993: Breaking Free From Your Addiction to Cortisol

You know you’re in danger when rest feels more dangerous than your to-do list. If you’ve ever bragged about being overwhelmed, lack of sleep, or saying yes to something you don’t want to do just to feel ‘needed’, you might be a stress junkie, and your body is paying the price! Cortisol addiction is a clinically observed pattern. When you’re stressed, your body pumps out cortisol and triggers a part of your fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response; your survival mechanism.  Connect with Abagail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠All the Links!⁠⁠⁠ Over time, these stress-related behaviors can become compulsive, and when stress becomes constant, your body keeps producing cortisol when there is no real danger, which has serious long-term effects on your health. Today, we’re going to unpack why you might be addicted to stress hormones and why you can’t quit.  Episode Highlights  Signs That You’re Addicted to Cortisol [0:04:57]   Why You Get Addicted to Stress [0:07:20]  How to Break the Cycle [0:08:09]  The Power of CBT and DBT [0:17:00]  Special Thanks to Our Advertiser ⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, and review The Strategy Hour Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. For show notes, go to thestrategyhour.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life doesn’t wait for you to have it all figured out. When unexpected challenges hit, your business needs to be ready to withstand the storm. In this fan favorite episode, Abagail shares how to build a sustainable business that can function without you at the center, why learning to ask for help is key, and what shifts you need to make so your work supports your life—not the other way around. Connect with Abagail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠All the Links!⁠⁠⁠ Episode Highlights Learning How to Ask for Help. [0:18:23] Imagining a Business That Can Run Without You. [0:30:03] The Very First Thing You Need to Do. [0:34:40] Special Thanks to Our Advertiser ⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, and review The Strategy Hour Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. For show notes, go to thestrategyhour.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not sure where you’re headed in business or life? In this episode, we’re breaking down how your past experiences can guide your future direction. I’ll introduce you to the PACE method—a simple framework to help you understand your current position, define your aspirations, experiment with creativity, and take messy action toward your goals. Tune in to learn how to leverage your journey so far into clear, actionable steps for where you want to go next. Connect with Abagail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠All the Links!⁠⁠⁠Special Thanks to Our Advertiser ⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whatever scares you most will change your life the most! Today, I’m joined by Sabrina Shafer to talk about fear, a topic that every entrepreneur wrestles with. The kind that holds you back from the opportunities you know you were meant for. Sabrina has always believed that it’s okay to change lanes in your career, and when she got fed up with fear dictating what she did and didn’t do, her keynote, Fear Forward, was born.  Connect with Abagail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠All the Links!⁠⁠⁠ We’re diving into the neuroscience of fear, how to spot limiting beliefs, and what it looks like to actually build a culture of courage. If you’ve ever wondered how to step into your full potential even though you feel afraid, this conversation is for you!  Episode Highlights  Learning to Be More Fear Forward [0:02:55]   How to Rewire Your Fear Response [0:07:37]  Common Fears in Leaders and Entrepreneurs [0:15:45]  How to Challenge Limiting Beliefs [0:22:36]  Special Thanks to Our Advertiser ⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, and review The Strategy Hour Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. For show notes, go to thestrategyhour.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the fastest way to grow your business wasn’t figuring it out alone? What if you leaned into collaboration? Today on the Strategy Hour Podcast, I’m joined by Eleanor Beaton, Founder of Safi Media and Host of The Woman-Owned Podcast. She’s trained tens of thousands of entrepreneurs, advised at Yale, and built a business that’s changing the way women approach growth.  Connect with Abagail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠All the Links!⁠⁠⁠ In this conversation, we explore feminism, the pressure to be a provider, and why hyper-independence isn’t the solution many of us think it is. Then, in the second half, we’re going to break down her round table growth strategy, a simple but powerful approach that could double your leads organically. I hope you’re ready, because we’re about to go deep!    Episode Highlights The Fire Behind Eleanor’s Mission [0:01:10]   Why Eleanor Believes in a Bold Vision for 2030 [0:10:18] How to Leverage Corporate Deals for Financial Runway. [0:14:38]  What Deal Velocity and Deal Durability Can Do for You [0:18:25]  The Roundtable Growth Strategy You Need to Pay Attention To [0:26:29]  How to Continue Leveraging Your Audience After a Roundtable [0:40:03]  Special Thanks to Our Advertiser ⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, and review The Strategy Hour Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. For show notes, go to thestrategyhour.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At some point, you are going to have a fork in the road and choices to make that may leave you wondering what is right for you. I have a lot on my plate at the moment, and it’s bringing up a lot of questions about where my business is going, the kind of products I want to sell, how I want to show up online, and what I want my life to look like. Obviously, I could just keep going as I have been, but I have had this inkling inside of me that something is supposed to change.  Connect with Abagail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠All the Links!⁠⁠⁠ While I don’t necessarily know what, I know that things are moving in a new direction. During my discovery process of trying to figure these things out, a question came up for me: Am I choosing this change because it’s the right next step, or am I trying to escape something? Is this for growth, or am I running away? Running away from something because it scares you often is the wrong decision, so I spoke to my therapist, who gave me some great advice about this topic, and I wanted to share it with you today.   