Ep 37 - Is Your Mindset Stunting Your Business Growth?

Episode Show Notes

Hi, I’m Sarah Almond Bushell, a registered dietitian, certified business coach, and your host of Beyond the Clinic. I know firsthand how intimidating it can feel to step outside your comfort zone. But if you’re ready to uncover what’s truly holding you back and take bold steps forward in your business, you’re in the right place.

Episode Summary:

In today’s episode, I’m sharing the mindset shifts that helped me break free from self-doubt and grow a thriving online business. We’ll explore why your brain tries to keep you safe in your comfort zone and how self-limiting beliefs act like a smoke alarm, warning you of false dangers. I’ll also guide you through simple, actionable steps to quiet those alarms so you can move forward confidently. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s been holding you back and the tools to take bold action in your business.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why Your Brain Resists Growth: I’ll explain the science behind your brain’s “smoke alarm” and why it overreacts to new challenges.

2. How to Identify False Alarms: Learn to separate real threats from the fear of stepping into something new.

3. Reflect and Reframe: I’ll guide you through three powerful questions to help you recognize where you’ve been holding yourself back and imagine what’s possible when you push through.

4. The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything for Me: I share how working with a mindset coach helped me move past invisible barriers and reignite my ambition.

Resources and Links:

• Join My Coaching Program: If you’re ready to tackle your self-limiting beliefs, join the waitlist for my 12-week Mindset for Business group coaching program, starting February 2025. [Click here to sign up!]

• Related episodes:

• Episode 29: Overcoming Growth Fears

• Watch the Premiere of this Episode on Youtube

Action Steps for You:

• Ask yourself:

1. Where has fear held me back this year?

2. What opportunities have I avoided because of doubt?

3. What would my business look like if I hadn’t let fear stop me?

• Start small but consistent actions to challenge your brain’s comfort zone.

If today’s episode resonated with you, I’d love it if you subscribed, left a review, or shared it with a colleague. And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode. Join me next time as we dive into how money mindset plays a crucial role in your business success!

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The Master Plan:

Helping you build the business of your dreams. Get your 22 point step-by step workbook here: https://www.sarahalmondbushell.com/master-plan

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Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/beyondtheclinicbusiness

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheClinicPodcast

Episode transcription:

[00:00:00] Sarah Almond Bushell: Welcome to Beyond the Clinic, the podcast for health professionals who intend to take their expertise and transform it into innovative income streams that extend well beyond the traditional clinic model. I'm your host, Sarah Armand Bushall, registered dietitian and certified business coach and proud owner of not one, but two successful online businesses. 

[00:00:24] Sarah Almond Bushell: Picture this, It wasn't that long ago that I was a full time NHS employee. Afraid to take the leap from the security of a regular salary. I understand that stepping up as an authority can feel intimidating, but it doesn't have to be scary, and you do not have to do this alone. I'm on a mission to inspire ambitious health business owners, or those who want to be, who dream of being able to positively impact thousands of people's health and lives. 

[00:00:56] Sarah Almond Bushell: while simultaneously enjoying the freedom that comes from being your own boss. If you've been nodding along, then you are in the right place. In this podcast, you're going to learn tangible, easy, actionable business strategies that will On how to accelerate your business success that extends well beyond the traditional clinic model. 

[00:01:19] Sarah Almond Bushell: You'll also hear from successful health experts where we'll dive behind the scenes of their businesses so you can hear exactly what it took for them to grow flourishing businesses too. Thank you for being here and welcome along to Beyond the Clinic. Let's dive in. Welcome to today's episode. If you've been feeling stuck or overwhelmed, or like something is holding you back from taking your business to the next level, then this episode is for you. 

[00:01:49] Sarah Almond Bushell: We're going to dive deep into the invisible barriers that may be keeping you from showing up fully in your business. You'll learn. While your brain tries to protect you by keeping you in your comfort zone, even when it's holding you back, you'll also learn how self limiting beliefs act like a smoke alarm, triggering fear and doubt when you try to grow. 

[00:02:10] Sarah Almond Bushell: And you'll also come away with simple, actionable steps to start to recognize these false alarms and be able to move past them. So by the end of this episode, you'll not only understand why you've been feeling stuck, but you'll have the practical tools to begin shifting your mindset and taking bold actions to grow your business. 

