The Leonie Dawson Show

Ever feel like you're drowning in tasks but can't afford help? Or maybe you've built a team that's bleeding your profits dry? Welcome to the business staffing conversation nobody's having honestly.In this wildly practical episode, Leonie Dawson and Tamara Protassow dive deep into the messy middle of hiring, firing, and right-sizing your business. From Leonie's experience managing 25+ staff (spoiler: it nearly broke her) to running a 7 figure business with just 1-2 part-time VAs, you'll get the real talk on what actually works.Topics Covered:Red flags that you have too little support (and when to finally hire)Warning signs you've hired too many people (and how to fix it)The "rescue fantasy" trap that keeps you from leading yourselfWhat to outsource first (and what to keep doing yourself)Income-to-staffing ratios that actually make senseHow to protect yourself from "irreplaceable" team membersSystems that save your sanity (and your business)Key Insights:If you can't afford to hire, you don't have a proven business model yet—focus on marketing and pricing firstBookkeeping and tax should be your FIRST outsource—it's affordable and frees crucial brain spaceUnder $1M in revenue? You only need 1-2 part-time VAs in most online business modelsStandard Operating Procedures aren't optional—they're your insurance policy when life happensMore staff = more complexity, not more speed. Small teams move faster.If someone makes your business seem impossibly complicated, they're the problem (not the solution)Lower your household expectations before hiring help—are you leading yourself or waiting for rescue?Templates and systems can save you from "Sharon mode" (ask Leonie's family about that one)The "delegate everything" advice is BS—some tasks ground you and spark your best ideasWhen staff leave, your business should run smoothly. If it doesn't, you have a documentation problem.Ready to build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it? Join Leonie's Academy for workshops on hiring VAs, creating SOPs, and right-sizing your empire. Plus, connect with a community of creative, neurodivergent entrepreneurs who get it.Notable Quotes:"If you feel like your business is just far too complicated and absolutely must have this one person or your business will not work, I want you to know that you are wrong and that you need to get rid of that person as soon as possible." – Leonie Dawson"We are not actually brain surgeons. We are not rocket scientists. And every single person in this world really is replaceable." – Leonie Dawson"Are you actually leading yourself or are you wanting someone to rescue you?" – Leonie Dawson"The more somebody makes out that the business is very complicated, the more that person needs to leave because businesses actually aren't that complicated." – Leonie Dawson"Your best ideas don't come at the laptop. They happen in blank space moments when you're in the shower, when you're cooking dinner, when you're wafting about your raspberry patch." – Leonie DawsonWho This Podcast Is For:Creative women entrepreneurs, neurodivergent business owners, and soul-led service providers who want to build profitable businesses without sacrificing their sanity, values, or family time. Perfect for you if you're tired of "hustle harder" advice and ready for strategies that actually work for human beings.Links & Resources Mentioned:Leonie Dawson's Academy – Includes "How to Hire and Manage a VA" workshop and SOP templatesPrevious episode: Interview with Claire Wood (accountant)Previous episode: Interview with Katie Chappell (illustration business)Tools mentioned: Gmail templates, Asana, Zero accounting software, Repurpose.io, HelloFresh, Marley Spoon, The Laundry Lady (Australia)Bob Katter on crocodiles#WomenEntrepreneurs #CreativeBusiness #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #SmallBusinessOwner #BusinessSystems #SolopreneurLife #MindfulBusiness #VirtualAssistant #BusinessGrowth #FemaleFounders

