Welcome to The Lindsey Anderson Show! In this episode, we dive into resilience—the key skill every entrepreneur must develop to overcome the inevitable ups and downs of running a business. Today, I chat with Brenda Reynolds, an expert in leadership and change. She breaks down a five-step framework for building resilience as a leader, and we talk about how to tackle change and turn it into growth. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to bounce back, this episode is for you.

In today’s episode, I’m excited to welcome Brenda Reynolds, a leadership expert, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and consultant. Brenda specializes in helping leaders navigate change and uncertainty by turning “now what?” moments into opportunities for growth. She’s worked with top organizations like McDonald's, QVC, and Goldman Sachs, equipping leaders with the tools to lead confidently through times of change. Today, Brenda is going to share her simple yet powerful system for developing resilience as a leader and business owner.

• Resilience is Key to Overcoming Setbacks: Business ownership comes with both wins and losses, but resilience is what allows us to bounce back and keep moving forward. It’s about handling uncertainty and challenges with grace and strength.
• Fail Forward Faster: Every failure is a test, not a setback. When you see challenges as opportunities for growth, you’ll build the business of your dreams faster.
• The Importance of Managing Transitions: Change is inevitable. How you handle transitions, both personally and within your business, will define your success. The most resilient leaders engage their teams through authentic communication and empathy.
• The Five Frogs Framework: Brenda’s simple five-step framework to building resilience as a leader. From the “Freaking Out” stage to “Sovereignty,” this framework helps you grow stronger and more confident through challenges.
• Navigating Emotional Moments: It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when things fall apart. But the key is not to get stuck in those emotions—acknowledge them and move through them intentionally to come out stronger.

1. F - Freaking Out: This is the initial emotional response where everything feels like it’s falling apart. The key here is to acknowledge your emotions but not get stuck in them.
2. R - Reframing: Once you’ve processed the initial shock, it’s time to reflect and reframe the situation. Ask yourself: What can I learn from this? How can I turn this challenge into an opportunity?
3. O - Overcoming Obstacles: Obstacles, big or small, will come your way. The key is to face them head-on, take action, and keep moving forward.
4. G - Growth: Every challenge is an opportunity to grow. As you face adversity, you’ll build resilience and become a stronger, more confident leader.
5. S - Sovereignty: This is the final stage where you own your resilience. After overcoming challenges, you emerge as a more capable, empowered version of yourself, ready to lead with confidence.

As entrepreneurs, we often face the emotional rollercoaster of business ownership—some days are wins, others are losses. The biggest challenge is staying resilient through the setbacks and emotional highs and lows. Building resilience is the only way to keep pushing forward, no matter how tough things get. Resilience gives us the courage to pivot and keep growing.

• “Resilience is the key to overcoming setbacks and...

Welcome to The Lindsey Anderson Show! In today’s episode, I talk with Ral West, a seasoned entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience. We address a problem that many entrepreneurs face: starting out with dreams of freedom, only to end up overwhelmed and burnt out by their businesses.We share how building systems, slowing down to speed up, and shifting your mindset can help you get out of the weeds and scale your business. If you’re feeling stuck in the grind and want to break free, this episode is for you.

Ral is the creator of the Overcome and Overwhelm framework, which helps entrepreneurs free up time, reduce stress, and build businesses that support their desired lifestyle. Ral’s personal success story includes scaling and selling a business to Alaska Airlines, and she’s now focused on investing in small cruise ships and multifamily real estate. Ral is passionate about helping entrepreneurs stop doing everything themselves and start building sustainable, profitable businesses.

• Start with Systems: Ral’s number one principle is to establish systems. Take stock of your daily tasks and identify which ones can be automated or delegated.
• Delegate Repetitive Tasks: Tasks like email follow-ups, appointment scheduling, and billing are prime candidates for delegation or automation.
• Automate and Use Technology: Leverage tools like AI, virtual assistants, and CRM systems to streamline your operations and save time.
• Work on Your Business, Not In It: Instead of micromanaging every aspect, focus on creating systems that allow your business to run smoothly without you.
• Seize Opportunities: Ral emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and seizing new opportunities, even when they don’t align with your original business plan.