[00:02:30] Sarah Almond Bushell: So let's take a moment just to reflect on where you are right now. Maybe you've taken steps into freelance work. You've started seeing clients, you're posting on social media and you're hoping to gain momentum. Or maybe you're still in your NHS role. You're dreaming about what it would be like to finally leap into working for yourself full time. 

[00:02:52] Sarah Almond Bushell: Either way, you likely have big ambitions. You want to create something that gives you the freedom to work on your own terms, the income to support your family, and the confidence to know that you are truly making an impact. But something isn't quite working. Just yet. For those of you who are freelancing already, it might look like this. 

[00:03:15] Sarah Almond Bushell: You don't like showing your face or your voice or even your name online because it feels too vulnerable. You procrastinate on creating and launching a course or a program because you're worried it won't be good enough and you might need to learn a bit more about the topic first. Or you feel stuck. 

[00:03:33] Sarah Almond Bushell: You're overthinking things. You're constantly questioning whether you're really, truly ready yet. And for those of you still in the NHS or still working for somebody else, it might sound a little bit like this. What if I leave and I can't make enough money to support myself? What if I fail and I have to go back to the NHS feeling humiliated? 

[00:03:56] Sarah Almond Bushell: Or, I've always worked for someone else. Can I really do this on my own? Deep down though, you know, it's not just about money. It's not about timing or experience. Something else is keeping you tethered to that familiar, no matter how much you want to break free. I've seen this time and time and time again with my clients, all at different stages of business. 

[00:04:20] Sarah Almond Bushell: They can get to a point where they just feel stuck. They feel overwhelmed and they're held back. By fears that they can't quite articulate. For some, it's the fear of being seen. It's worrying about what other people will think if they start showing up online or putting their name to content. And for others, it can be the fear of failure. 

[00:04:41] Sarah Almond Bushell: The voice in their head that says, well, what if this doesn't work? And then there are those who are actually afraid of success. Yes, I know, success. They worry that if their business grows, they won't be able to manage it all or that they'll lose the stability that they've relied on for years. Now, none of these fears mean that you're not cut out for success. 

[00:05:04] Sarah Almond Bushell: What you're experiencing is simply your brain trying to protect you, keeping you in the comfort of what you know, even when you know it isn't really what you want anymore. So, I'm going to share a story with you. Five years ago, back in 2019, I knew that something had to change. I was working as an NHS Band Aid B dietitian, but deep down, I actually felt stuck. 

[00:05:30] Sarah Almond Bushell: I wanted to prove to myself that I could build a successful business. And my goal was really ambitious. It was to earn double my NHS salary, which was about 120, 000. I knew the strategy of how to get there. And I also knew I couldn't do it alone. So, the summer before, my lovely mum passed away and losing her was devastating. 

[00:05:52] Sarah Almond Bushell: It forced me to re evaluate everything in my life. Life is just too short to spend it feeling discontented and I realised that I didn't want to look back with regret about staying in a career that no longer fulfilled me. So during my grief, I took a three month sabbatical from the NHS and I went to stay with my dad at my parents villa in Menorca, one of the Balearic islands in Spain. 

[00:06:18] Sarah Almond Bushell: That's where they went to retire to. And after sorting through my mum's things and supporting my dad, I settled into a routine where I'd go for long walks to familiar spots on the island and it gave me a huge opportunity just to reflect upon life, essentially. So I'd been a dietitian for 20 years at that point, seven of which was as a dietetic manager, a divisional director and an AHP lead before moving back into clinical practice as an 8b consultant. 

[00:06:52] Sarah Almond Bushell: And quite frankly, I was bored. I was only in my early forties and I'd been up to the top of the career ladder and honestly there was nowhere left to go. And the idea of another 25 years of doing the same thing was actually horrifying. And so I knew I had to do something else. I loved being a dietitian and so the idea of taking my side hustle private practice that I'd had from day one a little bit more seriously had so much appeal. 

[00:07:24] Sarah Almond Bushell: But I also knew that I was actually a bit fed up of seeing patients. I didn't really want any more private patients, but I quite enjoyed the project work that I'd been doing. And so I started to listen to business podcasts on my walks around the island. I discovered Amy Porterfield and Pat Flynn. And both of these are very famous online business gurus who introduced me to the concept of passive income and making money online. 

