Ever feel like you're drowning in tasks but can't afford help? Or maybe you've built a team that's bleeding your profits dry? Welcome to the business staffing conversation nobody's having honestly.

In this wildly practical episode, Leonie Dawson and Tamara Protassow dive deep into the messy middle of hiring, firing, and right-sizing your business. From Leonie's experience managing 25+ staff (spoiler: it nearly broke her) to running a 7 figure business with just 1-2 part-time VAs, you'll get the real talk on what actually works.

Topics Covered:

• Red flags that you have too little support (and when to finally hire)
• Warning signs you've hired too many people (and how to fix it)
• The "rescue fantasy" trap that keeps you from leading yourself
• What to outsource first (and what to keep doing yourself)
• Income-to-staffing ratios that actually make sense
• How to protect yourself from "irreplaceable" team members
• Systems that save your sanity (and your business)

Key Insights:

• If you can't afford to hire, you don't have a proven business model yet—focus on marketing and pricing first
• Bookkeeping and tax should be your FIRST outsource—it's affordable and frees crucial brain space
• Under $1M in revenue? You only need 1-2 part-time VAs in most online business models
• Standard Operating Procedures aren't optional—they're your insurance policy when life happens
• More staff = more complexity, not more speed. Small teams move faster.
• If someone makes your business seem impossibly complicated, they're the problem (not the solution)
• Lower your household expectations before hiring help—are you leading yourself or waiting for rescue?
• Templates and systems can save you from "Sharon mode" (ask Leonie's family about that one)
• The "delegate everything" advice is BS—some tasks ground you and spark your best ideas
• When staff leave, your business should run smoothly. If it doesn't, you have a documentation problem.

Ready to build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it? Join Leonie's Academy for workshops on hiring VAs, creating SOPs, and right-sizing your empire. Plus, connect with a community of creative, neurodivergent entrepreneurs who get it.

Notable Quotes:

"If you feel like your business is just far too complicated and absolutely must have this one person or your business will not work, I want you to know that you are wrong and that you need to get rid of that person as soon as possible." – Leonie Dawson

"We are not actually brain surgeons. We are not rocket scientists. And every single person in this world really is replaceable." – Leonie Dawson

"Are you actually leading yourself or are you wanting someone to rescue you?" – Leonie Dawson

"The more somebody makes out that the business is very complicated, the more that person needs to leave because businesses actually aren't that complicated." – Leonie Dawson

"Your best ideas don't come at the laptop. They happen in blank space moments when you're in the shower, when you're cooking dinner, when you're wafting about your raspberry patch." – Leonie Dawson

Who This Podcast Is For:

Creative women entrepreneurs, neurodivergent business owners, and soul-led service providers who want to build profitable businesses without sacrificing their sanity, values, or family time. Perfect for you if you're tired of "hustle harder" advice and ready for strategies that actually work for human beings.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Leonie Dawson's Academy – Includes "How to Hire and Manage a VA" workshop and SOP templates
• Previous episode: Interview with Claire Wood (accountant)
• Previous episode: Interview with Katie Chappell (illustration business)
• Tools mentioned: Gmail templates, Asana, Zero accounting software, Repurpose.io, HelloFresh, Marley Spoon, The Laundry Lady (Australia)
• Bob Katter on crocodiles

#WomenEntrepreneurs #CreativeBusiness #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #SmallBusinessOwner #BusinessSystems #SolopreneurLife #MindfulBusiness #VirtualAssistant #BusinessGrowth #FemaleFounders