Strategic Thinking vs. AI Validation: How to Make Better Business Decisions [Ep. 335]

🎧 Want more unfiltered strategy and real-time business insight?Check out Back Pocket Insights, my private podcast community with short, story-driven episodes pulled straight from everyday life and client conversations. ------------------------------------------------------------------There’s a shift happening in the online space that no one really wants to talk about. We’ve entered a full-blown validation culture where everyone is seeking agreement, instant reassurance, and quick answers… and losing the ability to think strategically. With social media echo chambers and AI giving everyone a nonstop “Absolutely, you’re right,” business owners are falling into copycat thinking and cookie cutter decisions that keep them stuck. In this episode of The Real Truth About Business, Michelle breaks down how this craving for external validation is killing creativity, discernment, and actual business strategy. She explains how to use tools like AI without outsourcing your decision-making, how to strengthen your critical thinking skills, and why seeking agreement feels good in the moment but rarely produces the results you want. This is a wake-up call for entrepreneurs who want to lead with clarity instead of consensus.Whether you’re a coach, consultant, OBM, VA, designer, copywriter, or ADHD entrepreneur, this episode will help you step out of validation mode and back into grounded, strategic leadership.You’ll learn:How validation culture is quietly damaging your growthWhy constantly being agreed with leads to copycat ideas and mediocre resultsHow to use AI as a strategic partner instead of a permission slipWhat discernment actually looks like in day-to-day decision-makingHow to challenge your own thinking so you stop playing smallThis is the real truth about business growth, especially for neurodivergent service providers who crave clarity, structure, and results without falling for every trend online.Links referenced in this episode:chatgpt------------------------------------------------------------------Here's your Next Steps: Take the "Where's the Gap in Your Business Strategy" Quiz Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads or Facebook Visit my website to learn more and apply for the Focused Visionary Accelerator Sign up for my newsletter - Sunday Morning Brew - delivered every Sunday at 6 amAbout the Host: Michelle DeNio is a business strategist and growth advisor for service-based entrepreneurs, especially neurodivergent and ADHD business owners. Creator of the Focused Visionary Accelerator and host of The Real Truth About Business podcast, she helps clients simplify, focus, and grow sustainably. With 15+ years in business operations, she’s known for turning big ideas into simple, profitable action plans.

🎧 Want more unfiltered strategy and real-time business insight?Check out Back Pocket Insights, my private podcast community with short, story-driven episodes pulled straight from everyday life and client conversations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------Every few months the online space starts shouting that masterclasses, workshops, and conversion events are “dead.” But let’s get real. They’re not dead. They’re simply being done wrong. When positioned well and designed with actual connection in mind, conversion events are still one of the most powerful strategies for service-based business owners.In this episode of The Real Truth About Business, Michelle breaks down exactly why these events continue to work and what’s actually changed in how people want to experience them. She digs into positioning, pipeline alignment, learning styles, timing, free vs paid options, and the one mistake that kills conversions faster than anything else. If you want your next masterclass, challenge, or workshop to actually lead to clients, this episode shows you how to structure it so people trust you, feel supported, and naturally take the next step. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, OBM, VA, designer, copywriter, or ADHD entrepreneur, this episode will help you run conversion events that build authority, deepen relationships, and create real sales without the spammy webinar vibes.You’ll learn:Why conversion events still work and aren’t going anywhereHow to position your event in the right place in your sales pipelineWhy cold audiences need smaller next steps (and warm audiences don’t)How to choose between a free event, low-ticket workshop, or multi-day challengeThe key elements that make people actually convert, not just consumeThis is the real truth about business growth, especially for neurodivergent service providers who crave clarity, structure, and results without falling for every trend online.------------------------------------------------------------------------Here's your Next Steps: Take the "Where's the Gap in Your Business Strategy" Quiz Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads or Facebook Visit my website to learn more and apply for the Focused Visionary Accelerator Sign up for my newsletter - Sunday Morning Brew - delivered every Sunday at 6 amAbout the Host: Michelle DeNio is a business strategist and growth advisor for service-based entrepreneurs, especially neurodivergent and ADHD business owners. Creator of the Focused Visionary Accelerator and host of The Real Truth About Business podcast, she helps clients simplify, focus, and grow sustainably. With 15+ years in business operations, she’s known for turning big ideas into simple, profitable action plans.

