#178 - The Questions Have Gotten Bigger

We all have people in our lives who seem to take up more of our time and energy than we'd like. Maybe it's a coworker who turns every conversation into a complaint or a friend who never knows when to hang up. But how much of that time are we actually obligated to give? In this episode of Time Lies, Scott Grates challenges the belief that we have no choice over who gets our attention. He explores how our relationships and everyday interactions can quietly drain our energy without us even realizing it.Scott introduces a simple People Audit to help identify which interactions are taking more than they're giving. He breaks down four ways to take back control of your schedule without cutting people out of your life. From limiting conversations to setting clearer expectations, small boundaries can make a big difference. But reclaiming your time is only half the battle. Scott also explains why it's important to reinvest that time into the people and activities that matter most. Because the goal isn't just to have more free time. It's to have more of yourself available for the life you actually want to live.In This Episode:• How to recognize the people and interactions that drain your time and energy• Why feeling obligated to spend time with someone doesn't mean you have no choice• Four practical ways to set boundaries around your time and availability• How to make small adjustments to your relationships without creating unnecessary conflict• Why reclaiming your time only matters if you reinvest it in what matters most---Scott Grates' Links:Scott's Website - https://www.scottgrates.comScott's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgratesScott's FB - https://www.facebook.com/scott.grates.1Scott's IG - https://www.instagram.com/scottgratesTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.grates

What if the freedom you're working so hard to achieve is actually being held back by the way you're working? In this episode of Time Lies, Scott Grates sits down with franchise entrepreneur and business advisor Meg Schmitz to explore the relationship between success and personal freedom. With more than 30 years of experience in business ownership, Meg has learned a thing or two about taking risks and knowing when to walk away. From overcoming fear to protecting your time, she shares why building a successful life requires more than just working harder.Scott and Meg dive into the misconceptions surrounding entrepreneurship and what it really takes to create a business that doesn't consume your life. They discuss the importance of strong leadership and learning to say no without feeling guilty. Meg also opens up about her personal experiences with regret and the lessons she's learned from spending time in nature. It's a conversation about making informed decisions and finding fulfillment beyond professional achievements. Because having more time doesn't always solve the problem. Sometimes what we really need is the courage to take action.In This Episode:• Why saying no is one of the most important skills for protecting your time• How to overcome fear and make informed decisions about your future• The biggest misconceptions about franchise ownership and financial freedom• Why building the right team is essential to creating a business that doesn't own you• How slowing down and embracing stillness can bring clarity to life's biggest decisions---Episode Markers:(0:00) - Show Intro---Meg Schmitz's Links:Website - https://megschmitz.com|LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/megschmitzFB - https://www.facebook.com/Franchise.Guru.Meg.SchmitzIG - https://www.instagram.com/schmitzmeg---Scott Grates' Links:Scott's Website - https://www.scottgrates.comScott's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgratesScott's FB - https://www.facebook.com/scott.grates.1Scott's IG - https://www.instagram.com/scottgratesTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.grates

If someone looked at your calendar over the past month, would they know what matters most to you? Or would they just see a list of people and things that needed your attention? In this episode of Time Lies, Scott Grates challenges us to take a closer look at how we're spending our time. It's easy to get caught up in daily responsibilities and routines without realizing how far we've drifted from the things that actually matter.Scott walks through a simple exercise called the Alignment Audit to help you identify where your time and energy are going. By examining your daily activities through the lens of your values and priorities, you can begin to recognize what's serving you and what's pulling you in the wrong direction. The goal isn't to completely overhaul your life overnight. It's about making small adjustments that bring you closer to the person you want to be today. Because sometimes the biggest problem isn't that we don't have enough time. It's that we're giving too much of it to the wrong things.In This Episode:• How to recognize when your daily routines are out of alignment with your values• A simple three-ring exercise to evaluate where your time and energy are going• Why being busy doesn't necessarily mean you're spending time on what matters• How small changes can create meaningful progress without overwhelming your life• Why it's important to regularly reevaluate your priorities as you grow and change---Scott Grates' Links:Scott's Website - https://www.scottgrates.comScott's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgratesScott's FB - https://www.facebook.com/scott.grates.1Scott's IG - https://www.instagram.com/scottgratesTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.grates

