START-with-Gudrun

07/01/2026

Are you a female entrepreneur constantly caught in the minutiae, forgetting the overall strategic direction of your business? It's a common trap, and it can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities. I'm sharing how I learned to stop getting lost in the details and start leading with a clear, panoramic view. Learn how to reclaim your focus, empower your team, and drive your business forward strategically. Watch my talk now!

06/01/2026

05/01/2026

In a pivotal workshop, Olivia Grant, CEO of a fintech company, guides her newly promoted managers through the essence of leadership principles. Sharing her own experiences, she encourages reflection on core values such as integrity, accountability, and empathy. Through group discussions, managers articulate their guiding principles, culminating in a framework of integrity, people, and progress. Olivia emphasises that these principles are dynamic, serving as both compass and anchor for effective leadership.

01/01/2026

If your revenue line is up while your life satisfaction is down, that’s not momentum—it’s misdirection.

Hustle promises quick wins, but it taxes you with cognitive switching costs that drain glucose, willpower, and presence until you’re nowhere fully.
That looks like productivity; it behaves like overload.

There’s a better operating system, and it starts with strategic separation.
Carve out a four-hour power block when your brain is sharpest—often 8 a.m. to noon—and reserve it for the one activity that meaningfully moves revenue.
Delegate or delete the rest, and protect this block like a board meeting.
Then set a two-hour care core block for family logistics and being fully present—no Slack, no split attention, no guilt.

Make it real with a digital firewall: one phone for work, one for family, with each powered down during the other’s block and clear auto-replies that state when you’ll respond.

Boundaries alone aren’t sufficient, so build active recovery into the architecture.
Detachment: do something absorbing enough that your mind cannot drift back—short intense workouts, complex cooking, anything that demands focus.
Relaxation: analog, low-effort activities that allow your nervous system to downshift—fiction, fresh air, quiet.

Mastery: pursue a skill outside work and caregiving to rebuild self-efficacy and stave off burnout.

Control: protect unstructured time you choose in the moment; scheduled “fun” that feels obligatory doesn’t restore you.

Reframe your identity as a portfolio entrepreneur and manage your life like a portfolio.

Exploit the center—systematise the one core revenue engine—and push the periphery to 20% of your time via delegation, automation, or cutting.

Apply the same logic to caregiving with a shared dashboard, defined roles, and hired support where needed—build an organization, not a personal hero narrative.
Then allocate an exploration budget for low-stakes, high-interest pursuits that make you feel alive beyond work and caregiving.

More activity does not equal more direction.

The metric that matters is sustained control and fulfilment while the business thrives.

The full video you find on our YouTube channel START-with-Gudrun.

31/12/2025

Ever felt like you're pushing harder, but getting less done? Like your efforts are just... not quite landing? You're not alone. In our fast-paced world, stress is a constant companion. But what if I told you that stress isn't just a feeling, it's a saboteur of your success?

We often think of stress as just 'feeling overwhelmed.' But scientifically, stress is your body's response to any demand or threat. A little bit of stress, like a deadline, can actually sharpen your focus. That's called 'eustress' – good stress. But too much, or chronic stress, that's where the trouble begins.

When you're under chronic stress, your body kicks into 'fight or flight' mode. It floods your system with hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. While great for escaping a tiger, this physiological response isn't so helpful for writing that report or solving a complex problem. These stress hormones directly impact your brain. Your prefrontal cortex – the part responsible for planning, problem-solving, and decision-making – essentially goes offline. You find it harder to focus, your memory gets fuzzy, and making sound judgments becomes a real challenge. It's like trying to navigate a dense fog when you need crystal clear vision.

This cognitive chaos then spills over into your behavior. You might find yourself procrastinating more, becoming irritable with colleagues or loved ones, or making impulsive decisions you later regret. You might even start neglecting self-care, leading to more fatigue and a further dip in performance, creating a vicious cycle.

So, let's connect the dots. When your brain is foggy, your focus is shot, and your behavior is erratic, what happens to your work? Your projects? Your relationships? Your overall productivity? They all suffer. The quality drops, deadlines are missed, opportunities are lost. Your *outcome* is significantly reduced, despite your best intentions and hard work.

The good news? You can break this cycle. Recognizing the signs of stress is the first crucial step. Then, it's about incorporating proactive strategies like mindfulness, regular breaks throughout your day, consistent exercise, prioritizing good sleep, and setting realistic boundaries. These aren't just 'nice-to-haves'; they're essential tools for protecting your cognitive function and ensuring you can perform at your best.

Stress isn't just an inconvenience; it's a direct threat to your potential. By understanding how it impacts your brain and behaviour, you can take control, reduce its grip, and finally achieve the outcomes you truly deserve.