🎧 Want more unfiltered strategy and real-time business insight?Check out Back Pocket Insights, my private podcast community with short, story-driven episodes pulled straight from everyday life and client conversations. ------------------------------------------------------------------Every year when November hits, the same narrative pops up in the online space: “No one’s buying right now” or “I’ll wait until January.” And honestly, that mindset is exactly why so many service providers start Q1 playing catch up. Because visibility now is what gets you remembered later. The ones who keep showing up while everyone else goes quiet are the ones who sign clients in January.In this episode of The Real Truth About Business, Michelle breaks down how to stay visible during the holiday slowdown without burning out or living online. She explains how buyers are actually behaving during November and December, why people are in research and planning mode, and what you can do to stay top of mind while still honoring your need for rest. This is practical, strategic visibility for service-based entrepreneurs who want momentum, not burnout.Whether you’re a coach, consultant, OBM, VA, designer, copywriter, or ADHD entrepreneur, this episode gives you a simple plan to stay consistent, nurture warm leads, and build trust that converts in Q1.You’ll learn:Why people are still buying (even if they’re not checking out today)How to stay visible without posting nonstop or attending every eventThe easiest ways to repurpose your best content during the holidaysHow to nurture warm leads so they’re ready to say yes in JanuaryWhy clarity on your goals makes visibility easier and far less exhaustingThis is the real truth about business growth, especially for neurodivergent service providers who crave clarity, structure, and results without falling for every trend online.Links mentioned:Reflect. Refocus. Reignite.------------------------------------------------------------------Here's your Next Steps: Take the "Where's the Gap in Your Business Strategy" Quiz Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads or Facebook Visit my website to learn more and apply for the Focused Visionary Accelerator Sign up for my newsletter - Sunday Morning Brew - delivered every Sunday at 6 amAbout the Host: Michelle DeNio is a business strategist and growth advisor for service-based entrepreneurs, especially neurodivergent and ADHD business owners. Creator of the Focused Visionary Accelerator and host of The Real Truth About Business podcast, she helps clients simplify, focus, and grow sustainably. With 15+ years in business operations, she’s known for turning big ideas into simple, profitable action plans.

🎧 Want more unfiltered strategy and real-time business insight?Check out Back Pocket Insights, my private podcast community with short, story-driven episodes pulled straight from everyday life and client conversations. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Let’s talk about something that could save you thousands of dollars and hours of frustration: doing your research before you invest. Too many service providers are making impulsive business decisions based on hype, FOMO, or what looks popular online, and then wonder why the experience doesn’t match the promise.In this episode of The Real Truth About Business, Michelle shares an unfiltered message about taking radical responsibility for your investments. From masterminds and memberships to courses and collaborations, she breaks down why “cart closing soon” urgency tactics can cloud your judgment, how to spot red flags, and what it really means to make decisions like a CEO. This episode is your wake-up call to slow down, ask questions, and trust your gut.Whether you’re a coach, consultant, OBM, VA, designer, copywriter, or ADHD entrepreneur, this episode will help you move from impulsive decisions to intentional strategy so you can protect your time, energy, and money.You’ll learn:Why “open cart” and “limited time” offers aren’t always what they seemHow to research programs and communities before you investThe questions to ask past members or clients for real feedbackHow to recognize when timing—not the offer—is the problemWhy radical responsibility is the foundation of smart business growthThis is the real truth about business growth, especially for neurodivergent service providers who crave clarity, structure, and results without falling for every trend online.Links referenced in this episode:backpocketinsightsreflect. refocus. reignitewisewomenmasterminds-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Here's your Next Steps: Take the "Where's the Gap in Your Business Strategy" Quiz Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads or Facebook Visit my website to learn more and apply for the Focused Visionary Accelerator Sign up for my newsletter - Sunday Morning Brew - delivered every Sunday at 6 amAbout the Host: Michelle DeNio is a business strategist and growth advisor for service-based entrepreneurs, especially neurodivergent and ADHD business owners. Creator of the...