[00:07:52] Sarah Almond Bushell: And you know what? I was hooked. This idea of passive income sounded genius, you know, creating something once, automating the process online and letting it sell again and again and again, literally making money while I slept or went off to do other more fun things, I couldn't believe the possibilities. 

[00:08:12] Sarah Almond Bushell: And I realized that I could turn my pediatric nutrition expertise into courses, into eBooks, into programs and sell them all through my website. And so I got to work. I learned this online business strategy. I tried things, I failed, I tweaked and tried again until it worked out how to sell my expertise online. 

[00:08:35] Sarah Almond Bushell: And when I sold a couple of children's food portion size guides directly from my website, I had proof that I could do this. But from there, I wanted to scale. Those portion size guides were less than a tenner and Amy Porterfield had been telling stories of her students making thousands if not millions from their online course sales. 

[00:08:55] Sarah Almond Bushell: But back then, I couldn't really find anyone in the UK, let alone someone who understood being a dietitian and understanding our professional regulations, to teach me how to build an online health business. And so I searched a little wider and I leaned into the US and Australia and I found a couple of online business mentors and coaches and I figured out a framework of strategies that actually worked on a repeatable basis for us here in the UK. 

[00:09:26] Sarah Almond Bushell: And I used it to sell everything. I used it to sell my one to one services, my high cost VIP packages, a membership, a Netflix style subscription, and my portion size eGuides in massive volumes. So by the time 2020 rolled around, I'd made 124, 000 pounds. In a year, which was double my NHS salary in a little bit more. 

[00:09:50] Sarah Almond Bushell: And I had it in my notice and I went off to study at master's level in business strategy and online marketing. But none of this included much around mindset for business. So fast forward a couple of years, 2022, things were going well for me on the surface. I had left the NHS. I was working full time in my business. 

[00:10:10] Sarah Almond Bushell: I had built a life that aligned with my values. And while the world pivoted online during COVID. My businesses were already well established and I was thriving. But underneath it all, I kind of felt something was off. I'd hit a plateau, not just financially, but emotionally and mentally. I had all the strategies, I had all the tactics down to a fine art, but that fire that had once driven me had dimmed. 

[00:10:39] Sarah Almond Bushell: I no longer felt that same sense of determination or ambition. I kept thinking. Why don't I feel excited about the next step, Sarah? Why do you, why do you feel stuck when you've come so far? So at first I thought, you know what, I'm a bit burnt out. I just need a break. But the truth was much deeper than that. 

[00:10:59] Sarah Almond Bushell: I started to realize that it wasn't about my business strategy. At all, I was holding myself back in ways that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was as if I'd been hit by this invisible ceiling and no matter how much I tweaked my business plans, something inside me kept resisting real growth. What I was experiencing was a huge and completely unexpected mindset block, and it wasn't something that I knew I could overcome on my own. 

[00:11:27] Sarah Almond Bushell: And that's when I decided to work with a mindset coach. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first. I'd never really seen myself as someone who needed help with their mindset. I was confident. I knew what I was doing. I thought it was all about the practicalities and the action steps and the strategies. 

[00:11:44] Sarah Almond Bushell: But working with her opened my eyes to the self limiting beliefs that had been just quietly running In the background, in my subconscious, I realized that deep down, I started to question whether I deserved any more success. I'd achieved so much already. And what was the purpose of the money that I earned? 

[00:12:04] Sarah Almond Bushell: It actually had none. It was just accumulating in my business bank accounts. And so I was blocking myself from taking things to the next level. I had these fears about growing too big, and I still have these. I talk about one on episode 29, if you want to hear about that, about whether I'd be able to handle all the customer services that comes with having more clients and bigger growth. 

[00:12:29] Sarah Almond Bushell: But through this coaching, I learned how to recognize these beliefs for what they were. Just thoughts, not facts, no evidence. And if you let these thoughts take hold, they present themselves as feelings or emotions, and we act upon these, or in my case, don't act upon them. And this action or inaction actually changes our futures. 

