Is it really possible to have it all — success, rest, creativity, and joy — without burning out? What if the secret to sustainable success isn’t doing more — but giving yourself permission to do less?
In this deeply candid episode of the LifePilot Podcast, I sit down with my friend and money mentor Denise Duffield-Thomas for one of the most honest conversations we’ve ever had about business, burnout, and the courage to completely redesign your life.
Denise shares her vulnerable journey from peak earning (and peak exhaustion) to taking an 18-month sabbatical, selling million-dollar properties, and rediscovering joy through ballet and cross-stitch. We explore the seasons of entrepreneurship, the art of asking for help, and why giving yourself permission to change your mind might be the most radical act of self-care.
This episode is for every woman who’s ever felt guilty for slowing down, struggled to ask for support, or wondered if there’s more to success than constant achievement.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why “having it all” means redefining what “all” looks like for you right now
- The hidden trauma behind people-pleasing and over-functioning
- How to build support systems without guilt (even on a tight budget)
- Why boundaries are actually acts of love — for yourself and others
- The real story behind Denise’s 18-month business sabbatical
- How to honour different life phases without losing momentum
- The power of “fake assistants” and automation for solo entrepreneurs
- Why your business model must match your personality and capacity
- How to give yourself permission to flake, rest, and change direction
Key Resources:
Follow Denise: @denisedt
Learn more about Denise: https://www.denisedt.com
Grab “Chill & Prosper” or “Get Rich, Lucky Bitch” wherever books are sold or here on her website
Take the Life Audit Quiz: lifepilot.co/audit
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