Leading Without Burning Out: Rena's Journey from Solopreneur Overwhelm to Business Coaching

If you've ever felt like you're grinding 24/7 in your business, constantly juggling every role, and wondering if there's a better way—you're not alone. And more importantly, there is a better way.

In this powerful conversation on the Employee to Boss podcast, I sat down with Rena, a business coach at One Team Partners, who knows the solopreneur burnout journey intimately. After running her own business in the events and entertainment industry for 25 years, Rena experienced firsthand what happens when you don't know how to create boundaries or prioritize self-care.

Her story? It's one that so many entrepreneurs can relate to—and her wisdom can help you avoid the same exhausting path.

Listen to the full episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/employee-to-boss-entrepreneurship-side-hustles-and/id1598027167?i=1000764224830

The Cost of Not Knowing There's a Better Way

Rena started her business in her early twenties with two small children at home. Like many of us, she dove in headfirst, wearing every single hat, working around the clock.

But here's what she didn't realize at the time: She never knew there was a better way to do things than grinding 24/7.

Without business experience or mentorship, Rena thought constant hustle was just what entrepreneurship looked like. She didn't know she could create boundaries, delegate effectively, or spend time being present with her family and focused at work.

The result? Her body started sending warning signals she couldn't ignore.

When Your Body Says "Enough"

Rena began experiencing a cascade of medical issues: hair loss, weight gain, migraines, and even anxiety gagging—an embarrassing symptom she didn't understand at the time.

Doctors couldn't find a medical explanation for any of it. That's when Rena realized something had to change. She wasn't connecting all the dots yet, but she knew she wasn't happy and needed something different.

So she did something radical: she stopped.

Rena took about a year off to focus on personal reset and self-discovery. And here's what she found: all those symptoms? They went away once she made time for herself and reduced her stress.

Rediscovering Who You Are Beyond Your Business

One of the most striking things Rena shared was how her business had become her entire identity. During her year of self-discovery, she found herself saying over and over: "I don't even know what I like".

She'd been living for her work and her family for so long that she'd lost touch with herself. Rena had to intentionally explore what she used to enjoy and what parts of herself she'd let go over the years.

This is such an important conversation for entrepreneurs to have. How many of us have lost ourselves in our businesses? How many of us struggle to answer the simple question: "What do you do for fun?"

Could You Do This Without Stopping Completely?

I asked Rena if she thought she could have done this self-discovery work while still running her business, or if she needed the complete stop.

Her answer was honest: For her, she needed something to snap her out of it.

She'd been so caught up in the head-down, grinding mentality—just doing, doing, doing without ever lifting her head to look at the bigger picture. But she also believes it can be done while running your business if you have something or someone to help you snap out of that pattern.

That "something" could be a coach, a mentor, a community, or even a trusted friend who can give you perspective.

The Self-Care You Actually Need (Not the Instagram Version)

When we talk about self-care in entrepreneurship, Rena has a crucial perspective shift to offer.

Self-care isn't just bubble baths and spa days.

Those "Instagram-worthy" moments are nice, but they're not the sustainable, lived-in, everyday kind of self-care entrepreneurs need to thrive.

It's Really About Energy Management

According to Rena, the key to sustainable self-care in business is thinking about your energy.

Ask yourself:

• When am I most focused during the day?

• What time do I start slumping (like after lunch)?

• What activities give me energy versus drain it?

• How can I structure my day in alignment with my natural energy flow?

Most entrepreneurs think about time blocking only in terms of tasks that need to get done. But Rena encourages us to structure our days around our energy instead.

For example:

• If meetings energize you, schedule them when you're feeling quiet and need a boost

• Save your most focused, creative work for your peak energy hours

• Recognize that you can't have every day be a "killer 10-hour day"—that's not sustainable

Decision Fatigue Is Real

As entrepreneurs, we make countless decisions every single day. And as Rena points out, every decision is on you as the solopreneur—they're nonstop and overwhelming.

The problem? Many of these decisions keep cycling in our heads. We put off making calls on things because we think we need to "find the right solution" before trying something and moving on.