[00:12:54] Sarah Almond Bushell: So, what do you think? After working on shifting my perspective, identifying where I was holding myself back and realigning with the ambition and the confidence that I had when I first started my journey, I noticed things began to shift again and for the better. I felt re energized. My creativity came back. 

[00:13:11] Sarah Almond Bushell: I was able to take big, bold steps like launching this podcast. So that mindset coaching was truly transformative for me. It reignited my drive. It showed me that mindset isn't just a small part of success. It's actually the foundation. And because of this, and because I see my clients experiencing similar things, I've chosen to study mindset for business in 2025 so that I can help my colleagues and my clients with their limiting beliefs too, because even if you have. 

[00:13:41] Sarah Almond Bushell: All the strategies and all the tactics in the world nailed in and perfected without mindset work. You're only going to get so far. So does my story sound familiar? Maybe you've got big dreams for your business. Maybe it's growing your income, launching that online course, finally showing up confident on social media. 

[00:14:04] Sarah Almond Bushell: But something gets in your way. Something stops you from actually doing it. If you feel that knot of self doubt, if you feel that fear of being judged or listen to a voice in your head whispering, What if I say something wrong? Instead of actually moving forward and doing it. You're going to find reasons not to do it, reasons that will hold you back. 

[00:14:26] Sarah Almond Bushell: And what's really happening here is not a lack of motivation. It's not that you can't be bothered. It's not even, you haven't got enough time. It's your brain doing its job to try and protect you. So I like to think of your brain as a smoke alarm that sits in your kitchen. Its job is to detect danger and keep you safe. 

[00:14:46] Sarah Almond Bushell: So when something truly dangerous happens, like a fire, the alarm goes off. It's essential. It helps protect you. Sometimes, that same alarm goes off for something much smaller, like when you burn the toast. So there's no real danger there, but the alarm goes off just as if your whole kitchen is on fire. And that's exactly what's happening with self limiting beliefs and how your brain works when you go to step outside of your comfort zone. 

[00:15:15] Sarah Almond Bushell: So let me talk you through the science behind this smoke detector alarm. So the amygdala, that's your brain's smoke detector. The amygdala is part of your brain responsible for detecting threats. It's programmed to react quickly to anything that feels uncertain or unfamiliar or a bit risky. And thousands of years ago, this was vital. 

[00:15:37] Sarah Almond Bushell: It kept our ancestors alive, safe from predators or dangerous situations. But today though, the amygdala doesn't know the difference between a real threat, like an actual fire, and a perceived threat, Like recording an Instagram live or pitching yourself to a new client. To your brain, stepping outside of your comfort zone feels just as risky as an actual emergency. 

[00:16:03] Sarah Almond Bushell: Now, when you think about taking bold actions in your business, like posting a video or sharing your opinion, even online, or just putting your name. And photo on your website. If this is new for you, your brain's smoke detector can go off and it can send those fear signals. It can send you to think things like, well, if someone's going to criticize me, Oh, I'm not good enough yet. 

[00:16:26] Sarah Almond Bushell: Or what if somebody does their homework and finds out I'm a fraud because I've only got 10 years experience and other. Nutrition professionals have got 20 years of experience. And these thoughts are the equivalent of that alarm blaring over that piece of burnt toast. There's no real fire, but the alarm still reacts and it stops you from doing that big, bold thing. 

[00:16:52] Sarah Almond Bushell: So, this holds you back, doesn't it? When your brain's Burnt toast smoke alarm goes off. It triggers fear. It triggers self doubt. You might avoid posting the video because you're scared that someone's going to judge you. You might tell yourself that you're too busy to start that new project or do that collaboration with someone. 

[00:17:11] Sarah Almond Bushell: You might stick to safe tasks like tweaking your website instead of taking bold, Visible actions that would actually grow your business. And the problem is, if you keep letting that alarm stop you, you're going to stay stuck, you're going to stay in the same place. You're going to stay safe and comfortable and not grow. 

[00:17:30] Sarah Almond Bushell: But here's the truth. Most of these alarms are false alarms. Most of the time, there is no fire. It's just burnt toast. But if you let that alarm stop you every single time, you'll never move past the comfort zone. The first step to breaking free is to recognize the alarm for exactly what it is, your brain overreacting to perceived danger, and ask yourself, is this a real fire or is it just burnt toast? 