🎧 Want more unfiltered strategy and real-time business insight?Check out Back Pocket Insights, my private podcast community with short, story-driven episodes pulled straight from everyday life and client conversations. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Let’s talk about one of the most misunderstood tools in online business: email marketing. Somewhere along the way, service providers started treating emails like spam instead of strategy, and it’s driving Michelle absolutely crazy. Because here’s the truth: email isn’t the enemy. Bad strategy is.In this episode of The Real Truth About Business, Michelle dives into why small business owners need to stop hating on email and start using it with purpose. She breaks down how to use your list to build genuine relationships, nurture leads, and convert clients, all without being spammy. You’ll hear the difference between poor email practices and powerful communication that actually connects.Whether you’re a coach, consultant, OBM, VA, designer, copywriter, or ADHD entrepreneur, this episode will help you rethink how you use email as one of your most valuable business growth tools.You’ll learn:Why email marketing still works (and why it’s not “dead”)The real reason people get frustrated with inbox overloadHow to ethically and legally grow your list with consentWhat to include in a high-converting welcome sequenceHow to create value-driven emails that people want to openThis is the real truth about business growth, especially for neurodivergent service providers who crave clarity, structure, and results without falling for every trend online.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Here's your Next Steps: Take the "Where's the Gap in Your Business Strategy" Quiz Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads or Facebook Visit my website to learn more and apply for the Focused Visionary Accelerator Sign up for my newsletter - Sunday Morning Brew - delivered every Sunday at 6 amAbout the Host: Michelle DeNio is a business strategist and growth advisor for service-based entrepreneurs, especially neurodivergent and ADHD business owners. Creator of the Focused Visionary Accelerator and host of The Real Truth About Business podcast, she helps clients simplify, focus, and grow sustainably. With 15+ years in business operations, she’s known for turning big ideas into simple, profitable action plans.

🎧 Want more unfiltered strategy and real-time business insight?Check out Back Pocket Insights, my private podcast community with short, story-driven episodes pulled straight from everyday life and client conversations. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Every December, entrepreneurs say they’ll “figure it out after the holidays.” But let’s be honest, waiting until January to plan your next move keeps you stuck in the same cycle year after year. If nothing changes, nothing changes. Reflection and strategic planning aren’t optional if you’re serious about growth: they’re leadership decisions.In this episode of The Real Truth About Business, Michelle shares why the most successful service-based business owners treat year-end reflection as a non-negotiable. She dives into why assumptions and emotions can’t drive your strategy, how to analyze what’s really working, and why having outside perspective is key to creating a plan that actually delivers results. You’ll also get a peek into her annual Reflect, Refocus, Reignite planning experience and how it transforms her clients’ revenue and clarity every year.Whether you’re a coach, consultant, OBM, VA, designer, copywriter, or ADHD entrepreneur, this episode will help you shift from reactive hustle to intentional CEO thinking, so you can enter 2026 with clarity, focus, and a plan that works.You’ll learn:Why reflection and planning aren’t optional for real business growth.How to stop building your business on emotions and assumptions.The role of data and analysis in creating a sustainable strategy.Why doing planning with others accelerates insight and results.How to create space for creativity and smarter decision-making.This is the real truth about business growth, especially for neurodivergent service providers who crave clarity, structure, and results without falling for every trend online.Links referenced in this episode:Create a focused vision for 2026 at Reflect. Refocus. Reignite.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Here's your Next Steps: Take the "Where's the Gap in Your Business Strategy" Quiz Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads or Facebook Visit my website to learn more and apply for the Focused Visionary Accelerator Sign up for my newsletter - Sunday Morning Brew - delivered every Sunday at 6 amAbout the Host: Michelle DeNio is a business strategist and growth advisor for service-based entrepreneurs, especially neurodivergent and ADHD business owners. Creator of the Focused Visionary Accelerator and host of The Real Truth About Business podcast, she helps clients simplify, focus, and grow sustainably. With...