How to Handle Decision Overwhelm

Rena's advice is simple but powerful: Get as much out of your head as possible.

Don't let decisions sit there spinning in the background, slowing you down and stealing focus from everything else.

Additionally, she recommends staying connected to your why—your business's purpose and values. Use those foundational concepts as a lens to filter your big business decisions through. When you're facing a choice and thinking "I know nothing about this," go back to why you created your business and what you're trying to accomplish. This keeps you aligned and makes decision-making clearer.

You Are the Ceiling of Your Business

One of Rena's core beliefs is beautifully simple but powerful: You are the ceiling of your business. When you grow, your business grows.

This is especially true for solopreneurs. When you're not hiring or expanding your team, you're essentially capped at your own ability.

Here's the thing: most entrepreneurs are experts at their product or service. But creating and building a business around that expertise? That's not necessarily what they're experts at.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

We've all heard the saying "work smarter, not harder," but what does that actually mean?

For Rena, it means recognizing that every hour is your hour as a solopreneur. You have to make those hours count. That means:

• Showing up more focused and productive

• Knowing your priorities so you can dig right in

• Not just working harder to hit your next milestone

You only have so many hours in the day. There's a limit to how much "work harder" will actually work.

Building Your Community Is Non-Negotiable

When Rena works with solopreneurs and small business owners, one of the first things she asks is: "Who is your community?"

Whether it's a women's group, church group, networking group, or group of friends where you can share work challenges and explore ideas—having that community is critical, especially when you're a team of one.

You don't have that in-house support system, so you need to intentionally seek out outside perspectives. This could be a mentor or just other entrepreneurs who understand what you're going through.

Can We Really Have It All?

I asked Rena a tough question: Can women in business have it all?

Her response was thoughtful. She turned it back on the definition of "all." What do you want "all" to be?

Whether in life or business, it comes down to priorities. What are the things you prioritize? That's what you want—that's what you want to have.

Even as a parent, you want all your time with your kids, but you also have to pay bills and run your business. You find a priority for everything, control what you can control, and move forward.

3 Action Steps You Can Take This Week

Rena left us with three powerful challenges to move forward from this conversation:

1. Pay Attention to What's Swirling in Your Head

Notice what's cycling in the back of your mind when you're trying to do other things. What's your brain hanging onto that's not allowing you to be present?

2. Get Rid of That Mental Weight

Figure out a way to release what's weighing you down. If it's a to-do list, write it down and trust that you can come back to it later. You're not going to forget it.

3. Find Your Community

Find a group to take along your career journey—for accountability, challenges, and sharing wins.

About One Team Partners

Rena works with One Team Partners, a coaching company that serves both enterprise clients and smaller entrepreneurial solopreneurs. They have specialties for all points along the growth journey, whether you're just starting out or scaling to the next level.

Rena and the team have created a community on the School platform called Big Talk—for entrepreneurial business owners and leaders who need community, support, and access to coaching. It's only $20 a month, and they offer multiple coaching calls per week to make coaching accessible.

Special offer for our listeners: Email Rena at BigTalk@OneTeamPartners.com with "Employee to Boss" in the subject line to get your first month free plus a complimentary one-on-one coaching call.

You can also connect with Rena on LinkedIn or visit OneTeamPartners.com.

Final Thoughts: You Don't Have to Burn Out to Build Big

Rena's story is a powerful reminder that burning out isn't a badge of honor—it's a warning sign.

The solopreneur journey doesn't have to mean sacrificing your health, your identity, or your joy. With the right support, community, and self-awareness, you can build a thriving business and a fulfilling life.

If Rena's story resonated with you, it might be time to ask yourself some hard questions:

• Am I managing my energy or just my to-do list?

• Do I have a community supporting my entrepreneurial journey?

• Am I still connected to who I am outside of my business?

Because here's the truth: Your business deserves your best self—not your burnt-out self.

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This episode was produced by Espresso Podcast Production. Listen to the full Employee to Boss podcast wherever you get your podcasts.