[00:17:56] Sarah Almond Bushell: And what's the worst that could happen? If I take this step, most of the time you're going to realize that fear isn't the real danger, it's just your brain trying to keep you safe. So when you understand how your brain works, you can start to see fear and self doubt for what they really are. They're just normal responses to an overactive smoke detector. 

[00:18:17] Sarah Almond Bushell: And just, you know, Like you'd open a window to clear out the air after burning your toast. You can take steps to calm your brain and move forward. So every time you act, despite this alarm going off, you teach your brain that it's okay to step outside your comfort zone. Over time, what happens is the alarm quietens down. 

[00:18:39] Sarah Almond Bushell: It becomes easier for you to take bold actions in your business. So my action step for you from this episode. I've got a couple of them, actually. First one, to ask yourself, where has your brain's alarm held you back this year? Where has it told you to play safe? Number two, what opportunities have you avoided because of the fear of getting it wrong? 

[00:19:05] Sarah Almond Bushell: And number three, what would your business look like today if you hadn't let these false alarms stop you? So if you're nodding along right now, To this episode, that's a really good thing. It means that you're starting to recognize the gap between where you are and where you want to be, and awareness is the first step towards positive change. 

[00:19:25] Sarah Almond Bushell: Jim Rohn said, for things to change, you have to change. You have to look within, and when you change for the better, things will change for the better too. So if you want to up level in your business, It has to come from within. What I'm talking about here is self improvement and personal development. If you don't become an improved version of yourself, next year will be exactly the same as this year because improvement and growth in business are important. 

[00:19:55] Sarah Almond Bushell: Always start with yourself. You may have heard the famous Tony Robbins quote that success is 80 percent mindset and only 20 percent strategy. I've learned that lesson. If you don't have the mindset, even the best strategy can fail. So, if you've resonated with what I've said today, If you are recognizing that there might be fear or doubt or self limiting beliefs and they might be holding you back, I've got something exciting to share with you. 

[00:20:21] Sarah Almond Bushell: In February 2025, I'm launching a 12 week Mindset for Business group coaching program designed specifically for healthcare professionals. It isn't about strategy or tactics, it's about tackling those invisible barriers that are keeping you from showing up fully and achieving the success you deserve. 

[00:20:41] Sarah Almond Bushell: Over these 12 transformative weeks, We will identify and overcome your self limiting beliefs. We will build your confidence in showing up online and in your business. And we will develop a resilient mindset that allows you to take bold, consistent action. So if this sounds exactly like what you need, I'd love for you to head over to the link in the show notes to join the wait list, spots are limited, so don't miss your chance to transform your mindset and in your business in 2025. 

[00:21:13] Sarah Almond Bushell: So let's just quickly recap what we've explored today. We've started by looking at the common fears and doubts that might be keeping you stuck. We've looked at the science behind why your brain triggers fear and self doubt when you step outside your comfort zone. It's not lack of time or lack of ability, it's your brain doing its job to protect you even when there's no real danger. 

[00:21:37] Sarah Almond Bushell: We've used the analogy of a smoke alarm and we've talked about how to recognize false alarms for exactly what they are. Just thoughts, not facts. And then finally, I've shared some simple but powerful questions to help you reflect on where these fears have held you back and how you can begin to move forward. 

[00:21:57] Sarah Almond Bushell: Henry Ford said, If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got. Growth in your business starts with growth in yourself. So if you don't up level your mindset, even the best strategies just won't get you to where you want to go. Join me next time, where we are going to dive further into the mindset side of things. 

[00:22:16] Sarah Almond Bushell: And this time we're talking all about money mindset. Bye for now. That's it for another week. Thank you so Thank you so much for joining me as we explore the abundance of strategies to help you recapture that feeling of possibility and excitement as you drive your business forwards and beyond the clinic room. 

[00:22:37] Sarah Almond Bushell: If you found today's episode inspirational, then don't forget to like and subscribe to the show to stay in the loop for more valuable advice that I'm going to be sharing each week. If you want to be the first to hear about new episode releases, news and ways that I can support your business growth, then please don't forget to check out the links in the show notes and you can also connect with me from there. 

[00:23:03] Sarah Almond Bushell: Don't keep me a I would be delighted if you left a review and shared this podcast. Until next time, bye for now.