The Art of Saying No: Reclaim Your Time, Energy & Focus
In this episode of Balanced, host Stephanie explores one of the most powerful skills an entrepreneur can master—the ability to say no. Drawing from personal experiences with burnout and overcommitment, she unpacks why saying yes too often can hold you back and how setting healthy boundaries can propel your business forward.
Learn to shift your mindset, align your actions with your true priorities, and reclaim control over your schedule. Packed with encouragement and practical strategies, this episode is your roadmap to stronger boundaries and smarter decisions.
00:00 – Welcome to Balanced: Finding Harmony in Business and Life
00:47 – The Art of Saying No: A Game Changer
01:59 – The Yes Trap: Signs You’re Overcommitting
03:55 – Understanding the Reasons Behind Saying Yes
07:50 – The Power of Boundaries: Why Saying No is Essential
13:46 – Mindset Shifts: Embracing the Power of No
17:01 – Practical Strategies for Saying No
17:09 – Action Steps: How to Start Saying No
23:20 – Wrapping Up: Embrace Your Superpower
Perfect For:
Entrepreneurs struggling with burnout
Business owners who say yes too often
Freelancers wanting to protect their time
Anyone looking to set healthier boundaries
Links & Resources:
🔹 Follow Stephanie on Instagram
🔹 Subscribe to Balanced for real talk on business & life
🔹 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it
Remember, saying no isn’t selfish—it’s strategic. You've got this.
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!
12 Essential Bookkeeping Questions Answered: Simplifying DIY Business Finances
In this episode of Balanced, Stephanie, a seasoned bookkeeper and business owner, answers the 12 most common bookkeeping questions entrepreneurs face. From the necessity of separate business bank accounts to the intricacies of categorizing expenses, and from basic tax considerations to the difference between bookkeepers and accountants, Stephanie provides practical, jargon-free advice. Ideal for DIY business owners, the episode covers topics such as GST/HST registration, efficient bookkeeping practices, the importance of monthly bank reconciliation, and preparing for year-end taxes. Tune in for actionable tips and encouragement to manage your business finances confidently.
00:00 Welcome to Balanced the Podcast
00:43 DIY Bookkeeping for Business Owners
01:26 Essential Bookkeeping Questions Answered
02:40 Managing Business Finances Efficiently
04:27 Categorizing Expenses and Chart of Accounts
06:14 Keeping Records and Receipts
08:32 Understanding Business Write-Offs
11:03 Registering for GST/HST and Sales Tax
13:40 Paying Yourself as a Business Owner
16:20 Making Bookkeeping Easier
18:35 The Importance of Bank Reconciliation
20:35 Key Financial Reports for Business Health
22:43 Preparing for Year-End Tax Time
25:09 Bookkeepers vs. Accountants
27:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Perfect For:
Entrepreneurs and small business owners
Freelancers managing their own books
Anyone using QuickBooks Online (or planning to)
New business owners want a clear financial foundation
DIY-ers who need a bookkeeping confidence boost
Resources & Links:
Follow Steph on Instagram for more tips and direct Q&A
Tools mentioned: QuickBooks Online, Hubdoc, Expensify, Dext
Want Support? Book a FREE consultation with Steph at Starlight Bookkeeping to discuss your business goals!
Solidify your foundation first! Download our FREE "Leaky Bucket Report" and find hidden funds for growth.
Subscribe to Balanced: Get more real-world tips for launching and growing!
Share this episode: Help a fellow entrepreneur break free from perfection paralysis!
Leave a review—it helps us reach more amazing humans like you!
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!
Mastering Focus: Strategies for Entrepreneurs to Thrive
In this episode of Balanced the Podcast, host Stephanie discusses the critical importance of focus for entrepreneurs. Stephanie highlights how distractions hinder productivity and offers practical tips to help listeners reclaim their ability to perform deep work. Key strategies include creating a distraction-free workspace, using the Pomodoro technique, setting digital boundaries, understanding personal focus windows, and learning to say no. Stephanie also recommends Cal Newport's book 'Deep Work' for deeper insights into focused high-quality work. The episode wraps up with a recap of actionable steps and an invitation for a free consultation to improve business workflows.
00:00 Welcome to Balanced: Finding Harmony in Business and Life
00:47 The Struggle with Focus: A Common Entrepreneurial Challenge
01:36 Why Focus Matters: Your Most Valuable Resource
02:12 Creating a Distraction-Free Workspace
02:58 Mastering the Pomodoro Technique
03:53 Setting Digital Boundaries for Better Focus
04:38 Understanding Your Focus Windows
05:24 The Power of Saying No
05:48 Recap and Final Thoughts: Reclaim Your Focus
06:36 Closing Remarks: Empowering Your Journey
Resources & Freebies Mentioned:
Enjoyed this episode?
Your focus is your power. Protect, practice, and watch your business (and peace of mind) thrive.
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Are You Paying Everyone but Yourself? Why It’s Time to Prioritize Your Paycheck
Tired of Being the Last One Paid? Here’s How to Flip the Script
Too many entrepreneurs hustle hard… and end up with nothing in their personal bank accounts. In this episode of Balanced, Steph delivers a financial reality check: if your business isn’t paying you, it’s broken.
Steph dives into the mindset and mechanics behind paying yourself first—even when cash flow feels tight. Learn how to restructure your thinking, systems, and expenses so your business funds your life, not the other way around. This episode is packed with real strategies (like Profit First), mini mindset shifts, and a 9-step checklist to help you finally get paid.
Because you didn’t start your business to be your own worst boss.
What You’ll Learn
[0:00] Welcome + The Pain of Not Paying Yourself
The big question: Are you the only one in your business not getting paid?
[2:45] You’re Not Alone: The Stats & Struggles of Entrepreneurs
Why more than 50% of small business owners pay everyone but themselves?
[5:20] The “Unpaid Job” Trap & Why Mindset Matters
If you don’t pay yourself, your business becomes your biggest burnout risk.
[6:40] Three Core Reasons to Pay Yourself First
Validate your work
Measure financial health
Build personal stability
[8:00] Real Talk: How to Start Paying Yourself
From mindset to method—how to shift your budget and cash flow priorities.
[8:34] Strategy #1: Treat Yourself as a Business Expense
Learn to write your name at the top of the budget sheet.
[10:00] Strategy #2: Use the Profit First Method
How to set up separate accounts and bake your pay into the system.
[12:28] Strategy #3: Decide on a Realistic Salary + Frequency
Why is even $100/week better than zero, and how can we scale from there?
[14:10] Strategy #4: Trim Costs or Raise Prices
Find the hidden cash already in your business and unlock your paycheck.
[15:48] Strategy #5: Start Small & Stay Consistent
The psychology of tiny paychecks—and how they help you build up over time.
[17:10] Your 9-Step Action Plan to Get Paid
A checklist for implementing everything from tracking to automation.
[21:30] Prevent Burnout by Connecting to Your Why
Paying yourself isn’t selfish—it’s the key to staying in love with your business.
[24:47] Final Words & Free Consultation Invite
Need help applying this to your business? Steph has your back.
Resources & Freebies Mentioned
• Need Support? Book a free, no-pressure financial clarity session with Starlight Bookkeeping
• Want to Find Hidden Cash Leaks? Grab your free copy of The Leaky Bucket Report
• Follow Steph on Instagram for practical bookkeeping tips, real-life biz reflections & more
📩 Enjoyed this episode?
→ Subscribe to Balanced for weekly business & money mindset boosts
→ Share it with a fellow entrepreneur who needs this message
→ Leave a review—it helps us reach more people like you!
Your business should fund your life—not the other way around. You deserve to get paid.
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!
Feeling rejected? How to find your strength as an entrepreneur & keep going
Rejection is a tough pill to swallow in the entrepreneurial world. On this episode of Balanced, Steph gets real about those moments that make you question everything. But it's not about avoiding the "nos," it's about how you respond to them.
Learn her empowering "BOUNCE" method, a practical guide to reframe rejection, build inner resilience, and tap into your support system. These six steps will help you navigate those inevitable setbacks and keep your entrepreneurial journey on track. Consider this your mini-workshop on how to choose a mindset of growth and keep your entrepreneurial fire burning bright!
