaways

• Celebrating Wins
• Balancing Work and Celebration

Chapters

• 00:00 Celebrating Wins and Work-Life Balance