🎧 Want more unfiltered strategy and real-time business insight?Check out Back Pocket Insights, my private podcast community with short, story-driven episodes pulled straight from everyday life and client conversations. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Why is it so easy to meet every client deadline, but nearly impossible to update your own website, write your own copy, or finish your offers? If you’ve ever wondered why you’ll go above and beyond for clients but constantly push your own business tasks to the back burner, you’re not alone. It’s not laziness, it’s psychology and accountability at play.In this episode of The Real Truth About Business, Michelle wraps up her ADHD Awareness Month series by breaking down why service-based entrepreneurs struggle to prioritize their own business growth. She shares how external accountability, deadlines, and dopamine influence your motivation, and what to do when your own work always seems to come last. You’ll learn how to treat your business like your best client and finally follow through on your own goals.Whether you’re a coach, consultant, OBM, VA, designer, copywriter, or ADHD entrepreneur, this episode will help you shift from guilt and avoidance to consistency and follow-through, without burning out or feeling like you’re failing yourself.You’ll learn: Why external accountability makes it easier to deliver for clients than for yourself How lack of personal deadlines feeds procrastination and inconsistency Simple strategies to treat your business like a client (and actually meet your own deadlines) How to use reward systems and accountability partners to stay on track Why your subconscious stops believing you, and how to rebuild self-trust through follow-throughThis is the real truth about business growth, especially for neurodivergent service providers who crave clarity, structure, and results without falling for every trend online.---------------------------------------------------------------------------Here's your Next Steps: Take the "Where's the Gap in Your Business Strategy" Quiz Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads or Facebook Visit my website to learn more and apply for the Focused Visionary Accelerator Sign up for my newsletter - Sunday Morning Brew - delivered every Sunday at 6 amAbout the Host: Michelle DeNio is a business strategist and growth advisor for service-based entrepreneurs, especially neurodivergent and ADHD business owners. Creator of the Focused Visionary Accelerator and host of The Real Truth About Business podcast, she helps clients simplify, focus, and grow sustainably. With 15+ years in business operations, she’s known for turning big ideas into simple, profitable action plans.

🎧 Want more unfiltered strategy and real-time business insight?Check out Back Pocket Insights, my private podcast community with short, story-driven episodes pulled straight from everyday life and client conversations. _________________________________________________________You know those days when you can knock out a week’s worth of work in one sitting, only to crash the next day and barely open your laptop? That’s not inconsistency or laziness. It’s the ADHD productivity cycle of hyperfocus and distraction, and it can send even the most driven entrepreneurs on a roller coaster of burnout, guilt, and chaos.In this episode of The Real Truth About Business, Michelle breaks down the truth about hyperfocus and the inevitable crash that follows. She shares practical strategies to manage your energy, work with your brain, and build a sustainable rhythm for consistent business growth. If you’ve ever felt like you’re either “all in” or “completely checked out,” this episode will help you create structure without stifling your flow.Whether you’re a coach, consultant, OBM, VA, designer, copywriter, or ADHD entrepreneur, you’ll learn how to stop fighting your natural cycles and start planning your business around your energy, so you can grow without burning out.You’ll learn:Why “inconsistency” is really an energy management issue, not a character flawHow to identify your hyperfocus windows and track your energy patternsThe importance of building in recovery time to avoid burnout after big projects or launchesSimple ways to use energy mapping and calendar boundaries to stay productive and balancedHow sustainable growth depends on energy stability, not constant hustleThis is the real truth about business growth, especially for neurodivergent service providers who crave clarity, structure, and results without falling for every trend online.__________________________________________________________Here's your Next Steps: Take the "Where's the Gap in Your Business Strategy" Quiz Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads or Facebook Visit my website to learn more and apply for the Focused Visionary Accelerator Sign up for my newsletter - Sunday Morning Brew - delivered every Sunday at 6 amAbout the Host: Michelle DeNio is a business strategist and growth advisor for service-based entrepreneurs, especially neurodivergent and ADHD business owners. Creator of the Focused Visionary Accelerator and host of The Real Truth About Business podcast, she helps clients simplify, focus, and grow sustainably. With 15+ years in business operations, she’s known for turning big ideas into simple, profitable action plans.

