Visionary's Pursuit

Episode 63: The Two Questions Keeping Your Business Small I started recording this episode with a lot of emotions. Moments before, my husband (who's also my business partner) and I had just discovered we surpassed our revenue goals for the year. The emotion overwhelmed me because for eight of my ten years in business, this was the game I always wanted to play. For the first 8 years, two seemingly responsible questions kept me stuck in my comfort zone. In this episode, we expose why asking "How do I know it's going to work?" and "Is it the right time?" actually prevents growth rather than ensuring it and we reveal the mindset shift required to take action. Episode Summary: This episode confronts the two questions that paralyze entrepreneurs at every stage. Whether you're launching your first product or making your tenth strategic hire, these questions disguise fear as prudence and keep you playing smaller than your vision demands. Through wisdom from my own coach about making offers work rather than choosing perfect ones and the principle Andrew and I use to match value with revenue, you'll learn why certainty-seeking is the enemy of extraordinary outcomes. This episode challenges you to stop calculating your way to guarantees and start operating from desire rather than fear. Key Takeaways: Why These Questions Keep You Stuck: Asking if something will work seeks guarantees that don't exist in entrepreneurship These questions point to certainty, but uncertainty is what makes big outcomes possible Playing safe means you don't fail, but you also don't learn what you need for growth The clarity you seek before starting only comes after you've begun The Safe Zone: Doing only what you know will work teaches you nothing new A year of spectacular failures provides more education than a year of perfect planning Conservative business building offers no protection from failure Small games still carry risk but without the potential for extraordinary rewards The Spaghetti Strategy: Kris Jenner threw everything at the wall to see what would stick in the early years  Most attempts failed, but the successes became billion-dollar businesses Running experiments beats endless analysis every time You learn by doing, not by calculating Making Offers Right vs. Choosing Right Offers: The goal isn't finding the perfect offer but launching and improving Your offer evolves as you evolve and gain market feedback You'll be clear only after you take action Every iteration teaches you something planning never could The Value-Revenue Principle: Decide your revenue goal, then deliver that amount of value to the world Much of this value goes out for free initially You estimate equivalence, then adjust based on real results Over-delivering to clients while giving generously builds momentum Operating From Desire vs. Fear: Fear asks if it will work, desire asks what you want to create Building from fear offers no protection but limits possibility When you operate from desire, even failures feel purposeful Your biggest game exists in the unknown, not the certain Episode Highlights: [00:00] Emotional opening after hitting revenue goals [01:30] Ten years in business, eight playing small [02:45] The satisfaction of finally playing a bigger game [03:30] The two questions clients always ask [04:15] Why these are the wrong questions [05:00] Entrepreneurship has no certainty [06:00] How these questions show up for new and seasoned entrepreneurs [07:30] Expanding capacity for uncertainty [08:45] Two years ago vs. today's reality [09:30] Desire vs. fear in business building [10:15] Chris Jenner's spaghetti-at-the-wall approach [11:30] Running experiments as an entrepreneur [12:45] The safe zone teaches you nothing [14:00] My coach's wisdom about making offers work [15:30] How my offers have evolved through iteration [17:00] The Visionary Mindset Program journey [18:00] Learning through doing, not planning [19:30] Behind the scenes of our marketing approach [20:45] Adding value first principle [21:30] Founder Consult Week example [23:00] Estimating value-revenue equivalence [24:30] You don't know until you try [25:45] Planning for 2026 revenue [26:30] Over-delivering as standard practice [27:15] Connect with desire, not fear [28:30] Courage as currency [29:00] Playing outside your safe zone Memorable Quotes: "The certainty game is a game of small numbers of what we already know. The big game is in the unknown." "We need to throw spaghetti at the wall, but we need to be okay with making mistakes, with things not going our way." "If you spend an entire year throwing spaghetti at the wall and fail miserably, what you learn in that year of failures will take you to your goals the following year." "It's not about choosing the right offer, it's about making an offer and then making it right." "If you build a business from fear, there are no guarantees that you won't fail. You can be as conservative as possible and still fail." "Courage is your currency. Having the courage to follow your desires, to make a guess and put it out there even when you're scared." "Learning to be with uncertainty and playing outside your safe zone is how you will play the biggest game." Your Action Steps: Identify the two questions you keep asking about your business Notice the physical sensation when these questions arise (fear vs. desire) Write down what you genuinely desire to create in your business Set a revenue target for next year Calculate how you'll deliver equivalent value to the world Choose one "safe" decision you've been postponing and act this week Run an experiment without knowing if it will work Track what you learn from failure vs. what you learn from planning  Connect with Carolina: Website: carolinazuleta.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching/ Book a consultation: carozuleta.com/consult Subscribe & Review: If this episode was helpful, please drop and rating and give us a follow. Your support helps other entrepreneurs discover the show and enables us to continue creating this free content. 

