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.

Welcome to The Lindsey Anderson Show! In today’s episode, I’m excited to talk with Kevin Surface, a renowned entrepreneur, innovator, and speaker. Kevin and I dive deep into the connection between joy and success, how this approach shapes both achievement and personal fulfillment, and why embracing joy in everyday tasks can lead to greater success in your business and personal growth.

Kevin Surface is the former CEO of Sirius Energy, an innovator in green building materials, and the father of the virtual assistant technology that led to Siri and Alexa. With 94 worldwide patents, including over a dozen in the virtual assistant and voice user interface space, Kevin is a true pioneer. Under his leadership, Sirius Energy was recognized as a leader in green building technologies and earned accolades such as Inc. Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year.

As a speaker and author, he focuses on joy, success, and personal transformation through mindset shifts. He’s passionate about spreading the message that finding joy in everyday moments is key to unlocking maximum success in life and business, especially for business owners looking to scale their businesses.

• The Power of Joy: Joy isn’t just about big wins. It’s about finding joy in the small moments every day—whether it’s at work, home, or during challenging tasks. Embracing this mindset is essential for business owners looking to grow and scale their business.
• Happiness vs. Joy: Happiness is a state of being, but joy is found in the little moments throughout the day that lead to bigger successes. This shift in mindset is crucial for those in business.
• Choosing Your Mindset: We have the power to control how we perceive tasks. When we approach tasks with joy, even those that seem difficult or unappealing, we set ourselves up for greater success in both our personal and professional lives.
• Joy in Parenting and Relationships: The concept of “joy moments” extends beyond work—it applies to parenting and relationships, finding joy even when things don’t go as planned. This is especially important for entrepreneurs balancing business growth with personal life.
• Momentum and Transformation: Focusing on joy each day creates momentum that positively impacts all areas of life, from business to personal relationships. For business owners looking to scale their business, this mental shift can be a game changer.

• Kevin shares how he developed the "Joy Success Cycle," where small moments of joy throughout the day lead to greater success.
• By training your mind to find joy in every task, you can shift away from negativity and build a more positive, successful life. This is key to maintaining a high-performing mindset as you grow your business.
• The cycle isn’t about denying negative emotions; it’s about choosing to approach the 99% of everyday tasks with positivity, which is essential for entrepreneurs aiming to thrive.

• "We get to choose to live our lives both at work and at home in the way we choose, in the way we control fully."
• "It’s not about the big, massive wins. It’s about tiny little moments of joy leading to more success."
• "You can’t achieve maximum success if you’re complaining about every task—joy leads to success."
• "You can control how you feel about any task. It’s your choice to live with negativity or to choose joy."
• "Every little task completed brings joy—it’s not just about big accomplishments."

• Kevin’s Website: