246. Fear-Based Decisions Cost Your Business Too Much

The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork

After coaching Lisa Whitehouse on her team and scaling challenges, Adrienne and Emily are back to debrief the conversation — and get honest about how fear, beliefs, and untested assumptions shape our most critical business decisions.

If you've ever delayed a hire, undercharged for your work, or jumped back into client delivery because "it's just easier," this debrief is a must-listen.

Here's what we cover: ✅ Why journaling and mindset work alone won't help you scale ✅ The numbers that make hiring decisions feel safer ✅ How to calculate your onboarding runway + caseload breakeven ✅ The belief that "I must work hard to make money" — and why it lingers ✅ Building a business that doesn't need you (and why that's hard)

Adrienne and Emily share what Lisa's episode revealed about the unspoken rules so many founders still follow — and why building a self-sufficient team starts with building a belief system that supports growth.

👉 If you want to stop getting pulled back into the work and start leading with clarity, this is your episode.

Top 5 Takeaways:

Beliefs Drive Behavior – If your subconscious says growth = danger, no strategy will override it. Track Onboarding Timelines – Knowing when a hire becomes profitable gives you confidence to scale. Budget for Training – Create a team training account, just like you would for marketing or software. DIY Is a Trap – Re-inserting yourself into the work feels helpful… until it kills momentum. Leadership Starts with Choice – You can run a solo business or build a team — just don't complain about the trade-offs.

Chapters

00:56 – Adrienne's take: mindset as the true bottleneck 02:10 – Emily's POV: mindset without numbers won't cut it 04:20 – How long does it take a new hire to become profitable? 07:15 – Why you must budget for the training runway 10:02 – "Scrappy" doesn't scale: why scrappiness isn't strategy 12:58 – Adrienne's own growth edge: wanting things done yesterday 16:33 – Trade-offs: fast results vs. long-term freedom 20:20 – Resentment happens when you say yes to too much 23:00 – Letting go isn't just tactical—it's emotional 27:50 – Choosing your hard: reframe vs. repeat Want to be a guest on the podcast? Just fill in this form now!