Let's talk about the year I accidentally became everything I tell people NOT to do.You know that advice I've been giving for 15 years about not getting stuck in eternal student mode? Yeah, well, I completely shit the pooch on that one in 2025. I got so deep into learning and feminine energy that I basically turned into a gorgeously gormless worm with no exoskeleton, just vibing on the floor wondering why my business wasn't growing.Turns out? When you send 15 emails to your community instead of 50, stop creating content, and spend all your time in "receiving mode," things get a bit wobbly.But here's the beautiful thing about mistakes: they're fucking excellent teachers when you're willing to look at them honestly. And honey, I'm looking. Hard.In this episode, I'm spilling everything—the moments I lost my creative voice, the spreadsheet that kicked my ass back into gear, the friendship that saved my podcast, and all the experiments that actually worked (spoiler: there were some absolute crackers).This is for anyone who's ever overthought themselves into paralysis, bought seventeen courses and opened none of them, or wondered why their business stopped feeling like THEM. Come sit with me and Tam while we laugh about RSD, celebrate the wins, and map out what's coming next.Topics Covered:Overthinking vs. taking action in your businessBalancing feminine energy with masculine strategyThe three types of learners: Eleanor, Ruby, and IngridWhy I stopped creating (and how I started again)Learning mode vs. implementation modeTracking business metrics that actually matterExperimenting with new program formatsRunning masterminds and coaching differentlyKey Insights:Spending 10-20% of your time in learning mode is the sweet spot—any more and you're avoiding actionWhen you're too far into feminine/receiving energy without masculine structure, you become "gorgeously gormless"Your business data tells you when you're off track—I sent 15 emails instead of 50 and wondered why things felt wrongCreating content is lifeblood—for you and your businessSometimes you need accountability from a friend who'll say "bitch, where's my email?"The 100 creations in 30 days challenge can kickstart your creative flow againExperimenting with new formats (like backstage passes to your launch) triggers your obliger tendency in the best wayBody doubling works for content creation—recording with someone else changes everythingNotable Quotes:"I got my head stuck up my own asshole in overthinking mode. And the thing about overthinking mode is it's just not fun or sexy or adorable or enjoyable.""When I get too feminine energy influenced, I'm completely gormless—just no exoskeleton, no skeletal manner, anything.""Creating is my lifeblood and it's the business's lifeblood, and whatever I need to do in order to make that happen is time well spent."Who This Podcast Is For:Creative women entrepreneurs, neurodivergent business owners, and spiritual seekers who want honest conversations about building businesses that actually feel good—mistakes, magic, and all.Links & Resources Mentioned:Leonie Dawson's 2026 Goal WorkbooksThe Leonie Lab on InstagramLeonie Dawson's Brilliant Biz & Life AcademyCreative Goddess Embodied programBig Money Big Impact (21-day selling challenge)Momentum Mastermind2025 Dream Quest masterclassLove this episode? Hit subscribe, leave us five stars (your time is too valuable to leave anything less!), and tag us on social media—we want to see what resonated with you.Hashtags:#WomenEntrepreneurs #CreativeBusiness #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #FeminineEnergy #BusinessStrategy #ContentCreation #OnlineBusiness #SpiritualEntrepreneur #ADHDEntrepreneur #BusinessMindset

Sometimes the world breaks our hearts wide open. And when tragedy strikes—whether it's in our backyard or across the globe—we need to know how to hold both our humanity AND our mental health.In this deeply important episode, Leonie and Tamara share their wisdom on navigating collective grief, communal trauma, and how to be a good steward of your own nervous system when the news cycle feels overwhelming.They explore the recent tragedy in Sydney with tender care, offering practical tools for processing difficult events without sacrificing your wellbeing. You'll learn why your empathic nature might be working against you right now, how to protect your energy when you're feeling everything, and concrete ways to help your community heal.This isn't about toxic positivity or looking away. It's about staying present, connected, and regulated so you can actually show up for the people who need you most.TOPICS COVERED:Understanding collective vs. personal griefProtecting your nervous system from 24/7 news cyclesThe surprising science of Tetris for PTSD preventionHow to talk to kids about tragedy (age-appropriately)Energy boundaries for highly sensitive peopleFinding the helpers and celebrating acts of couragePractical ways to support affected communitiesHolding space for nuanced, complex conversationsKEY INSIGHTS:Collective grief is real and different: When tragedy strikes a community, you can literally feel emotions in your body that aren't yours—this is collective grief, and it requires different processing than personal lossYour nervous system wasn't designed for this: Humans aren't built to handle 24/7 streaming news and graphic footage. Limiting media consumption isn't avoidance—it's essential mental health careThe Tetris technique actually works: Research shows playing classic Tetris within 24 hours of trauma exposure can help prevent PTSD by engaging your brain's visual processing centersEmpaths need extra protection: If you're highly sensitive or empathic, you MUST actively call your energy back to yourself. You cannot process other people's trauma for themLook for the helpers, then BE one: From blood donations to checking on vulnerable friends to advocating for policy change—there are always meaningful ways to contributeRitual creates healing: Collective ceremonies, vigils, and shared practices help communities metabolize grief and strengthen bonds during crisisKids need minimal facts, maximum safety: Give children age-appropriate information, ensure they feel safe, and teach them how to support friends from affected communitiesYou're allowed to be okay when others aren't: This is a crucial boundary, especially for women conditioned to regulate everyone else's emotionsNOTABLE QUOTES:"We as humans are not designed to cope with 24/7 streaming news. We are not designed to cope with that level of information." — Leonie"You can help better when your energy is with you than scattered all around the place." — Tamara"You are allowed to be okay in your own body even when other people are not okay." — LeonieWHO THIS PODCAST IS FOR:This episode is for sensitive souls, empaths, and anyone who feels the weight of the world a little too heavily. It's for women entrepreneurs, creatives, and neurodivergent folks who want to stay informed and compassionate without sacrificing their mental health. If you've ever felt guilty for "not doing enough" during a crisis or struggled with energy boundaries during difficult times, this one's for you.LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED:Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (blood donation)#collectivegrief #mentalhealth #empathboundaries #nervoussystemhealing #traumarecovery #communityhealing #sensitivesoul #energyprotection #selfcare #womenentrepreneurs