What You'll Learn:
Need a Little Extra Support?
Help inspire others! Share this episode if it resonated with you.
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Feeling that Friday payroll panic? Landed a big client but worried about upfront costs? You're not alone! In this essential episode, your host Stephanie Blaine from Balanced gets real about cash flow – the money moving in and out of your business – and why understanding it is your superpower. Forget complicated jargon; we're breaking down the everyday cash flow headaches and giving you actionable steps to take control, starting today!
What You'll Learn:
Ready to Take Control?
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!
Juggling Your Business, Family, and Life? Let's Find Your Rhythm. Welcome back to Balanced! It's Steph, and if you're a small business owner trying to navigate the demands of your work, your family, and everything else life throws your way, you're in the right place.
In this practical 23-minute episode, we're moving beyond the myth of perfect "balance" and exploring how to create a sustainable rhythm that integrates all the important parts of your world.
What We're Exploring for Busy Business Owners:
Ready to Find a Sustainable Rhythm for Your Business, Family, and Life?
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!
Want to Actually Grow Your Business While Still Enjoying Your Latte? Welcome back to Balanced! Steph, your bookkeeper and fellow entrepreneur, is sharing a game-changing perspective in this quick 10-minute episode.
Forget restrictive budgeting and the myth of constant cost-cutting. Discover how intentional spending and financial clarity are your secret weapons for sustainable savings and business success (yes, the latte is safe!). Tune in for the details!
What You'll Learn:
Resources to Take Action:
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!
Are you a small business owner or aspiring entrepreneur held back by the need for everything to be "just right" before you launch? Host Steph Blain shares relatable experiences and practical strategies to break free from perfection paralysis. Learn to embrace imperfect action, effectively organize business finances, and find more work life balance by launching before you're 100% ready. This podcast for entrepreneurs offers real-world advice for navigating the challenges of starting a business.
Inside This Episode:
Take Imperfect Action Now:
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!
Feeling stuck with a business goal that no longer resonates? Host Steph Blain gets real about why it's not only okay, but powerful, to pivot in your entrepreneurial journey. Learn to shed the guilt of changing direction and discover how aligning your business decisions with your core values leads to a more fulfilling and balanced life. This episode provides practical insights on recognizing when it's time to evolve your goals and how to do so authentically.
Key Pivot Points:
Take Action & Connect:
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!
Ready to scale your business without the overwhelm? Join your host Steph, a bookkeeper and fellow entrepreneur, who's built a business, she shares the real, actionable steps you can take today to set yourself up for success tomorrow. On this episode of Balanced, Steph breaks down the practical strategies for getting your finances scale-ready, building efficient business systems, cultivating the right growth mindset and leadership, and strategically building your support team.
If you're dreaming of expansion but not sure where to start, this is for you. Grab your coffee and let's make scaling feel less scary and more "let's do this!"
Key Growth Prep Steps:
Ready to take the first step towards scale-ready finances?
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!
Welcome back to Balanced the Podcast! Your host, Steph (bookkeeper and business owner), brings you real, down-to-earth conversations about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, helping you balance business growth and a fulfilling life.
In this episode, we're tackling a topic that can often feel overwhelming but is absolutely crucial for business success and peace of mind: organizing your business finances. If you've ever felt like your bookkeeping is a chaotic puzzle, you're not alone. Steph shares practical, stress-free strategies to get your books in order, leading to a clearer mind and more control over your business.
Key Topics Covered:
Links & Resources:
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!
Balanced the Podcast - Episode 1: Welcome to Balanced the Podcast!
Welcome to Balanced the Podcast! In our very first episode, your host Steph (bookkeeper by trade, business owner by heart!) kicks things off with a down-to-earth introduction to the podcast and her journey. If you're a fellow entrepreneur, whether just starting out or navigating the thick of it, you're in the right place. We're diving into real, actionable tips for getting your bookkeeping and accounting in order, helping you find that sweet spot between business growth and a balanced life. Beyond the numbers, we'll also be exploring the broader ups and downs of entrepreneurship, from mindset to motivation. Grab your coffee and join the conversation – let's navigate this balanced life together!
Key Topics:
Links:
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!