🎧 Want more unfiltered strategy and real-time business insight?Check out Back Pocket Insights, my private podcast community with short, story-driven episodes pulled straight from everyday life and client conversations. _________________________________________________________You know that “it’ll only take 15 minutes” lie we all tell ourselves? The one that somehow turns into two hours and a mountain of frustration? That’s time blindness, and it’s one of the biggest culprits behind overwhelm, inconsistency, and constant “playing catch up” for ADHD entrepreneurs and service providers.In this episode of The Real Truth About Business, Michelle breaks down what time blindness really is, why it wreaks havoc on your productivity and planning, and how to create structure that actually supports your brain. You’ll hear practical, real-world strategies to help you stop running late, overbooking yourself, and bottlenecking your own business growth, without feeling boxed in.Whether you’re a coach, consultant, OBM, VA, designer, copywriter, or ADHD entrepreneur who’s tired of feeling behind and beating yourself up for it, this episode helps you move from frustration to focus and from chaos to clarity with realistic, actionable systems that work with your brain, not against it.You’ll learn:What time blindness really means for ADHD and neurodivergent entrepreneursHow to stop underestimating how long tasks will takeWhy time blindness can break client trust and create business bottlenecksPractical ways to double or triple your time estimates and regain breathing roomHow to use timers, task tracking, and reverse engineering to plan smarterThis is the real truth about business growth, especially for neurodivergent service providers who crave clarity, structure, and results without falling for every trend online.Links Mentioned:Resource: ADD.org__________________________________________________________Here's your Next Steps: Take the "Where's the Gap in Your Business Strategy" Quiz Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads or Facebook Visit my website to learn more and apply for the Focused Visionary Accelerator Sign up for my newsletter - Sunday Morning Brew - delivered every Sunday at 6 amAbout the Host: Michelle DeNio is a business strategist and growth advisor for service-based entrepreneurs, especially neurodivergent and ADHD business owners. Creator of the Focused Visionary Accelerator and host of The Real Truth About Business podcast, she helps clients simplify, focus, and grow sustainably. With 15+ years in business operations, she’s known for turning big ideas into simple, profitable action plans.

The Missing Piece was designed specifically for those with ADHD. If you are in a season of "stuck" and ready to break through it. 12 weeks of support for only $600! Check it out today!_________________________________________________________For ADHD entrepreneurs, rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) can quietly sabotage your business. It’s not laziness, it’s the way your brain processes rejection. Even perceived rejection (like no response to a DM) can feel like a gut punch, leading to over-delivering, procrastinating, or quitting too soon.Whether you’re a coach, consultant, copywriter, designer, VA, or service provider navigating ADHD, this episode will help you understand RSD and build workarounds that keep your business moving.You’ll learn:What RSD is and why it affects nearly every ADHD entrepreneurHow it shows up in business (avoiding follow-up, over-delivering, delaying launches)The stories RSD creates that keep you stuckPractical workarounds to neutralize rejection and keep goingThis is the real truth about growth, especially for neurodivergent service providers who need strategies that work with their brains, not against them._________________________________________________________About the Host: Michelle DeNio is a business strategist and growth advisor for service-based entrepreneurs, especially neurodivergent and ADHD business owners. Creator of the Focused Visionary Accelerator and host of The Real Truth About Business podcast, she helps clients simplify, focus, and grow sustainably. With 15+ years in business operations, she’s known for turning big ideas into simple, profitable action plans._________________________________________________________Here's your Next Steps: Take the "Where's the Gap in Your Business Strategy" Quiz Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads or Facebook Visit my website to learn more and apply for the Focused Visionary Accelerator Sign up for my newsletter - Sunday Morning Brew - delivered every Sunday at 6 amResearch Links: Neurodivergent InsightsSimply PsychologyThe Times