Before you set a single intention for 2026, you need to look back at 2025. Not with judgment—with love, curiosity, and a commitment to extracting wisdom from every experience.In this episode, Leonie and Tam break down why so many entrepreneurs skip the review process (hint: fear of disappointment), what happens when you do the soul archaeology work, and how to approach your year as a heroine on a journey—not a failure who didn't hit every goal.Key Topics Covered:Why avoiding the review keeps you stuck and carrying baggage forwardThe "what worked and what didn't" framework for life and businessHow to build nervous system capacity for financial reviewProcessing grief, disappointment, and uncomfortable feelings with compassionCelebrating your heroine's journey—goblins, detours, and allMining for everyday miracles and wisdom gemsUsing tarot, oracle cards, and intuitive tools to reflect on the yearNotable Quotes:"It's like a rubber band: you pull back, and then you get flung further forward. The further back you go, the more momentum you have.""If we can open up and look at it with the eyes of love and compassion, we're in a much lighter position going forward.""Life didn't 'happen to you'—you lived it. And every bit of it widened you, made you wiser, deeper, lovelier than before.""The heroine doesn't go from A to B in a straight line. She meets goblins. She helps strangers. That's what makes the story worth telling."Links & Resources Mentioned:My Brilliant Year Life Goals Workbook: leoniedawson.com/workbooksMy Brilliant Year Business Goals Workbook: leoniedawson.com/workbooksJoin the Academy for the 2026 Planning Retreat recordingFree Facebook Group: Leonie Dawson's Goals Workbooks, Courses & AcademyPodcast episode with Claire Wood on Money Mindset Ready to Do the Work?Grab your My Brilliant Year workbook (or a journal and a candle) and carve out time this week to review 2025. Look for the wisdom gems. Celebrate what worked. Learn from what didn't. And step into 2026 lighter, wiser, and more empowered than ever before.Your year—no matter how messy—deserves to be honoured. Let's do this together.#WomenEntrepreneurs #GoalSetting #BusinessPlanning #ConsciousEntrepreneurship #ADHDEntrepreneur #FemaleFounded #HolisticBusiness #BoundariesInBusiness #WomenInLeadership #YearEndReview #2026goals #GoalSetting #YearInReview #WomenEntrepreneurs #CreativeBusiness #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #PersonalDevelopment #SoulfulBusiness #GoalsWorkbook #IntentionalLiving #HeroinesJourney

Gorgeous humans!This week I'm having the MOST delicious chat with my mate Jana Kingsford — author of Big Dreams (with eight more books in the works!) and the creator of the Beliefetics Method.Jana's one of those humans who actually DID the thing most people dream about but never do. She was stuck in the morning school run traffic, feeling like she couldn't do another 15 years of this… and went home and asked her husband if they could sell the house, buy a caravan, homeschool the kids and travel Australia full-time.His response? "I'm keen."That was the beginning of four laps of Australia, homeschooling three kids on the road, live streaming from cafe corners and literal trees, and building a million-dollar business from a caravan that didn't even have a toilet or shower!!!We'll cover:✨ The exact moment Jana knew her life had to change (driving home from school drop-off, crying kid, morning traffic, the works)✨ The reality of selling everything in 3 months and hitting the road✨ Homeschooling truth bombs: from distance ed panic to shutting the laptop because we're literally here✨ Why both her daughters are now thriving at uni after years of unschooling✨ Her 13-year-old son who taught himself everything from hyperfixations (unschooling magic!)✨ The morning routine that made it possible✨ How that one belief shift took her from $1K to $11K months in 5 months (and that was over 10 years ago!)✨ Why manifesting "big dreams you can't buy" is completely different to manifesting parking spots ✨ The seven stages of manifesting and why advice that works in stage one will sabotage you in stage sevenThis ep is for you if:💫 You're stuck in "going through the motions" energy and know something's gotta give💫 You dream of more freedom but think it's not realistic with kids/mortgage/all the things💫 You've manifested success before but feel weirdly resistant to going bigger again💫 You're sick of vanilla manifestation advice that doesn't address the messy middle bits💫 You want to understand the ACTUAL pattern of how big dreams unfold (not just the highlight reel)💫 You're wondering if you're brave enough to do the thing you keep dreaming aboutAbout JanaJana Kingsford is the author of Big Dreams and is currently writing EIGHT more books (taking all her courses and turning them into books like the legend she is). She's the creator of the Beliefetics Method for subconscious reprogramming, and has spent 10+ years helping entrepreneurs recognize patterns in their dream-building journeys. She traveled Australia four times in a caravan, homeschooled three kids on the road, hit multiple 6 and 7-figure milestones while living nomadically, and believes the best dreams are pilgrimages, not purchases. She now lives her best writer's life by the river.Connect with Jana:Instagram: @janakingsford #manifestation #bigdreams #believeaddict #homeschooling #caravanlife #travelaustralia #nomadic #freedomlifestyle #unschooling #entrepreneurlife #onlinebusiness #subconsciousprogramming #millionairemindset #femaleentrepreneur #digitalnomad #6figurebusiness #7figurebusiness #creativebusiness #spiritualbusiness #manifestingmethods #abundancemindset #locationindependent #businessfreedom #consciousentrepreneur #australianlife #sunshinecoast #noosa #travelschooling #homeschoolaustralia