30/12/2025

Ever feel like your thoughts are a tangled mess, a whirlwind of ideas, tasks, and aspirations all vying for attention? That sense of overwhelm can be paralyzing, making it hard to know where to even begin. In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, cultivating internal and external structure becomes not just a preference, but a necessity for clarity, peace, and progress.

This is where the magic of mind mapping comes in – it's so much more than just a drawing technique. At its core, mind mapping is a powerful tool for externalizing your internal world, transforming abstract thoughts into a tangible, interconnected web of ideas. By starting with a central theme and branching out with related concepts, keywords, and images, you're essentially building a visual roadmap of your mind. This process naturally clarifies relationships, highlights priorities, and uncovers hidden connections you might not have noticed before. It turns mental clutter into organized insight.

The beauty of mind mapping lies in its ability to inject structure into virtually every facet of life. Think about it:

- 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: Map out your grand visions, then break them down into actionable steps, sub-goals, and the resources you'll need.
- 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Visualise every component of a complex project, assign tasks, identify dependencies, and anticipate potential roadblocks.
- 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴: Connect concepts from lectures or readings, summarize chapters, and create a holistic understanding of intricate subjects, making recall much easier.
- 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴: Explore different facets of a challenge, brainstorm a multitude of solutions, evaluate potential outcomes, and choose the most viable path forward.
- 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Lay out pros and cons, explore various options, and see the bigger picture before committing.
- 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴: Sometimes, just mapping out your feelings, their triggers, and potential responses can provide immense clarity and a sense of control over your inner landscape.

This structured approach extends far beyond the paper (or screen). When your thoughts are organized and visually represented, your actions become more deliberate and intentional. You gain unparalleled clarity, significantly reduce decision fatigue, boost creativity by seeing new pathways and connections, and ultimately, cultivate a profound sense of calm amidst life's inherent complexities. It’s about building a robust framework that supports your growth, enhances your productivity, and fosters overall well-being.

So, if you're seeking a way to tame the mental chaos, unlock new insights, and inject more intentional structure into your days, give mind mapping a try. It's a simple yet profound practice that can transform how you think, plan, and live, helping you navigate life's journey with greater purpose and ease.

29/12/2025

In an era where professional demands have never been more intense and lifespans continue to extend, millions of working adults find themselves caught in an impossible bind—caring for aging parents while trying to maintain successful careers. This intersection of filial duty and professional responsibility has become one of the most pressing yet underrecognized challenges of modern life.

The reality is stark: between 30-70% of caregivers globally report experiencing depressive symptoms directly linked to their caregiving duties. These aren't just statistics—they represent real people perpetually racing against the clock, feeling stretched impossibly thin between two worlds that both demand their full attention. Adult children find themselves providing emotional companionship, managing complex healthcare decisions, contributing financially to escalating medical costs, and assisting with daily activities, all while trying to meet the expectations of demanding workplaces that often fail to acknowledge these invisible struggles.

The stress compounds in ways many don't anticipate. Research shows that in cultures with strong filial piety traditions, the psychological pressure doesn't just add to work stress—it dramatically intensifies it, significantly increasing the risk of employees leaving their careers entirely. The breaking point comes when individuals realize they can no longer sustain both roles, leading to devastating choices: abandoning stable careers, accumulating crushing debt, or suffering extreme mental health consequences including chronic insomnia, persistent fatigue, and profound feelings of inadequacy and guilt.

Adding to this burden, 30 U.S. states have filial responsibility laws that can legally obligate adult children to pay for their parents' nursing home and healthcare costs—a reality many discover only when faced with unexpected legal liabilities. Without proper planning, families find themselves navigating not just emotional strain but significant financial hardship and painful conflicts over resources and responsibilities.

Yet this suffering often remains completely hidden in professional settings. Employees struggle in silence, unable to share the true extent of their caregiving burden with colleagues and supervisors who may view it as a personal problem rather than a legitimate workplace concern. The expectation gap—the chasm between what they feel obligated to provide and what they can actually deliver—creates a toxic cycle of guilt and burnout.

There is hope, however. Solutions exist through open family communication that establishes honest dialogue about finances and shared responsibilities, progressive employer policies that recognize caregivers through flexible work arrangements and dedicated support programs, and proactive legal and financial planning including long-term care insurance, trusts, and advance directives that protect both generations from crisis.

The collision between filial duty and professional responsibility isn't going away—if anything, as populations age globally, it will only intensify. Recognition, support, and systemic change are essential to ensure that those caught in this impossible position don't have to sacrifice their wellbeing, their careers, or their relationships with their parents in the process.