What if everything you've been taught about success is missing the bigger picture? In the very first episode of Time Lies, Scott Grates sits down with Jennifer Johnsen-Nazareth, a successful business leader turned leadership and equine-assisted coach. Together, they challenge the traditional definition of success and explore what it really means to live a fulfilling life. From finding your calling to letting go of external expectations, Jennifer shares how her own journey has changed the way she approaches business and life.Through her work with Wealth in Network with Nature (WIN), Jennifer helps people reconnect with themselves and discover a more holistic approach to wealth. She shares powerful lessons from nature and horses about leadership, vulnerability, and the importance of slowing down. Scott also opens up about his own search for purpose and the pressure to figure everything out. It's a conversation about trusting yourself, embracing change, and questioning one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves: that there simply isn't enough time.In This Episode:• Why traditional definitions of success can leave us feeling unfulfilled• How to recognize your calling and start trusting your own path• What horses and nature can teach us about leadership and personal growth• Why slowing down and making incremental changes can lead to lasting progress• How to let go of external expectations and redefine what it means to win in life---Episode Markers:(0:00) - Show Intro(0:45) - Jennifer's Intro & First Guest(1:15) - Starting at the End(3:15) - Vulnerability in Action(4:45) - Regrets & Taking the Step(5:45) - Struggle with a "Calling"(8:30) - Shifting the Definition of Success(11:00) - Unlearn to Shift(14:30) - WIN & Holistic Wealth(16:00) - What Does Nature Teach Us?(19:00) - Horse Wisdom(22:30) - Who Do You Want to Help the Most?(27:00) - Building Something Meaningful(30:00) - Purpose vs. Chasing Success?(32:55) - When You Love What You're Reaching For?(33:45) - Practical Steps to Create Space(35:10) - Connect with Jennifer(36:10) - Rapid Fire Questions---Jennifer Johnsen-Nazareth's Links:Email -Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-johnsen-nazareth-mba-ains-0a928013---Scott Grates' Links:Scott's Website - https://www.scottgrates.comScott's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgratesScott's FB - https://www.facebook.com/scott.grates.1Scott's IG - https://www.instagram.com/scottgratesTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.grates

In this final episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott Grates reflects on the relationships and lessons that have shaped the podcast over the past two and a half years. What began as a mission to help business owners grow through meaningful connections became something much more personal. Scott shares how the people he's met along the way have challenged his thinking and changed his perspective on success. He's also realized that creating more opportunities and choosing the right opportunities are two very different things.As Referrals Done Right comes to a close, Scott explains why this transition isn't about leaving the original message behind. It's about exploring bigger questions around time and the lives we're building. He introduces the next chapter with Time Lies, launching November 2nd on the same podcast feed. Before signing off, Scott leaves listeners with one final referral. This time, it's an invitation to reconnect with themselves and consider whether the things they're chasing still reflect what matters most.In This Episode:• How two and a half years of meaningful relationships changed Scott's perspective on success.• Why creating more opportunities doesn't always mean creating a better life.• The importance of recognizing when your priorities and definition of success have changed.• What's ahead as Referrals Done Right transitions into Time Lies on November 2nd.• Scott's final referral and the questions that can help you reconnect with what matters most.---Scott Grates' Links:The Magnetic Niche - https://mailchi.mp/wonderlabstrategy/findyournicheReferrals Done Right - https://www.referralsdoneright.orgReferrals Done Right FB Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/296359076662332Scott Grates Website - https://www.scottgrates.comLove Living Local  - https://www.instagram.com/lovelivinglocal315Scott's FB - https://www.facebook.com/scott.grates.1Scott's - https://www.instagram.com/scottgratesTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.grates

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott Grates sits down with Frank Agin, founder of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of NetworkingRx. Frank shares why so many professionals struggle to ask for referrals and what it really takes to earn someone's trust. They explore how small actions and consistent follow-through can build a reputation that makes people confident in recommending you to others.Scott and Frank also discuss why the best networking strategies often have nothing to do with generating business. Frank shares stories about the unexpected ways relationships can change lives and explains why giving without keeping score is so important. From making thoughtful introductions to getting involved in your community, the conversation is a reminder that the strongest networks are built by genuinely caring about others.In This Episode:• Why fear of rejection holds people back from asking for referrals.• How trust is earned through patience and consistent everyday actions.• The difference between giving generously and keeping score in relationships.• Why thoughtful introductions can create value for everyone involved.• How volunteering and serving your community can lead to meaningful connections and unexpected opportunities.---Frank Agin's Links:Website - https://frankagin.comLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankaginPodcast - https://networkingrx.libsyn.com/websiteFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/frankagin---Scott Grates' Links:Referrals Done Right - https://www.referralsdoneright.orgReferrals Done Right FB Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/296359076662332Scott Grates Website - https://www.scottgrates.comLove Living Local  - https://www.instagram.com/lovelivinglocal315Scott's FB - https://www.facebook.com/scott.grates.1Scott's - https://www.instagram.com/scottgratesTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.grates

In this solo episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott Grates reflects on how the relationships he's built over the past two and a half years have changed the way he thinks about success. What started as a mission to help business owners grow through meaningful connections has led to some much bigger questions. Scott shares why he's started looking beyond growth and achievement to consider what all that hard work is actually for.The conversation explores how our priorities can change even when the things we've built are still successful. Scott challenges listeners to question whether they're pursuing goals that still matter or simply holding on to an old definition of success. He also shares what's next for the podcast as Referrals Done Right prepares to transition into Time Lies on November 2nd. While the name and conversations are evolving, the belief in meaningful relationships remains at the heart of what's next.In This Episode:• How meaningful relationships have changed Scott's perspective on business and life.• Why reaching the next milestone doesn't always bring the fulfillment we expect.• How our identity can keep us chasing goals that no longer align with our priorities.• Why creating space to reflect can help us recognize when it's time for a new chapter.• What's ahead as Referrals Done Right prepares to become Time Lies on November 2nd.---Scott Grates' Links:The Magnetic Niche - https://mailchi.mp/wonderlabstrategy/findyournicheReferrals Done Right - https://www.referralsdoneright.orgReferrals Done Right FB Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/296359076662332Scott Grates Website - https://www.scottgrates.comLove Living Local  - https://www.instagram.com/lovelivinglocal315Scott's FB - https://www.facebook.com/scott.grates.1Scott's - https://www.instagram.com/scottgratesTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.grates