FREE GUIDE TO RECEIVING FEEDBACK - Click here to access Feedback can sting. "We need to talk." That's enough to tense up your body and make your mind race. Immediately we want to get defensive, and moments later you're either attacking back or shutting down completely. There's a better way. In this episode, we explore why even the most successful leaders struggle with feedback and reveal the nine-step framework that transforms criticism into rocket fuel for growth. Episode Summary: After opening with a powerful reflection on gratitude and the gift of being human (even the uncomfortable parts), this episode tackles one of leadership's most vulnerable moments... being on the receiving end of feedback. Building from the biological reasons our brains interpret criticism as danger to the specific steps that separate defensive leaders from growth-oriented ones, you'll learn how to stay grounded even when feedback comes wrapped in emotions, accusations, or poor delivery. Through real scenarios from coaching sessions and practical frameworks, this episode transforms how you process criticism, extract value from messy feedback, and demonstrate the kind of leadership that builds trust through visible growth. Key Takeaways: Why Feedback Triggers Our Defenses: Threatens our sense of identity when we conflate work with worth Nervous system interprets criticism as tribal rejection Activates harsh inner critic and old shame patterns Forces us into uncertainty about changing established behaviors Challenges the "high performer" identity many leaders carry The Four Automatic Responses to Avoid: Fight: Defensiveness, justifying, explaining why they're wrong Flight/Freeze: Avoiding feedback conversations, postponing meetings Fawn: Approval seeking, agreeing to everything without discernment Each response is primitive and blocks our growth What Makes Leaders Great at Receiving Feedback: Identity remains separate from work output Genuine curiosity replaces defensiveness Focus on impact over defending intentions Emotional regulation under pressure Finding value even in poorly delivered feedback Selective implementation based on source credibility Handling Poorly Delivered Feedback: You don't have to agree with their story to respect their experience Stay regulated even when attacked or misunderstood Acknowledge emotions without accepting accusations Ask clarifying questions to understand impact Hold firm boundaries against disrespect Process privately to extract useful elements The 9-Step Framework: Prepare mentally before feedback conversations Ask permission to take notes Listen to understand, not defend Pause before reacting Acknowledge the impact Extract the useful parts Align on future actions Decide what to implement Show your growth through action Episode Highlights: [00:00] Thanksgiving gratitude reflection [02:30] The gift of experiencing all human emotions [04:00] Introduction to receiving feedback [05:00] Why feedback threatens our identity [06:30] Biological reasons feedback feels like danger [07:45] How self-criticism amplifies feedback pain [09:00] High performers and feedback resistance [10:15] Uncertainty and the discomfort of change [11:30] Four automatic threat responses explained [13:45] The superhuman response to feedback [15:00] Staying with tension as a skill [16:30] Separating identity from work [18:00] Curiosity as the antidote to defensiveness [20:00] Understanding impact versus defending intention [22:00] Viktor Frankl quote on space between stimulus and response [23:30] Finding the gift in messy feedback [25:00] Not all feedback deserves equal weight [27:00] Client example: "You don't care about my project" [29:00] Team example: Strategic pivot backlash [30:30] Responding when feedback is poorly delivered [32:00] Acknowledging emotions without accepting attacks [34:00] When to enforce boundaries [36:00] Post-conversation processing questions [38:00] The 9-step framework begins [40:00] Preparation and positive intent [41:30] The power of taking notes [42:45] Listening to understand [44:00] Pausing and self-coaching [45:30] Acknowledging impact without blame [47:00] Finding the 2% truth [48:30] Creating shared future vision [50:00] Implementation decisions [51:00] Growth through visible action [52:30] Self-kindness as the secret weapon Memorable Quotes: "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. And in that space is your opportunity to choose your reaction." "The work we do in coaching is superhuman. The human response is to defend. The superhuman response is to use our consciousness to override those automatic responses." "People who are great at receiving feedback don't need to protect their ego. They need to build their future." "You don't have to agree with someone's story and you can still respect their experience." "Your job is not to fix their narrative but to understand the impact you had." "No matter how the feedback comes, you can turn any feedback into something that helps you grow." "The most powerful response to feedback is action." "The criticism that hurts me the most is the judgments I have about myself." Your Action Steps: Identify your default response pattern (fight, flight, freeze, or fawn) Practice the pause: Count to five before responding to any feedback Write this belief: "I can find value in any feedback" Schedule a feedback conversation you've been avoiding Ask three clarifying questions in your next feedback session Take notes during your next challenging conversation Identify one piece of recent feedback and implement it this week Show someone how you've grown from their input Download the feedback worksheet at [link below] Resources Mentioned: Episode 59 & 60: How to Have Difficult Conversations Episode 28: The Cost of Being Right Viktor Frankl quote on stimulus and response Feedback worksheet (available for download) About This Episode: This episode transforms the universal discomfort of receiving criticism into a competitive advantage for visionary leaders. Rather than protecting your ego through defense mechanisms that block growth, you'll learn to mine even the messiest feedback for insights that accelerate your development. By understanding the biological and psychological forces at play, then applying the practical nine-step framework, you'll join the ranks of leaders who turn every piece of feedback into fuel for their vision. Connect with Andrew: Website: carolinazuleta.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching/ Book a consultation: https://www.carozuleta.com/consult Subscribe & Review: If this episode helped you transform how you receive feedback, please follow and rate the podcast. Your support goes a long way in supporting this free content. 

If you're anything like the entrepreneurs I know, you've had nights lying awake at 2 AM mulling over the problem that can't wait until morning to solve... or furiously refreshing your email to see if the algorithm favored the post you poured your soul into... or checking every few minutes to see if that article about your business has been published... Meanwhile, the action items that need your attention sit untouched on your desk. In this episode, we expose the factors that are draining your energy while simultaneously keeping you stuck, and we cover the ONLY three things you can actually control that determine your success. Episode Summary: Most entrepreneurs spend their mental energy obsessing over things completely outside their control… could be the market conditions, algorithm changes, client decisions, or employee satisfaction levels. This creates a dangerous illusion of being “strategic” when it's actually just your worry disguised as your responsibility. This episode reframes how visionary leaders should approach problems and uncertainty. You'll learn the critical distinction between low-quality problems that make you a victim and high-quality problems that make you powerful, plus a coaching exercise to move from anxiousness to productivity.   Key Takeaways: What’s Draining Your Energy and Killing Your Business: Worrying about external factors feels responsible but drains your power Your brain mistakes worry for strategy The more you focus on uncontrollables, the less action you take Success requires expanding your ability to be with uncertainty, not eliminating it The Only Three Things You Can Control: Your thoughts: The stories you tell yourself and meaning you create Your emotions: Your ability to generate confidence, calm, courage Your actions: Your standards, discipline, consistency, and follow-through Low-Quality vs High-Quality Problems: Low-quality: Problems you can't solve where you're the victim High-quality: Problems you can solve where you're the hero Every problem can be reframed from low to high quality The question isn't whether you have problems but how you frame them Why We Choose Victimhood: Taking responsibility requires risk and vulnerability Blaming circumstances feels safer than owning failures Making decisions means accepting potential embarrassment or criticism Staying stuck in drama feels safer than exposing yourself to real failure The Decision-Making Truth: Entrepreneurship isn't about making perfect decisions It's about making decisions then making them right through action You must sell yourself on your decisions first If you're not 100% convinced, your doubts will sabotage execution Episode Highlights: [00:00] Introduction: The mindset difference between anxious and powerful entrepreneurs [02:00] Energy as fundamental requirement for business growth [03:30] The biggest energy leak: obsessing over uncontrollables [04:45] Why worry feels strategic but isn't [06:00] The cost of worrying: anxiety, indecision, self-doubt [07:30] Spinning in indecision and too many options [09:00] The realistic view: most things aren't in our control [10:30] The only three things you can control [12:00] Thoughts, emotions, and actions explained [14:00] Agua Bendita founders story: "Every day there is a problem" [16:30] Father's wisdom: "That's what leaders do—solve problems" [18:00] Tony Robbins on quality of problems [19:30] Low-quality problems defined [21:00] Reframing from victim to hero [22:30] AI fear example: from scary future to preparation [24:00] Why victimhood feels easier [25:30] The high price of avoiding responsibility [27:00] Decision-making as vulnerability [29:00] Why we avoid decisions [30:30] Expanding emotional capacity for uncertainty [31:30] Selling yourself on your decisions first [33:00] Making decisions right through action [34:00] The coaching exercise Memorable Quotes: "Worry is not strategy. Worry is just your brain trying to create certainty in a place where certainty doesn't exist." "If you want to be successful entrepreneurs, you have to continue expanding your ability to be with uncertainty." "We don't sign up for this because we want a life without problems. We sign up because we want to become better at solving those problems." "The reason why they hired me is to solve problems. That's what leaders do." "When we change the way we look at problems, we go from feeling like a victim to feeling like the hero of our own story." "Entrepreneurship is not about waiting for the perfect decision. It's about making a decision and then making it right through our actions." "Your job as the founder is to elevate the quality of the problems you're solving." Your Action Steps: Write down everything you're currently worrying about Label each worry as low-quality or high-quality problem Reframe every low-quality problem into high-quality version Ask yourself: "How can I solve this?" instead of "Why is this happening?" For your next decision, sell yourself on it 100% before executing Track where your mental energy goes today (controllables or uncontrollables) Choose one "unsolvable" problem and find three actions you can take Connect with Carolina: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching/ Book a free consultation: https://www.carozuleta.com/consult