28/12/2025

In a world that constantly demands our attention, it's easy to feel like we're juggling a hundred balls at once, each one threatening to drop. The sheer volume of tasks, deadlines, and aspirations can quickly lead to overwhelm, anxiety, and that persistent, nagging feeling of stress. But what if there was a simple yet profound practice that could transform this chaos into calm, and this stress into a sense of control? Enter: 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Prioritisation isn't just about making a to-do list; it's about making a 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 about where your energy, time, and focus will truly make the biggest impact. It's the art of discerning what truly matters from what can wait, or perhaps even be let go of entirely. When we intentionally decide which tasks are most crucial, which goals align with our deepest values, and which commitments genuinely serve our well-being, we unlock an incredible power.

The magic of prioritisation in stress reduction lies in several key aspects:

1. 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀: When everything feels urgent, nothing truly is. Prioritisation brings crystal-clear clarity to your responsibilities. You stop guessing and start knowing exactly what needs your immediate attention, what can be scheduled for later, and what might be delegated. This clarity alone is a huge stress reliever.

2. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹: Feeling out of control is a primary driver of stress. By prioritising, you're actively taking the reins back. You're not reacting to every incoming demand; you're proactively shaping your day, your week, and your life. This sense of agency is incredibly empowering and calming.

3. 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲: Constantly deciding what to do next can be exhausting. A well-prioritised list or plan eliminates this mental drain, allowing you to move from one important task to the next with purpose and efficiency.

4. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄: When you know your top priorities, you can dedicate your full attention to them without the distraction of other looming tasks. This focused effort often leads to a state of "flow," where you're deeply engaged and productive, which is inherently satisfying and reduces feelings of being scattered.

5. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝘆 "𝗡𝗼": Perhaps one of the most liberating aspects of prioritisation is that it gives you a solid framework for saying "no" to things that don't align with your current goals or capacity. This protects your time and energy, preventing overcommitment – a major source of stress.

6. 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀: Instead of feeling perpetually behind, prioritization allows you to tackle your most important items first. Checking off those high-priority tasks provides a genuine sense of accomplishment and forward momentum, fueling motivation and reducing the heavy weight of an endless to-do list.

So, if you're feeling overwhelmed, take a moment. Pause. Breathe. And then, ask yourself: "What truly needs my attention right now? What is the 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 that, if I accomplish it, will make everything else easier or less important?" Start there.

Embrace the power of prioritization not as another chore, but as a compassionate act of self-care. It's an investment in your peace of mind, your productivity, and ultimately, your overall well-being. Let's trade overwhelm for intention, and stress for serene, focused action. Your calmer, more effective self will thank you for it. ✨

27/12/2025

Behind every thriving business, there’s a story few people see—a journey marked not just by milestones and “sold out” signs, but by the quiet sacrifices made along the way. As a female entrepreneur, you pour your heart and soul into building your dream, fueled by ambition and the rush of success. But what happens when growth comes at the expense of connection? When late nights, endless emails, and the relentless pursuit of “just one more goal” slowly pull you away from friends, family, and even yourself?

It’s easy to overlook the subtle slide into isolation. The missed dinners, unanswered texts, and the ever-present feeling that there’s no “off” switch. You may find yourself surrounded by achievement, yet feeling utterly alone. The truth is, social withdrawal is a silent stressor that can weigh heavily on your well-being, even as your business flourishes.

But you are not alone in this. Recognizing the toll that isolation takes is the first courageous step toward change. Setting boundaries, reaching out for support, and making time for genuine connection are not distractions—they’re essential acts of self-care and leadership. True success means thriving in business and in life, building not just an empire, but a community that lifts you up.

Remember, your well-being is the foundation of your business. Growth is good, but connection is essential. You can build your dream—and you don’t have to do it alone. 💛

24/12/2025

May your day be merry and bright! Sending all the festive cheer your way. Merry Christmas! ❤️

22/12/2025

Ever notice how stress makes you second-guess yourself? It's a powerful feedback loop: pressure feeds self-doubt, and self-doubt then erodes the very foundation of your confidence. Let's acknowledge this connection and work towards protecting our inner belief.

22/12/2025

The holiday season is officially upon us, and with it comes a wave of warmth, reflection, and festive cheer! It's a beautiful time to pause, appreciate the journey we've been on, and look forward to new beginnings. More than anything, we hope your Christmas is a sanctuary of peace, a haven of happiness, and a celebration of all the good things life has to offer. May you be surrounded by the people who mean the most to you, create unforgettable memories, and feel the true spirit of Christmas in every moment. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with health, prosperity, and endless joy!

Comment ‘Christmas Offer’ and see what happens…