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott Grates sits down with business coach and entrepreneur Eva Safar to explore what it really means to build a successful business. After 25 years in the corporate world, Eva realized that financial success and impressive titles weren't giving her the freedom she wanted. She shares how redefining success helped her create a business built around her own values. The conversation challenges business owners to consider whether they're building the life they want or simply staying busy.Scott and Eva discuss why so many entrepreneurs become the bottleneck in their own businesses. Eva explains how creating space for reflection can lead to better decisions and stronger leadership. They also explore the importance of surrounding yourself with people who challenge your thinking. Sometimes the biggest breakthrough comes from asking yourself a question you've been avoiding.In This Episode:• Why financial success doesn't always translate into personal freedom or fulfillment.• How business owners become the bottleneck and what it takes to step back.• Why creating space to think can lead to greater clarity and better decisions.• The importance of having people who challenge your thinking and hold you accountable.• How asking better questions can uncover what's really holding you and your business back.---Eva Safar's Links:Website - https://www.safartransformations.comLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/esafarYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheAlternativeBoardFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/TABDenverNorth---Scott Grates' Links:Referrals Done Right - https://www.referralsdoneright.orgReferrals Done Right FB Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/296359076662332Scott Grates Website - https://www.scottgrates.comLove Living Local  - https://www.instagram.com/lovelivinglocal315Scott's FB - https://www.facebook.com/scott.grates.1Scott's - https://www.instagram.com/scottgratesTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.grates

In this solo episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott Grates explores the hidden cost of always being available to everyone. For business owners and leaders, being responsive and helpful can feel like a measure of success. But constantly saying yes can leave little time for the people and priorities that matter most. Scott challenges listeners to consider whether their desire to be needed is actually preventing them from being intentional with their time.As business owners begin planning for 2027, Scott encourages a different approach to growth. Instead of focusing only on revenue and new opportunities, he shares three decisions that can help create a better business. The conversation explores protecting your calendar and investing more deeply in the right relationships. Scott also shares an exciting announcement about the next chapter of the podcast and its upcoming transition to Time Lies.In this episode:• Why being available to everyone does not always make you more valuable.• How constantly saying yes can take time away from your most important relationships.• Three decisions to consider when planning a more intentional business for 2027.• Why better boundaries and delegation can create more freedom and stronger relationships.• What's next for the podcast as Referrals Done Right prepares to become Time Lies.---Scott Grates' Links:The Magnetic Niche - https://mailchi.mp/wonderlabstrategy/findyournicheReferrals Done Right - https://www.referralsdoneright.orgReferrals Done Right FB Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/296359076662332Scott Grates Website - https://www.scottgrates.comLove Living Local  - https://www.instagram.com/lovelivinglocal315Scott's FB - https://www.facebook.com/scott.grates.1Scott's - https://www.instagram.com/scottgratesTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.grates

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott Grates sits down with author and leadership coach Dawn Cazedessus to explore how our past can shape the way we approach success. Dawn shares her journey from growing up in a Louisiana trailer park to becoming a CEO. She explains how fear and scarcity continued to influence her decisions long after she escaped poverty. Through her book Trailer Park CEO, Dawn encourages others to recognize the stories holding them back and embrace the lessons that helped shape who they are today.Scott and Dawn discuss the importance of letting go of false identities and learning to move forward through adversity. Dawn introduces her practical framework for handling failure and explains why gratitude has become a daily discipline in her life. They also explore the value of slowing down to make better decisions. The conversation is a reminder that growth often begins when we release the need to control everything and create space for what matters most.In This Episode:• How Dawn's upbringing shaped her mindset and journey to becoming a CEO.• Why the stories we tell ourselves can keep us from reaching our potential.• Dawn's FAIL framework for turning setbacks into opportunities for growth.• How gratitude and an open mindset can help us navigate difficult seasons.• Why slowing down and creating space can lead to greater clarity in leadership and life.---Dawn Cazedessus's Links:Trailer Park CEO Book - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1424569982Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dcazedesLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-cazedessus-3048a9126YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DawnCazedessusInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/dawncazedessus---Scott Grates' Links:Referrals Done Right - https://www.referralsdoneright.orgReferrals Done Right FB Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/296359076662332Scott Grates Website - https://www.scottgrates.comLove Living Local  - https://www.instagram.com/lovelivinglocal315Scott's FB - https://www.facebook.com/scott.grates.1Scott's - https://www.instagram.com/scottgratesTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.grates