Take a minute to think... are there any conversations you've been avoiding lately? Maybe it's an underperforming manager, a team member missing deadlines, or a client who's gone off the rails? You probably know it needs to happen but every time you think about it, your chest tightens. What if they get defensive? What if they quit or churn? What if you make things worse? In this episode, we dive into the exact step-by-step framework for having difficult conversations that transform conflict into clarity and broken trust into stronger partnerships. Episode Summary: Building on Part 1 of this series, this episode delivers the tactical framework I teach all my clients for navigating difficult conversations. From the crucial preparation phase through the conversation itself to the follow-up that ensures real change, you'll learn why most leaders approach these conversations backwards and how to flip the script. Through real examples including the manager who couldn't delegate and the business partners who built an unbreakable bond through monthly "hard stuff chats," this episode transforms one of leadership's most dreaded tasks into a powerful tool for growth. Key Takeaways: The Two-Part Preparation: Give advance notice so they can prepare mentally (never ambush) Separate facts from stories before the meeting Facts: What everyone agrees happened (missed deadline, client complaint) Stories: Your interpretation of why it happened Clarify your true intention for giving feedback The Conversation Framework: Start by sharing your intention explicitly Present facts first, then your story/theory Ask for their perspective: "What's your theory?" or "How do you see it?" Listen actively without defending or preparing rebuttals Own your part immediately when they point it out Creating Safety Throughout: Name emotions when they arise Take breaks if safety breaks down Remember that repair makes relationships stronger Focus on campaigns, not single battles The Follow-Through: End with specific action steps Document agreements via email Evaluate your own performance afterward Ask yourself what triggered you and why Episode Highlights: [00:00] Welcome and request for ratings/reviews [01:30] Why preparation determines success [02:45] The importance of giving advance notice [04:00] Separating facts from stories exercise [06:30] Example: The underperforming manager scenario [09:00] Understanding your true intention [11:00] How to start the conversation [13:00] The power of sharing your theory vs. stating truth [15:30] Why listening is the most underrated leadership ability [17:45] Taking notes and staying curious [19:00] Apologizing for your part builds trust [21:30] Moving into action planning [24:00] The importance of written follow-up [25:30] Post-conversation evaluation [27:00] Why relationships happen over time [28:30] The "hard stuff chat" example [31:00] You can't control others' emotional reactions [33:00] Being okay with big emotions [34:30] When safety breaks, name it [36:00] How breaks in relationships create strength Memorable Quotes: "True listening means you set your brain into the mode of curiosity with the intention of understanding what the other person is saying, not to approve or disapprove." "When you finish one of those conversations, I want you to put the success measure a hundred percent on you." "Leaders have that ability to receive feedback, process it, and own their part." "Relationships happen over time. This is not about having a single battle, but it's a campaign." "When we break a bone and it heals, the part through which the bone broke grows even stronger than before. It's the same thing with relationships." "The measure of your leadership is how you show up when the stakes are high." Your Action Steps: Give the individual a heads up about the conversation you intend to have. Schedule the conversation Write down the facts vs. your stories before the meeting Rate your intention from 1-10 (are you truly helping them grow or is this just a formality with a hopeless team member?) Give the person advance notice about the conversation topic Practice active listening in your next conversation Document agreements in writing after the conversation Evaluate your performance: What triggered you and why? Resources Mentioned: Part 1 of this series (previous episode) The Visionary Mindset Program About This Episode: This episode delivers the tactical framework that transforms difficult conversations from dreaded confrontations into catalysts for growth. Instead of avoiding conflict or diluting your message to spare feelings, you'll learn how to create psychological safety while delivering clear, actionable feedback that strengthens relationships and drives results. Connect with Andrew: Website: carozuleta.com Email: info (at) carolinazuleta.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carolinazuletacoaching Book a consultation: https://www.carozuleta.com/consult Subscribe & Review: If this episode gave you the confidence to tackle that conversation you've been avoiding, please subscribe to The Visionary's Pursuit and leave a review. Your feedback helps other visionary leaders discover the show and join our community of founders building exceptional businesses.

Episode 59 Show Notes: The conversations you're avoiding are slowly destroying your most important relationships. The unspoken truths between you and others are creating distance that's eroding trust, building resentment and ultimately costing you success and happiness. In this first part of a two-part series on how to have these difficult conversations, we explore why difficult conversations are the determining factor in relationship quality, how avoiding them creates more conflict than having them ever could and why the belief that good relationships don't have arguments is dangerously wrong. Episode Summary: Drawing from years of coaching executives and founders, I address one of the most common leadership challenges: navigating difficult conversations with employees, bosses, business partners and even family. Through the story of a COO whose once-fantastic relationship with her CEO crumbled into resentment because they avoided core conversations, this episode exposes the hidden cost of "keeping the peace." I frame it this way... each unspoken truth is like placing a pillow between you and the other person for each withhold you have, until there's so much distance that just their presence bothers you. The episode challenges the misconception that good relationships don't have arguments, revealing instead that relationships without difficult conversations are superficial masks destined to break. Most importantly, I distinguish between conflict (reactive, emotion-fueled, about being right) and difficult conversations (proactive, understanding-focused, about solving problems together), while exploring the Pygmalion Effect and how our beliefs about others directly impact their performance. Key Takeaways: The Cost of Avoidance: Unspoken truths erode trust and accumulate tension Distance grows until you're bothered by the person's mere presence Suppressed truths leak out through frustration, sarcasm, withdrawal and burnout Relationships end not from conflict but from accumulated withholds The Pillow Metaphor: Each unspoken concern creates a "pillow" between you and the other person Pillows accumulate with every avoided conversation from both sides Eventually so many pillows exist that you can't touch or connect Difficult conversations remove the pillows and restore closeness Conflict vs Difficult Conversations: Conflict happens when dialogue breaks down (silence or violence) Difficult conversations transform potential conflict into understanding Conflict is "me versus you" while difficult conversations are "us versus the problem" The goal isn't to win but to understand each other and create clarity The Pygmalion Effect: Your expectations about someone directly impact their performance Teachers given "high potential" students (randomly selected) helped them perform better If you don't believe an employee can improve, don't waste time on feedback Clear is kind - either help them improve or end the relationship When to Have Difficult Conversations: Any conversation involving money, honesty, emotions or unmet expectations Performance feedback, boundary setting and partnership discussions The moment you notice you're putting "pillows" between you and another person As a regular practice, not just during annual reviews Episode Highlights: [00:00] Welcome to episode 59 - part one of difficult conversations series [01:30] Tony Robbins quote: relationship quality determines life quality [02:15] Most of us never received training on good relationships [03:00] Defining difficult conversations - high stakes, strong emotions [04:00] Examples: performance feedback, unmet expectations, boundaries [05:00] Why avoiding conversations erodes trust and accumulates tension [06:30] COO and CEO story - from fantastic to leaving the company [08:00] The pillow metaphor explained [10:00] How to know you've created too much distance [11:00] Quality of relationships determined by difficult conversations [12:00] Good relationships aren't conflict-free - that's a misconception [13:30] If you don't talk it out, you'll act it out [14:30] Difference between conflict and difficult conversations [15:30] Brené Brown: "Clear is kind" [16:00] Conflict as me vs you, conversations as us vs problem [17:00] Is it worth the discomfort - assessing belief in the person [18:30] The Pygmalion Effect research explained [20:00] Teacher expectations impacting student performance [21:00] How beliefs about employees affect their success [22:30] If you don't believe in them, have the conversation to end it [23:30] Recap and preview of part two [24:00] First step preview: putting righteousness aside Memorable Quotes: "The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our life." "When we don't address the elephant in the room, when we don't address the truth, the core of what's bothering us, it grows and relationships end." "If you don't talk it out, you will act it out." "Clear is kind. When we're clear about our expectations, our thoughts, our feedback, that is demonstrating kindness to the other person." "Conflict is me versus you. Difficult conversations are us versus the problem." "The quality of your relationships are determined by the difficult conversations you have." Resources Mentioned: Episode 28: "The Cost of Being Right" Tony Robbins on relationship quality Brené Brown's principle "Clear is Kind" The Pygmalion Effect (Rosenthal & Jacobson, 1968) About This Episode: This episode tackles one of leadership's most critical skills - having difficult conversations. I dismantle the myth that avoiding conflict creates harmony, revealing instead how unspoken truths destroy relationships from the inside out. Through practical examples and psychological insights, you'll understand why the conversations you're avoiding are costing you trust, connection and success. This is essential listening for any leader, entrepreneur or person who wants authentic, lasting relationships. Connect with Carolina: Website: carozuleta.com Email: info@carozuleta.com Book a consultation: carozuleta.com/consult Previous episodes: carozuleta.com/podcasts/visionary-s-pursuit Subscribe & Review: If this episode opened your eyes to the conversations you need to have, please rate and follow Visionary's Pursuit. Your support helps us to continue providing you with this free weekly content. Next Episode Preview: In Part Two, I walk through the exact steps for having successful difficult conversations, starting with the crucial first step: putting your righteousness aside and taking full responsibility for your part. Don't miss the framework that will transform how you approach every challenging conversation.

You have a plan to hit your growth targets, you have the metrics and the roadmap. But consider this... what if pursuing that goal is actually burning you out because you're missing something bigger? In this episode, we explore the critical difference between vision and goals through the lens of Dan Sullivan's "10x is Easier than 2x" framework. Learn why your biggest dreams simplify decision-making, how Netflix's vision transformed an entire industry and why letting go of what's working might be the key to exponential growth. Episode Summary: As 2025 ends, Carolina reflects on whether to push for year-end revenue goals or step back to reconnect with vision for 2026. This leads to a powerful exploration of how goals keep us moving forward while vision makes that movement meaningful. Through client examples and insights from "10x is Easier than 2x," this episode reveals why 10x thinking requires identity transformation rather than just doing more of what already works. Key Takeaways: Goals vs Vision: Goals tell you what to do this year with clear steps and metrics Vision tells you who you need to become without a clear roadmap Goals are about achievement while vision is about identity You need both for transformation rather than just success 2x vs 10x Thinking: 2x means doing more of what you're already doing 10x means doing only what matters most 2x feels safer but leads to burnout 10x feels risky but creates alignment and meaning The Identity Transformation: Vision requires letting go of who you've been Must release old patterns and definitions of success Shift from controlling to delegating Move from busy efficiency to intentional spaciousness Real-World Application: Client example: $5M business needing to fire smaller clients to reach $30M Netflix letting go of DVD delivery to become streaming giant How vision acts as a filter for all business decisions Episode Highlights: [00:00] Introduction and podcast rating request [01:30] End of year reflection on pushing vs stepping back [03:00] The difference between vision and goals explained [04:30] 10x is Easier than 2x book connection [06:00] Vision stretches identity while goals provide roadmap [07:30] Personal example of doubling revenue vs becoming thought leader [09:00] Why you need both vision and goals [10:30] How vision includes lifestyle considerations [11:45] Dan Sullivan on 2x doing more vs 10x choosing what matters [13:00] $5M to $30M client story [15:00] Why 2x feels safer but creates burnout [16:30] Netflix DVD to streaming transformation [18:00] Letting go of safety and control [19:30] How vision simplifies decision making [20:45] Bigger vision equals more happiness [21:30] Identity transformation requirements [23:00] Energy of goals vs vision [24:30] Sometimes vision means downsizing first [25:30] Invitation to pause and imagine your 10x vision [27:00] Vision as compass and goals as roadmap Memorable Quotes: "Goals keep us moving forward but vision is what makes that movement meaningful." "2x goals are about doing more of what you're already doing. 10x visions are about doing only what matters most." "If you want to be happier in your life, you need a bigger vision." "Your vision is the compass. Your goals are the roadmap." "10x is really easier than 2x, not because it takes less effort but because it is more aligned, more clear and more meaningful." Your Action Steps: Pause and imagine your 10x vision for your business and life Write down what feels impossible yet exciting right now Identify who you need to become to achieve that vision Determine what you need to let go of from your current approach Set boundaries that become non-negotiable for your vision Align your 2026 goals with your bigger vision Email your vision to info@carozuleta.com to share with Carolina Resources Mentioned: "10x is Easier than 2x" by Dan Sullivan   About This Episode: This episode challenges entrepreneurs to think beyond incremental growth and embrace transformational vision. Carolina breaks down why doubling your revenue through hustle leads to burnout while pursuing a 10x vision actually simplifies decisions and creates meaning. Through practical examples and frameworks, you'll understand how to hold both vision and goals in a way that creates sustainable success and fulfillment. Connect with Carolina: Website: carozuleta.com Email: info@carozuleta.com Book a consultation: carozuleta.com/consult Previous episodes: carozuleta.com/podcasts/visionary-s-pursuit Subscribe & Review: If this episode inspired you to think bigger about your business and life, please rate and follow Visionary's Pursuit. Your support helps us continue creating free content every week and helps other visionary leaders discover the show.

For nine years, I've been waking up at 3 AM, wide awake and ready to conquer the world. If you're a entrepreneur who can't seem to turn off your brain, this episode is for you. In a more personal exploration, we cover the addiction to achievement that drives most founders and why our greatest strength becomes our greatest vulnerability when it comes to rest. Drawing from my own journey with chronic sleep issues and the wisdom of my doctor who said "your body is in bed but your brain isn't," we uncover practical strategies for downregulating your nervous system without sacrificing your ambition. Episode Summary: This episode reveals why high achievers struggle with rest. I share my ongoing journey of learning to slow down, including the radical step of asking my husband child-lock my phone and the micro-practices that are finally helping me sleep through the night. You'll discover why traditional relaxation advice fails for ambitious entrepreneurs and learn a new approach that honors both your drive and your need for restoration. Key Takeaways: The High Achiever's Sleep Problem: Waking at 3-4 AM with energy and anxiety isn't insomnia, it's nervous system activation Your brain stays "on" from morning until bedtime, processing multiple streams of information Traditional advice (meditation, no screens) often fails because it doesn't address the root cause The addiction to achievement keeps us in constant activation mode Why We Love Being Busy: Being activated feels good - we love the challenge and creativity Achievement provides dopamine hits and makes us feel important We unconsciously seek more responsibilities even when overwhelmed Slowing down feels uncomfortable because stillness challenges our identity Building Nervous System Flexibility: Micro-breaks throughout the day (30 seconds to 2 minutes) Eating lunch without distractions Deleting infinite-scroll apps from your phone Taking deep breaths and affirming safety multiple times daily Walking after achievements to integrate success somatically Episode Highlights: [00:00] Welcome and invitation to rate/share the podcast [02:00] This episode is about something I'm learning, not mastering [04:30] My nine-year struggle with 3 AM wake-ups [06:00] Doctor visits and traditional advice that didn't work [08:00] Confession: Having my husband child-lock my phone [10:30] The moment before sleep when anxiety hits [12:00] Doctor's insight: "Your body is in bed but your brain isn't" [14:00] The endless mental load of being a founder and parent [16:00] Why I volunteer for everything despite being overwhelmed [18:00] The addiction to achievement and feeling important [20:00] My failed attempt to slow down after having my second child [22:30] Appreciating the miracle of nature and presence [24:00] Mary Oliver's poem and misunderstanding its message [26:00] Current practices: Deep breaths and affirmations [28:00] Eating lunch without distractions (the hardest practice) [30:00] How smartphones keep our brains constantly activated [32:00] Learning to be present with my kids without my phone [34:00] The process of retraining our ability to do nothing [36:00] Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers explanation [38:00] Turning off to turn on - flexibility is key [40:00] Final encouragement to be more like zebras Memorable Quotes: "Your body is in bed but your brain isn't." "I love being activated. I love doing three things at the same time and being challenged and being creative and solving things." "Slowing down and practicing the art of doing nothing is also a way of appreciating the present moment." "Ambition and presence are not opposite. They're actually complementary." "The more I learn to downregulate, the better I can be when I need to upregulate and be creative and solve problems." "Let's be a little bit more like zebras." Your Action Steps: Close your eyes and take two deep breaths multiple times throughout your day Tell your brain and body "we are safe, we're okay, there's an abundance of time" Eat one meal without any distractions - even if just for 10 minutes Consider removing infinite-scroll apps from your phone Leave your phone in your bag during social interactions Drive or walk without listening to anything to notice your internal state Observe your children playing without directing or interacting Practice 30-second to 2-minute breaks when you feel activation (not scheduled) Resources Mentioned: Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky "The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver (poem) About This Episode: This episode breaks the myth that constant activation equals productivity. Carolina vulnerably shares her ongoing struggle with sleep and nervous system regulation, offering not perfected solutions but real practices she's implementing in real-time. Through personal stories and scientific insights, you'll learn why your drive for achievement might be sabotaging your rest and how developing nervous system flexibility can enhance both your ambition and your ability to be present. Connect with Carolina: Website Book a consultation LinkedIn Instagram: @carolinazuleta Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with your experience as a high-achieving entrepreneur, please subscribe to Visionary's Pursuit and leave a review. Your feedback helps other visionary leaders who struggle with turning off their brains discover practical strategies for sustainable success.

You've been told to leave your emotions at home and bring only logic to work so in this episode, we explore groundbreaking research from Yale and Stanford that shows the best advice is to do almost the opposite. In other words, suppressing emotions actually degrades your cognitive function and decision-making abilities. Drawing from neuroscience and real-world leadership examples, we reveal why emotional intelligence drives everything from company valuation to team performance and introduce a four-skill framework that transforms emotions from liabilities into leadership assets. Episode Summary: I was once called "brave" for discussing emotions after I spoke at a corporate event revealing just how uncomfortable we are with feelings in professional settings. Reviewing research from Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and insights from neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, this episode dismantles the myth that strong leaders suppress their emotions. Instead, we learn why the best leaders know how to regulate (not suppress) their emotional experiences and how this ability directly impacts strategic thinking, creativity and company performance. Key Takeaways: The Two Ways People Handle Emotions: Suppressing/numbing through distraction, substances or denial Getting hijacked and letting emotions run the show Why neither approach serves leadership or performance The Science of Suppression: Suppressing emotions takes your prefrontal cortex offline Reduces memory recall and decision-making capacity Like driving 80mph with the parking brake on Consumes cognitive resources needed for strategic thinking The Four Skills Framework for Emotional Mastery: Acceptance - Acknowledging emotions without judgment or agreement Identification - Accurately naming emotions to calm the amygdala Expression - Communicating emotions responsibly without blame Completion - Allowing emotions their natural 90-second course The Business Case for Emotional Intelligence: 74% of investors believe EQ in CEOs improves company valuation Leaders with high EQ are more effective negotiators Better risk assessment and fewer impulsive decisions Improved team retention and performance Episode Highlights: [00:00] Introduction and the TV interview story [02:30] Why emotions are our GPS and universal language [04:00] The two dysfunctional ways we handle emotions [06:15] Research on suppressing emotions and cognitive function [08:30] Yale and Stanford findings on emotional suppression [10:00] The parking brake analogy [11:45] Leaders who regulate emotions vs suppress them [13:00] Wharton research on negotiation and EQ [14:15] Korn Ferry study on CEO emotional intelligence [16:00] Common misconceptions about emotions at work [18:30] The Self-Coaching Model and thoughts creating emotions [20:45] Numbness vs resilience [22:30] The Judith Wright quote on pain and love [24:00] The four skills framework introduction [25:30] Acceptance skill explained [27:00] Identification and Lisa Feldman Barrett's research [29:00] Expression without blame [31:00] Completion and the 90-second rule [33:00] Emotional mastery as self-care Memorable Quotes: "When we suppress emotions, we reduce our ability to recall memories and we reduce our capacity for making good decisions." "Suppressing emotions is like driving a car at 80 miles per hour with the parking brake still on. You may be moving forward but you're burning out in the process." "74% of investors believe emotional intelligence in a CEO improves company valuation." "Peace is not the absence of pain but the result of the acceptance and expression of pain." "Every metric founders care about (valuation, performance, growth, innovation, retention) depends on skills that are related to emotional intelligence." Your Action Steps: Notice your default response to emotions (suppressing or getting hijacked) Practice acceptance by acknowledging emotions without judgment Expand your emotional vocabulary using resources like Atlas of the Heart Express emotions responsibly using "I" statements without blame Allow emotions to complete their natural 90-second cycle Track your cognitive performance when regulating vs suppressing Resources Mentioned: Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown The Soft Addiction Solution by Judith Wright Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence research Korn Ferry CEO study Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's 90-second emotion research The Self-Coaching Model Book a consultation: carozuleta.com/consult About This Episode: This episode challenges the conventional wisdom that emotions don't belong in business. We present research demonstrating that emotional suppression actually impairs leadership performance while emotional regulation enhances it. Using frameworks and insights taken from neuroscience, you'll learn why emotional intelligence represents the deepest form of self-care and professional development available to visionary leaders. Connect with Carolina: Website Book a consultation Previous episodes Subscribe & Review: If this episode changed how you think about emotions in leadership, please subscribe to Visionary's Pursuit and leave a review. Your feedback helps other visionary leaders discover the show and join our community.

You finally land the million-dollar investment, or close the deal you've been chasing for months, or hit some ambitious goal that never felt realistic… and then, right in that moment of pure joy, a less enjoyable thought crosses your mind: "What if I lose this? What if I can't deliver? What if this is as good as it gets?" In this episode, we explore why joy is actually our most vulnerable emotion and how foreboding joy (that tendency to imagine disaster in our happiest moments) might be actually limiting your capacity for greater success. Drawing from research and my experience working firsthand with my clients, we reveal how gratitude becomes the antidote to fear and the key to expanding what you can hold in your business and life. Episode Summary: Through stories of entrepreneurs feeling foreboding joy after experiencing success along with moments and insights from neuroscience and positive psychology, this episode transforms how you think about joy, vulnerability and your capacity to receive more. You'll learn why your nervous system associates success with danger and discover practical tools to rewire this response through gratitude and somatic practices. Key Takeaways: The Vulnerability of Joy: Joy is the most vulnerable emotion we can experience When we feel joy, our nervous system senses we have more to lose Our minds try to protect us by imagining what could go wrong This happens most intensely during our greatest achievements Understanding Foreboding Joy: The expectation that something bad will balance out something good Shows up as worry, fear or heartbreak during moments of success A protective mechanism when we have limited tolerance for vulnerability Universal experience among high achievers and parents alike The Gratitude Solution: Joy doesn't make us grateful; gratitude makes us joyful Gratitude activates the prefrontal cortex and releases dopamine and serotonin Helps the brain focus on what's working instead of potential threats Increases patience and long-term thinking essential for entrepreneurs Building Capacity for More: Capacity is our ability to stay open and regulated in the presence of what we want When our nervous system associates success with danger, we unconsciously avoid it Gratitude teaches our bodies that it's safe to have more Expanding capacity requires both somatic and cognitive work Episode Highlights: [00:00] Introduction to the pattern of joy and heartbreak [02:30] The special moments with kids that trigger foreboding joy [04:00] Client story: Raising the first million and immediate worry [05:15] Client story: Landing the deal and fearing failure [06:45] Why joy is our most vulnerable emotion [08:00] Brené Brown's research on foreboding joy [09:30] The nervous system's response to success [11:00] How gratitude rewires our response to joy [12:30] The neuroscience behind gratitude practices [14:00] Research on gratitude and long-term thinking [15:30] Personal breakthrough with coaching conversation [17:00] Building capacity to hold more success [18:30] The Taylor Swift joke that created permission [20:00] Four practices for expanding capacity [21:30] Regulating your nervous system after wins [23:00] Upgrading your self-concept for success [25:00] Building emotional range for all feelings [26:30] Two approaches to gratitude practice [28:00] Transforming vulnerability shudders into gratitude [29:30] Final thoughts on receiving joy Memorable Quotes:  "Joy doesn't make us grateful. Gratitude makes us joyful." "The higher we rise, the more there is to lose." "Gratitude doesn't just make us happier. It expands our capacity to hold more joy, more success, more money, more visibility without collapsing into fear or stress or shame." "When our nervous systems associate success with danger, we will unconsciously avoid it." "Success isn't a once in a lifetime thing but the new level you've achieved." "Being a visionary is not just about dreaming big. It's about learning to hold the emotional range that comes with success." "When life gets good, let's not rehearse tragedy. Let's instead receive the joy, breathe it in, and tell ourselves, thank you." Your Action Steps: Notice when you experience foreboding joy (that vulnerability shudder during happy moments) Rate your current capacity to receive success without fear After your next win, take a walk while replaying the journey that brought you there Write one thing you're grateful for and really feel the gratitude as you write Ask yourself: What beliefs do I need to release to hold more success? Practice opening your chest and telling yourself you're built to experience joy Transform vulnerable moments into a practice of gratitude Resources Mentioned: Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown Research from Northeastern University on gratitude and patience: https://news.northeastern.edu/2016/04/14/gratitude-a-vaccine-against-impulsiveness Positive psychology research on gratitude journaling: https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude Neuroscience research on gratitude and the prefrontal cortex: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26483740/ About This Episode: This episode challenges the assumption that success should feel comfortable. We reveal why our greatest moments of achievement often come with a side of dread and provide a scientific framework for expanding what we can hold. Through vulnerable personal stories and proven practices, you'll learn to stop rehearsing tragedy and start receiving the success you've worked so hard to create. Connect with Us! Website Book a consultation Previous episodes Subscribe & Review: Please subscribe to receive the weekly podcast and please be sure to leave a review! Your support is invaluable.

Your pitch is perfect, your logic is airtight and your value proposition is crystal clear. So why won't they buy, invest or partner with you? In this episode, we explore why most entrepreneurs approach influence backwards and reveal the three fundamental pillars that actually move people to action. Drawing from client cases including a stalled bank loan and a resistant team, we break down the difference between influence and manipulation and why the person you need to influence first is always yourself. Episode Summary: After reflecting on September's achievements and the beauty of being in the "messy middle" of entrepreneurship, we dive into one of the most critical skills for any visionary leader... influence. Carolina shares insights from working with clients in the Visionary Mindset Program's sales module, revealing why traditional persuasion tactics fail and what actually creates genuine influence. Through stories from the trenches and wisdom from sources like Brené Brown's work on trust, this episode transforms how you think about getting others to say yes. Key Takeaways: The Foundation: Influence Starts With You The person with the most certainty ultimately influences the other Rate your conviction about what you're offering from 1-10 Address your doubts before trying to influence anyone else Your internal alignment determines your external impact The Three Pillars of Influence: Trust - Making what matters to them feel safe with you Removing Judgment - Seeing them with genuine curiosity instead of criticism Understanding What Already Matters - Connecting your vision to their existing values and needs Common Influence Mistakes: Talking more than listening Relying only on logic when humans make emotional decisions Pushing your agenda instead of aligning with theirs Ignoring what truly drives them Confusing influence with manipulation or convincing Episode Highlights: [00:00] Introduction and gratitude for September [02:30] The beauty of the "messy middle" in entrepreneurship [04:15] Sebastian's parking spot at Disney Studios story [06:45] Why influence is the oxygen of business [08:30] Business school lesson: Your biggest challenges will be about people [10:00] Influence vs. convincing vs. manipulation [12:30] The first person you must influence is yourself [14:45] Rating your belief in what you're selling [16:00] First pillar: Building genuine trust [18:30] The Speed of Trust insights [20:00] Brené Brown on trust and safety [22:15] Second pillar: Removing judgment [24:30] The bank employee story [26:45] Third pillar: Understanding what already matters to them [29:00] The inherited team example [31:30] Common mistakes that kill influence [33:15] The car buying example [35:00] Playing the long game with integrity Memorable Quotes: "The person with the most certainty in a situation will ultimately influence the other." "Trust is when someone feels that something that is important to them is safe with us." - Brené Brown reference "You can only influence people through what already matters to them." "Influence is not about convincing someone to believe the same things that you believe but finding what matters to them and connecting that to your vision." "At the end of the day, businesses are not just the numbers, businesses are people." Your Action Steps: Rate your conviction about what you're offering on a scale of 1-10 Address any doubts you have about your product or service before your next sales conversation Identify what matters most to the person you're trying to influence Remove your judgments and approach them with genuine curiosity Make their priorities feel safe with you through your words and actions Listen more than you talk in your next important conversation Resources Mentioned: The Speed of Trust by Stephen M .R. Covey (book) Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown (book) About This Episode: This episode challenges the conventional approach to influence that most entrepreneurs default to. Instead of perfecting your pitch or sharpening your arguments, Carolina reveals why understanding and aligning with what already matters to others is the key to genuine influence. Through client examples and practical frameworks, you'll learn how to build trust, remove judgment and create authentic connections that lead to yes. Connect with Carolina: Website Linkedin Book a consultation Previous episodes Subscribe & Review: If this episode helped you understand influence in a new way, please subscribe to Visionary's Pursuit and drop a review or rating. Your feedback helps other visionary leaders discover the show and join our community of ambitious entrepreneurs and visionaries.

  Episode Summary Is the mindset that got you here now holding you back? In this week's episode, we explore a fascinating distinction a client of mine made about seeing herself as an "underdog" rather than a "winning horse." This conversation spurred me to reflect on when entrepreneurs need to evolve their identity to match their ambitions and current reality. Summary After a thought provoking conversation with a client who mentioned she identified as the underdog, we get into the psychology behind two mindsets that shape how entrepreneurs and leaders show up. Drawing from stories of entrepreneurs and business titans, what made them successful being the same thing that led to their fall, this episode reveals both the strengths and limitations of the underdog and winning horse mentalities. Key Takeaways: The Underdog Mindset Fueled by overcoming odds and proving doubters wrong Strengths include resilience, grit, innovation from necessity, and high tolerance for failure Shadow includes potential addiction to struggle and unconscious sabotage of success Risk involves staying in familiar hardship instead of embracing success The Winning Horse Mindset Fueled by self trust, inevitability, and owning the frontrunner identity Strengths include confidence, calm execution, ability to attract opportunities, and magnetic presence Shadow includes pressure to maintain image, fear of failure, and playing defensively Risk involves becoming risk averse and stopping innovation (like Kodak and Blockbuster) Episode Highlights: [00:00] Introduction [02:15] The client conversation that sparked this episode [03:45] Stories of famous underdogs including Jim Carrey and J.K. Rowling [05:30] Understanding the underdog mindset and its fuel [07:20] The strengths underdogs possess [08:45] Exploring the winning horse mentality [10:30] Tom Brady on consistency versus being special [12:00] The shadow side of being an underdog [14:30] When winning horses stop taking risks [16:00] The Kodak and Blockbuster cautionary tales [17:30] Your homework assignment to identify your current mindset [19:00] How changing your mindset changes your decisions [20:45] The power of believing you're in demand [22:00] Visionary Mindset Program invitation Memorable Quotes: "You don't need to be special. You need to be what most people aren't: consistent, determined, and willing to work hard." - Tom Brady (referenced in episode) "Believing you're a winning horse or an underdog doesn't have to come from the circumstances. You can see yourself as a winning horse, even when the revenue in your business is not where you want it to be." "Seeing yourself as the winner is where you begin, and from there, you create your success." Your Action Steps: Identify your current mindset. Do you see yourself as an underdog or winning horse? Examine your current decisions through both lenses Ask yourself these questions If you're an underdog, consider how you would approach this if you knew you were the winning horse If you're a winning horse, consider what the underdog would do in this situation Reflect on whether you're ready to let go of your underdog identity and step into being the winner About This Episode: This episode challenges entrepreneurs and business leaders to examine whether their current mindset serves their next level of growth. We break down why many successful people unknowingly sabotage their success by clinging to the underdog identity that got them started, while others play it too safe at the top. The episode provides practical tools for recognizing when you need to adopt a new perspective and embrace an identity that matches your ambitions.   Visionary Mindset Program (Now Open for Enrollment!) Book a 15 minute consultation call here   Connect with Carolina: Website Book a 1/1 consultation LinkedIn Instagram: @carolinazuleta About Visionary's Pursuit: A podcast for entrepreneurs and leaders turning bold ideas into reality. Hosted by life and business coach Carolina Zuleta, each episode provides mindset strategies, practical tools, and inspiration to help you manage yourself, your team, and your resources while pursuing your biggest visions. Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe to Visionary's Pursuit and leave a review. Your feedback helps other visionary leaders discover the show and join our community of ambitious entrepreneurs creating exceptional results.

A coaching friend called recently, struggling because her client hadn't achieved expected results despite perfect execution on both sides. This conversation revealed a fundamental misconception that plagues every founder: the belief that effort should guarantee success. We've been conditioned since school to expect proportional rewards for our work. Complete the assignments, get the grade. Meet the requirements, earn the promotion. But entrepreneurship operates on entirely different physics. You can work 80-hour weeks, follow proven formulas, invest at the right time, and still watch your business stagnate while a competitor's rushed attempt succeeds brilliantly. This episode explores the dangerous entitlement that emerges when we believe the universe owes us results for our effort. We examine why founders oscillate between blaming the market and blaming themselves without ever questioning whether they're solving the right problem for the right people. The work requires you to develop the ability to hold total commitment without being attached to specific outcomes. We discuss how to evaluate without connecting results to self-worth, why timing matters more than we think (those "failed" ads might convert six months later) and how to transform disappointment into data. The entrepreneurial paradox demands we maintain steadfast commitment to outcomes while surrendering attachment to them. This means recognizing that we control our inputs while accepting we don't control the universe's response to them. Your business will not grow how you think it should. Not every strategy will deliver fair results. But when you accept this uncertainty while maintaining commitment to creating then iterating, you develop more and more resilience and spend less time fighting reality. Enrollment is now open for The Visionary Mindset Program!! Click here to set up a call with me: carozuleta.com/visionary

Every founder has an unconscious formula for success that got them where they are today. It just so happens to also be the thing preventing you from reaching your next level. In her book, "The Last Word on Power," Tracy Goss defines The Winning Strategy as follows: " A winning strategy is a lifelong unconscious formula for achieving success. You did not design the winning strategy. It designed you as a human being and as a leader, it is the source of your success, and at the same time, the source of your limitations, it defines your reality, your way of being, and your way of thinking." Your winning strategy shapes you as a leader. It determines what you listen for, how you act and what you expect in return. Maybe you're the person who always delivers what's needed without being asked... or the one who seeks the truth to stay safe... or the highly productive founder who moves at a breakneck speed.  Yeah, these strategies helped you win in the past but they come with a cost and may very well be the reason you hit a ceiling.  Those who deliver extra work without being asked may be too focused on pleasing others to set boundaries for themselves. Those who read between the lines to find what feels true may not take the risks necessary to scale their company. Or, those who move fast and push hard may not be able to relate to the methodical personalities on their teams or burn themselves out.  And no. The solution to overcoming your winning strategy is not to find another one. Every strategy has limitations. Instead, we need to create a context so big that no single strategy can define us. This means you must constantly reinvent yourself and challenge your thinking to discover your untapped potential. Key takeaways from the episode: How to identify your winning strategy by noticing what you say about yourself as a leader. Why protecting your identity prevents you from playing your impossible game. The shift from entrepreneurial risk-taking to risk aversion as businesses grow. How to create a game so big that it requires you to become whoever the moment demands. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: The Visionary Mindset Program is now open for enrollment! Go to carozuleta.com/visionary to learn more!

In this episode, we examine the three critical visibility mistakes that cost founders time, money and customers, and explore the deeper beliefs driving these costly decisions. Through insights from a training I led last week on Visibility, we uncover why founders spray and pray with their content, chase vanity metrics instead of revenue and hide behind perfectionism. Effective marketing has nothing to do with being everywhere or being perfect. It's about understanding your customers deeply enough to speak directly to their needs, consistently showing up where they actually are and having the courage to be seen before you feel ready. We explore why your existing subscribers are enough to build your business, how one mentor generates $70 million annually with virtually no social media presence and why the language that connects with customers only emerges through iteration and conversation, never through endless perfecting in isolation. The brands winning today are those most obsessed with serving their clients' actual needs. Key takeaways: Why believing you need to be everywhere creates scattered, ineffective content. How obsessing over hashtags and algorithms before clarifying your message guarantees engagement without revenue. Why waiting for the perfect logo, website, or brand is sophisticated procrastination. The simple shift that transforms broadcasting to imaginary masses into genuine connection with real people. Special announcement: Founder Consultation Week is here! Five full days of free one-hour breakthrough sessions for founders ready to transform what's keeping them stuck. Limited spots available. Book your consultation here: https://calendly.com/carolinazuleta/founder-consultation-week

One year ago today, we launched this podcast with a simple message: Dream Big. In this anniversary episode, we explore why the mythology of the solo entrepreneur is holding you back and how blind spots shape every founder's journey. I share the story of a tech founder who lost everything in the dotcom crash and rebuilt his company with a radically different approach, ultimately selling for millions. This time around, he hired four advisors to help him see what he couldn't see alone. His coach's observation that he was "spending his own money," being too emotionally enmeshed with his business to make strategic decisions, transformed how he approached risk and investment. We cover why "figuring it out on your own" becomes the exact bottleneck preventing growth and discuss the hidden costs of independence beyond just money: time spent learning expensive lessons, energy drained by invisible patterns, missed opportunities, and strained relationships. Through examples from Diana Nyad's "solo" swim from Cuba to Florida and the support teams behind elite athletes, we see how no significant achievement is truly solo. The key insight is that your blind spots aren't character flaws but the inevitable result of being inside your own psychology. The founders who accelerate past their limitations invest in outside perspectives and build teams of advisors who see what they cannot. As the tech founder told me, "Experience is a great teacher, but it's damn expensive." Connect with Me!LinkedInInstagramSubscribe to my newsletterBook a free consultationWebsiteIf you found value in this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a rating. It really helps to spread this message to more visionary leaders like you.

Giving a child a smartphone is like asking them to carry a warm chocolate chip cookie in their hand all day without ever taking a bite. This metaphor, shared by a school principal explaining their no-devices policy, reveals something important about how we manage attention at work. Every notification, Slack message, or "quick question" from your team is an invitation to take a bite. We spend considerable mental energy handling these impulses, constantly deciding what can wait and what can't. While we tend to think this is a time management issue, there's more to it when we examine the neurology involved. Our amygdala, the part of the brain always scanning for threats and opportunities, treats each incoming request as something that needs immediate resolution. It creates tension that seeks the relief of a quick solve or checked box. Yet our prefrontal cortex, where strategic and long-range thinking happens, requires something different. It thrives in calmer spaces and can hold unresolved questions while wrestling with complex problems. These two systems often pull us in opposite directions. The loudest problems that demand your attention are rarely the most important ones. The art of leading a company lies in knowing which problems to resolve immediately and which to sit with in service of a larger goal. Most of us operate with a poor signal-to-noise ratio, so overwhelmed by day-to-day noise that strategic signals barely get through. This episode covers how to create structures that protect your deepest thinking from the constant pull of your brain's need to resolve problems, including weekly reviews and scheduling strategic work in uninterrupted blocks. We'll also address why it takes psychological strength to stay focused on commitments when immediate pressures arise, and why learning to manage attention is a skill that develops with practice.Connect with Me!LinkedInInstagramSubscribe to my newsletterBook a free consultationWebsiteIf you found value in this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a rating. It really helps to spread this message to more visionary leaders like you.

In this episode, I examine a question that came up during an executive coaching session: How do you want to be remembered as a leader? This conversation led to an examination of leadership standards, the personal code of conduct that defines your baseline for leading yourself and others. Based on work I done with founders and executives, I offer five pillars that make up a leadership standard: self-leadership, decision integrity, communication consistency, accountability, and culture modeling. The elements that make up your standard which becomes the blueprint for your company's culture. The episode addresses factors that cause leaders to compromise their standards, including the need for approval and the erosion that occurs when exceptions become patterns. These compromises affect organizational trust and the leader's self-perception, altering company culture and performance. You hear an approach for developing your leadership standard through self-reflection and the articulation of behavioral commitments. This framework transforms values into observable behaviors that guide decision-making and interactions. Your leadership standard represents the minimum threshold of behavior you commit to maintaining. When leaders operate from this foundation, they create environments where opportunities and talent gravitate toward the organization. Connect with Me!LinkedInInstagramSubscribe to my newsletterBook a free consultationWebsiteIf you found value in this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a rating. It really helps to spread this message to more visionary leaders like you.

If your team is frustrated because you're micromanaging details or you’re up at night fixing their work, it might be time to try on a new identity. In this episode, I break down a challenge I see constantly with founders. As your business evolves, your identity must evolve too. Most of us cling to the identity that got us here, even when it's strangling our company's potential and that is guaranteed to create snowballing problems. We walk through the three distinct identities every founder must navigate as they scale. When you start, you're the doer who handles everything, knows every detail, and hustles through long hours. Your self-worth comes from checking tasks off lists and seeing tangible proof of your effort. After you add headcount, you must become the manager and decider. This means creating space to think strategically rather than just execute while teaching others to do things your way. The time you used to spend completing tasks now goes to managing people. Here's where most founders struggle. We think because something is clear in our minds, we can explain it quickly and save time by spending less time with employees. The opposite is true. You need to stay close to your team, communicate everything in your brain, and develop systems so they can execute your vision. As you continue growing, you must evolve again into the visionary CEO whose value comes from casting long-term vision, embodying culture, and creating context for operations. You spend days in meetings with investors and partners, thinking in longer time horizons, far removed from the daily creation that once energized you. Each transition requires letting your previous identity die so the next can emerge. I share the four-step process for navigating these identity upgrades and dealing with the uncomfortable emotions that come with new territory. If you're feeling like your own bottleneck or struggling with the evolution your business demands, this episode provides the framework for identity transformation that successful scaling requires.

You're hitting your goals, your business is growing, everyone may even think you have it all together. So why do you feel emotionally flat, scattered and physically depleted? This is functional burnout. Fresh off two weeks completely unplugged from work, we dive into the types of burnout that plague high achievers. Where you're still producing and performing but you've lost touch with things that interest you and feel generally disconnected from joy. You may feel resentful toward clients, employees, or maybe even your own success. When colleagues suggest ways to grow your business, your first thought is "I don't have it in me." There are two types of burnout that plague many founders: physical burnout and cynical detachment. Physical burnout comes from neglecting your body - poor sleep, skipping meals, no breaks, sitting at your computer for 16 hours straight. Your body is literally exhausted and needs basic care. Cynical detachment, on the other hand, can be more sneaky. It comes from the stories you tell yourself. You may feel like you’re always in reactive mode, putting out fires, telling yourself there's never enough time. You may be operating outside your values, while criticizing yourself for not doing enough. You've shut down your intuition because you have a relentless need to keep going or to achieve more. We don't have to wait for something to break before we change. We don't need a health scare, a divorce, or a business failure to give us permission to take care of ourselves. You'll hear about the energy audit I use with clients to identify whether burnout is physical, mental, or both. Then we tackle solutions. After all, managing your energy and recovery is a business strategy. This episode gives you the framework to spot burnout before it breaks you and the tools to build a more sustainable way of achieving your goals.

There's a massive of difference between taking responsibility as a founder and trying to control every outcome. This episode breaks down the distinction between control (i.e. trying to prevent mistakes by micromanaging) versus capacity (your ability to handle whatever comes without falling apart). Does it Lonely at the top? When we start thinking we're the only ones who care, we stop communicating our expectations clearly. We skip the training or we assume people should just know. You’ll learn how to build a culture where your team is invested and why scaling your business means upgrading the way you think. This episode gives you the mindset shifts to move from lonely leadership to having the support you deserve.