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Let’s just be real for a minute—if your self-care routine consists of skipping conditioner and hiding from your inbox, you might be doing too much. I know because I’ve been there. And so has today’s guest on the Empowered and Unapologetic podcast: Lindsey Paulson, CEO of LP Consulting, host of the Mess to Mission podcast, and queen of rescuing overwhelmed business owners from the dumpster fire of burnout.

She joined me from inside a tornado warning (Kentucky, y’all) to talk systems, survival, and how to stop doing everything yourself like you’re auditioning for Superwoman… unpaid.

“I was the problem. I can say it—I was the problem.”

Let’s start with that truth bomb. Lindsay shared how her breaking point wasn’t some big, dramatic moment. It was the slow disappearance of joy.

“I stopped loving my business. I didn’t want to go to the gym. My hair was always in a clip. That’s when I knew.” – Lindsey Paulson

Sound familiar?

Whether you’re running a business, a household, or both (plus maybe a soccer team and a group chat with 83 unread messages), the signs of burnout are often subtle. You’re numbing out on TikTok. You’re irritated for no reason. You’re too tired to care about the thing you built from scratch.

Lindsey’s story hit me hard. Miscarriages. Managing addiction in her family. Parenting three kids. And yet, she didn’t use that as a reason to quit—she used it as a reason to get strategic.

From “Just Get Through It” to “Make It Work for Me”

Lindsey didn’t bounce back with vision boards and motivational quotes. She got serious about systems. Her go-to framework? The ADE Method: Automate, Delegate, Elevate.

Here’s how it works:

Automate

Identify all the repetitive stuff you do that drains your time and joy. Emailing intake forms, chasing client signatures, manually scheduling everything—gone. Set it up once, and let tech do the heavy lifting.

Lindsey shared how she helped a personal trainer client eliminate onboarding chaos by building a seamless workflow: inquiry form → digital forms → calendar booking → folder integration. Done.

“Let the internet and technology do the work for you so that you can go be the CEO, not the person drowning in emails.” – Lindsey Paulson

And if you haven’t met Lindsay’s ride-or-die tool, Boomerang for Gmail? Add it to your toolbox now. It follows up so you don’t have to. Because Gary isn’t ghosting you on purpose—he’s just buried like the rest of us.

Delegate

Here’s the thing—if you’re the CEO and the janitor and the bookkeeper and the social media manager… you’re the problem. (And I say that with love.)

“What can you delegate? Can you get a VA? A bookkeeper? A cleaner who swaps your kid’s clothes out for the right sizes? That’s not lazy—that’s smart.” – Lindsey Paulson

Think about how much more present you could be—at home, at work, with yourself—if you weren’t spending five hours wrestling with QuickBooks or cleaning your baseboards before your cleaning lady arrives.

Elevate

Once you’ve cleared the clutter (mental and physical), you get to do the work that actually lights you up. This is where you create, lead, and enjoy the business you’ve built. No more survival mode. No more white-knuckling your way through the week.

“Life doesn’t pause for trauma. And clients deserve the best version of you.”

When Lindsey walked through her miscarriages while still running a business, she learned to shift—not shut down. She didn’t launch during her worst weeks. She pivoted to backend work: emails, SOPs, systems. Quiet, behind-the-scenes productivity that served her business and honored her grief.

And here’s the mic-drop moment:

“I had to stop asking what grief was taking from me, and start asking what I could still do while I healed.” – Lindsey Paulson

That’s a reframe worth writing on your mirror.

Ready to Get Unstuck?

If this all sounds like exactly what you need, Lindsey’s got something for you. Her Organize to Optimize Challenge is designed to help you dig out of the chaos before you hit crisis mode.

Think of it as the pre-burnout bootcamp: legal checklists, SOPs you didn’t know you needed, insurance audits (yes, that matters too), and systems that work for you, not against you.

You can find her on Instagram at @linds.paulson, where she’s dropping all the links and running the challenge like the operational goddess she is.

So, if you’re tired of duct-taping your schedule together, if you’re stuck in the hustle with zero joy, if you’re spending more time on TikTok than you are on your business goals—it’s time.

Let’s stop worshipping burnout and start building businesses (and lives) that feel good.

Useful links:

• Join our FaceBook Page – Empowered and Unapologetic
• Follow me on Instagram
• Check out the new website! https://veronicacisneros.org/
• Outside The Norm Counseling – 951 395 3288 call to schedule an appointment today!
• 5 Things that are Killing your Marriage Free Guide available at www.veronicacisneros.org

Meet Lindsey Paulson

Lindsey Paulson began her operational career with Marriott International in 2012 and is the CEO of LP Consulting. She works within the consulting world to help small businesses and nonprofits implement strategy and create administrative and operational processes. She is active within the St. Jude Children’s Advisory Council and provides value by implementing the A.D.E. method that she has founded. She works alongside CEO’s to ensure they can automate, delegate and elevate their business so they can maximize growth and efficiency within their day to day of their organization. She prioritizes mental health discussions for small business owners to ensure that they can take a mess to a mission and build their business around their life–not their life around their business.

Digital Coordinates:

• https://www.lindspaulson.com
• https://www.instagram.com/linds.paulson/

Meet Veronica Cisneros

As a leading authority in women’s empowerment and a fierce advocate for building strong networks, Veronica is your go-to guru for turning fears into victories, struggles into strengths, and doubts into boundless opportunities.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for 10 plus years; empowering high-achieving women in business to conquer both professional heights and personal fulfillment. She doesn’t do bandaids!
Veronica has a unique approach to overcoming obstacles and smashing through the glass ceilings that loom over ambitious women. With her arsenal of practical tools, actionable strategies, and unwavering support, Veronica doesn’t just help women succeed in their careers – she helps them thrive in every facet of their lives.

But Veronica’s expertise isn’t just theoretical – it’s personal. With over 24 years of marriage, three daughters, and a soaring career, Veronica embodies the resilience and determination needed to navigate life’s challenges. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Group Private Practice Owner, of Outside The Norm Counseling, Marriage Coach, and the voice behind the Empowered and Unapologetic podcast, Veronica effortlessly guides women to challenge themselves beyond their comfort zones.

Veronica is more than an expert – she’s a partner in transformation, turning mundane relationships into true connections. With her relatable charm and infectious humor, Veronica illuminates the path for women who refuse to settle for anything less than success in both business and relationships. Through practical tips, heartfelt anecdotes, and her trademark wit, Veronica empowers every woman to cultivate unbreakable bonds without sacrificing their ambitions.

Whether you listen to the podcast, join the free Facebook community, or do the Workshop,  you’re in the right place. Let’s do this together!

Thanks for listening!

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