Episode Highlights Signs That You’re Running Away from Something. [0:03:05]   Indicators of Positive Change. [0:05:41]  How to Know When It’s Both. [0:06:56]  The Number One Thing to Get Clear On. [0:10:32]  When Escaping is Necessary. [0:16:03]  Special Thanks to Our Advertiser FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, and review The Strategy Hour Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. For show notes, go to thestrategyhour.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you listen to your innermost thoughts, your best work will come out. In today’s episode, I want to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to write a book proposal and get your book purchased in the traditional publishing world. I want to share a preview of where I am in the process, what is required, and some “words of warning” for things that you may encounter along the way; things I didn’t anticipate and would have appreciated a heads up on!  Connect with Abagail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠All the Links!⁠⁠⁠ I want to thank my loyal listeners for being part of this space where you can show up fully and share openly. I’d like the Strategy Hour to evolve, so if it’s helped you, please share it with someone else who can benefit from this community.  Episode Highlights Where I am In My Publishing Journey [0:03:00]   What You Need to Know About Writing a Non-Fiction Book Proposal [0:05:46] Writing on Demand and Finding Inspiration [0:16:38]  Letting Your Work ‘Live’, Grow, and Evolve [0:26:10]  Special Thanks to Our Advertiser ⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, and review The Strategy Hour Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. For show notes, go to thestrategyhour.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a decade of running a business, I’ve learned that success isn’t about making the “perfect” decision—it’s about resilience, clarity, and leaning into what you do best.  Connect with Abagail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠All the Links!⁠⁠⁠ In this episode of The Strategy Hour Podcast, I break down the 10 most important lessons from 10 years in business ranging from mindset, leadership, and sustainable growth. You’ll learn why there’s no such thing as a right or wrong decision, how to filter out bad advice, why celebrating yourself is essential, and how to build real community so business doesn’t feel lonely. If you’ve ever searched for entrepreneurship lessons, how to grow a small business, or mindset tips for entrepreneurs, this episode is packed with strategies and reflections to help you build a business—and a life—you truly love. Episode Highlights You’re Capable of More Than You Think. [0:02:10]   There’s No Such Thing as a Right or Wrong Decision. [0:04:22]  Not Everyone’s Advice Is Worth Taking. [0:10:27]  Lean Into What Comes Naturally. [0:12:36]  Sharpen Your Strengths, Not Your Weaknesses. [0:13:41]  Hard Seasons Will Come, But You Can Get Through Them. [0:24:27]  Feedback Isn’t a Personal Attack. [0:26:52]  Two Things Can Be True at Once. [0:31:14]  No One Will Celebrate You Unless You Celebrate Yourself. [0:38:14] Building a Business Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely. [0:42:02]  Special Thanks to Our Advertiser ⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, and review The Strategy Hour Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. For show notes, go to thestrategyhour.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So many of us think money is the ultimate benchmark for success, but what if we’ve been chasing the wrong thing all along? In today’s episode with Ryann Gillen, we’re pulling back the curtain on the subconscious beliefs that quietly shape the way we do business and often hold us back. Ryann is a transformational leader and mentor with decades of experience building multimillion-dollar sales teams. She now helps ambitious women break through limitations, reclaim their power, and actually enjoy the businesses and lives they’ve built.  Connect with Abagail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠All the Links!⁠⁠⁠ She did all the things “right,” hit the goals, and still felt something was missing. Sound familiar? Together, we talk about what it means to decouple your self-worth from dollar amounts, why chasing feelings instead of things is the key to freedom, and how nervous system regulation plays a bigger role in business than most people ever admit. Ryann’s energy is magnetic, and I know you’re going to walk away with so many ‘aha’ moments. Let’s dive in!   Episode Highlights From Corporate Sales to Personal Development [0:02:28]   Redefining Success Benchmarks [0:06:25]  Focusing on People and Becoming the Product [0:08:54]  Chasing Feelings, Not Things [0:13:03]  Balancing Gratitude and Desire [0:17:04]  Helping Clients Clarify Their Desires [0:20:43]  Making the Work Feel Worth It [0:26:03]  How to Recentre When You Get Distracted [0:30:31]  The Role of Energetics in Business [0:38:41]  Special Thanks to Our Advertiser ⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, and review The Strategy Hour Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. For show notes, go to thestrategyhour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You don’t have to wait for referrals or cross your fingers for a viral post. There’s a simple, repeatable system to grow your list—one I’ve used to build 42,000+ subscribers and turn them into paying clients and students. In this solo workshop, I’m walking you through the exact roadmap, the lead magnets that actually convert, and how to set up steady lead flow (even when life gets busy). Are you at zero or scaling to your next thousand? Connect with Abagail on Instagram Email List Jumpstart We’ll talk about free versus paid entry points, how to stop the “nurture-only” habits that quietly dry up sales, and why mixing active and “set it and forget” strategies is the secret to sustainable growth. The whole goal here is to help you see your email list for what it really is: the most valuable asset in your business, one that can support you when life throws curveballs and still bring in sales while you’re away.  Episode Highlights  Why Email Marketing Still Matters [0:04:27]   The Problem with Running Out of Leads [0:09:04]  The Roadmap to 1,000 Subscribers [0:16:07]  Creating Lead Magnets that Convert [0:21:12]  Lead Generation and Growth [0:30:12]   Email as the Foundation of Freedom [0:38:55]  From Inbox to Income [0:47:36]  Wrapping It All Up [0:59:00]  Special Thanks to Our Advertiser ⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, and review The Strategy Hour Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. For show notes, go to thestrategyhour.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices