Episode Summary:

Welcome back! In this episode, I sit down with Zach Ashburn ,financial advisor, entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed coastal workaholic, to unpack what it really looks like to align your life and business with what matters most. From building a boutique consulting firm for ex-corporate pros, to moving his family to the coast after a grueling multi-year foster care journey, Zach shares raw, real-life lessons about building margin, shedding the hustle identity, and redefining what success looks like.

This one goes deep—emotions, mindset shifts, family, burnout, healing, and how to actually reclaim your time and energy without sacrificing impact.

Key Highlights:

- Designing Life First: After adopting two sons following years in the foster care system, Zach made a bold lifestyle change—moving his family to the coast to rest, heal, and slow down.

- From Corporate to Consulting: Zach helps specialists exit corporate jobs and build highly focused consulting businesses, rooted in freedom, not just profit.

- Simplicity / Complexity: Inspired by minimalism and intentional living, Zach explains why subtraction—not addition—is often the real fix to life's challenges.

- Permission to Slow Down: We talk about how entrepreneurs can reclaim sleep, health, and mental space—without losing ambition.

- Mindset Shift: It's not just about making money—it’s about understanding why you want the life you say you want.

- Real Connection / Funnels: Zach’s “permissionless marketing” is about showing up as a real human, being useful, and letting the right clients come naturally.

- The Boutique Business Model: Not everyone needs to scale to infinity—Zach breaks down how and why he's building lean, profitable, lifestyle-aligned businesses for his clients.

Final Tips:

This episode is your reminder that you don’t have to run harder to live better. Maybe it’s time to slow down, get real about what matters, and redesign your work to serve your life—not the other way around. Whether you’re thinking of leaving corporate, simplifying your path, or just catching your breath, Zach drops gold on how to do it intentionally.

If you enjoyed this convo, share it with someone who needs to hear it—and leave us a quick rating or review. See you next time!

👉 Stop playing small, book a call! Link in bio 👉 For more information visit https://www.austinlinney.com/ 👉 The @constructyourlifepodcast is available on ALL platforms More Resources: Discover Proactive Operators at https://www.proactiveoperators.com/. We’re not just coaches—we’re operators and investors with real skin in the game. Our battle-tested strategies come straight from our own businesses. No theory, just execution.No theory, just real execution. Book a call and let’s make things happen! #MINDSETPODCAST #BUSINESSPODCAST #REALESTATEPODCAST Powered by https://www.podcastproducer.com/