As entrepreneurs, we often feel trapped by our daily operations. We struggle to scale, innovate, or keep up with our long-term vision due to a lack of systems and processes. Overwhelm becomes a common issue, leading to burnout and frustration.

• “We were limiting the growth of the business because we couldn’t do all of it, and we couldn’t direct every single aspect of the business.”
• “The business model should support your life, not the other way around.”
• “Can you afford not to delegate and create systems? What are you leaving on the table in terms of revenue, health, and mental wellbeing?”
• “There’s so much you can delegate. If you’re not slowing down to speed up and taking the time to write it down, there are gaps in your time you don’t even know about.”

Ral really emphasizes the importance of good delegation and letting go of control. “You need to learn how to delegate in a way that’s clearly outlined, focusing on the outcome rather than how it’s done.” Delegating tasks allows the business to grow beyond the owner’s capacity, and it’s a crucial step for scalability.

Many entrepreneurs push back, saying they can't afford to hire help or don’t have the time to build systems. Ral challenges that mindset with, “Can you afford not to?” She explains that failing to delegate leads to burnout, poor health, and missed opportunities. By delegating and automating, we free up time and increase the business’s potential.

• Step 1: Take stock of your tasks. Identify which tasks are repetitive and can be delegated or automated.
• Step 2: Document your processes. Write down the steps for tasks like follow-ups, scheduling, and...

In today's episode, I'm joined by executive productivity coach and WSJ bestselling author, Demir Bentley. We dive deep into hustle culture, burnout, and how to truly win your week. You'll learn how working less (yes, really) can lead to more sustainable success, especially if you're building a service-based business. Demir shares the exact steps he used to transition from burnout to balance while growing a thriving business.

We discuss why most people don’t plan their week effectively and what you can do about it. Demir shares his full “Winning the Week” method and we explore how strategy, intentionality, and sustainable planning create space for the kind of business and life you actually want. If you're looking to grow your business without burning out, this episode is for you.

Demir Bentley is a top executive productivity coach and the co-founder of Life Hack Method. He’s the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Winning the Week and helps high-performing entrepreneurs and coaches work less while achieving more. After experiencing burnout in his former high-stakes Wall Street career, Demir completely transformed how he worked—and now he helps others do the same.

He’s guided thousands of entrepreneurs to build high-performance habits without sacrificing their health or happiness. His systems are especially powerful for entrepreneurs who are scaling their businesses while navigating the complexities of time, energy, and output.

• Hustle culture is not the answer—it’s the problem. Real success isn’t about more hours, it’s about more leverage and intention. Demir’s story is a powerful reminder that sustainability is the key to high performance. Burnout is not required for building a successful business—it’s a red flag.
• Planning your week is your number one productivity superpower, especially as a business owner managing both client work and business growth. If you’re not hitting all the necessary “bases” in your weekly planning, you’re already behind. The right planning system creates consistency, energy, and momentum that fuels long-term growth.

Burnout isn’t just about a busy calendar—it’s about a broken belief system. As entrepreneurs, we often feel pressure to equate effort with value. But the truth is, working smarter—not harder—is the real game-changer. Hustle culture is built on outdated myths about worth, productivity, and success.

Social media glorifies hustle and overwork, especially in the online business world. But Demir’s approach is a fresh, empowering alternative—one that allows business owners to scale with clarity instead of chaos.

Many entrepreneurs believe they can simply outwork the competition. But at what cost? If you want to build a business you’ll sustain for 10, 20, or 30 years, the hustle model isn’t the answer. Most people burn out right before they begin reaping the benefits of their hard-earned momentum.

This conversation reframes the hustle: sustainability isn’t optional—it’s essential. If you want to scale your business while protecting your energy and creativity, working fewer but more intentional hours is the way forward.

Most entrepreneurs only plan their week partially—they focus on client calls or content creation but miss deeper strategy work. Demir’s Winning the Week method is all about creating a repeatable weekly system that hits every area of your life and business.

When Demir implemented this method, he cut his workweek in half—from 90 hours to just over 40—without losing momentum. This isn’t about doing less; it’s about planning better. That mindset shift is business owners juggling business growth, marketing, and client delivery.