A Dream Come True – My TEDx Journey

I am thrilled to share some incredibly exciting news with you – on October 25th, I will be stepping onto the TEDxWilsonPark stage to share a message that has been the cornerstone of my life's work: Work supports life, not the other way around.

Did you know that entrepreneurs are twice as likely to suffer depression than the general population? We're also 70% more likely to experience addiction, our divorce rate is five to ten times higher than the general population, and 9 out of 10 entrepreneurs currently report that they are burnt out. As a third-generation entrepreneur, these statistics hit close to home and I knew that something needed to change.?

For the last 19 years, I have challenged the norm of hustle culture and worked with business owners to change your approach to business so that you can create sustainable profits while living your life to the?fullest. The positive impact I have seen this approach to business have on my clients and myself has been profound, and I wanted to find a way to spread this message to as many entrepreneurs as possible.?

During my 4 Week Vacation? in December 2019, I was reflecting on my work and how I could make the greatest impact. I knew that sharing this message on a TEDx stage would be one of the most powerful ways to reach more people, and I committed to making it happen, no matter the challenges.

The road was far from easy. Last July, I decided to go all in, and over the course of 7 months, I submitted 85 applications to various TEDx venues. It wasn’t without its setbacks – I received a lot of "no’s" along the way. As an entrepreneur, I have seen the power of tenacity and perseverance, but with all the roadblocks and setbacks, I was starting to question if it was time to pull out and reimagine how I might continue to share my message. But at the end of May, on a day that will forever stand out in my memory, I received a "yes" – the 80th application was the one that led to this incredible opportunity!

The joy in our household was indescribable. It was a true celebration of perseverance and the belief that what we’re doing here matters. This journey has been deeply personal, and it’s one that I wish Ned could have been here to witness. He was a constant source of encouragement, attending my keynotes and always pushing me to go bigger. I am so grateful that Ned was the first person I got to tell! He knew that this dream he supported was becoming a reality. His belief in this mission continues to fuel my passion, and I am more determined than ever to make a difference. Because I live my message that work supports life, not the other way around, I was able to share so many beautiful moments with him. When we make time for what matters most, we ‘regret-proof’ our lives, knowing that we made the most of the time we have before it’s too late.

This TEDx talk is about amplifying the impact of the message that work should support life, not consume it. It’s about reaching more people and changing lives, just as this message has changed mine, and hopefully, yours.

As we move forward together, I’m excited to see how this message continues to impact our community. I am so grateful to everyone at TEDx, and I can’t wait to share this journey with you. I hope you’ll be part of this milestone as we continue to make work support life for more people around the world.

Together, we are making a difference.

About the Author

Sabrina Starling, PhD, PCC, BCC, The Business Psychologist, is the international bestselling author of the How to Hire the Best series and The 4 Week Vacation?. Keynote speaker, founder of ?www.tapthepotential.com, and host of the top-ranking Profit by Design podcast, she and her team help entrepreneurs take their lives back from their businesses. They are on a mission to send 10,000 entrepreneurs on a 4 Week Vacation? in 10 years.