My TEDx Journey: Work Supports Life, Not the Other Way Around?

Today, I’m celebrating a milestone I’ve worked toward for years—I will soon stand on the TEDxWilsonPark stage, sharing a message that has become central to my life: Work supports life, not the other way around?. I’ve been passionate about this concept for a long time, but now I have the chance to amplify it on a larger scale through TEDx.

What makes this moment so special is that it’s not just about delivering a TEDx Talk—it’s about using this platform to share a message that I believe can transform lives. This idea—work supports life—was born out of my personal experience with burnout early in my career. When I started my first real job as a psychologist, I found myself emotionally and physically drained, working long hours in a rural Community Mental Health Center. It pained me that I wasn’t able to give my best to each person who walked through my door, and that’s when I realized things had to change. Not just for me, but for everyone around me. Once my first daughter was born, I was even more determined to build a life where I could be fully present for my family.?

This experience was the catalyst that sparked my mission: to help entrepreneurs build businesses that don’t consume their lives. Businesses that allow their owners, their team members, and everyone else involved to live regret-proof lives.

Over time, I started to openly talk about my own journey—running a growing business while working just 25 hours a week. I used to keep that part quiet, but as I shared more, other entrepreneurs became curious. They saw that it was possible to build a successful business without sacrificing everything, and that’s when I knew I had to be more vocal.

When I wrote The 4 Week Vacation , I was thinking about all the entrepreneurs burning out, grinding away, and sacrificing their personal lives for their businesses. It’s my mission to show them there’s another way—a way to have both a thriving business and a fulfilling life.

One of the most meaningful insights I’ve gained is that work supports life isn’t just for entrepreneurs. This message resonates with team members, clients, and entire communities. We all need to step away from hustle culture and into a mindset where work serves us—not the other way around.

On a personal note, this message has become even more profound to me since the recent loss of my husband, Ned. His passing reinforced how precious time is with our loved ones. Because of the principles I’ve embraced, we created memories together and I prioritized being present in his life. I’m now more committed than ever to help others design their lives around what truly matters—our relationships, our well-being, and our ability to show up for the people we love.

If you’re feeling stuck in hustle culture, remember that you have the power to change that. It starts with recognizing that work can support your life, rather than drain it. And I’m here to tell you—it’s possible.

I’ll be speaking on this message at TEDxWilsonPark later this month, and I would be honored to have you join me on this journey. If you would like to see not just my TED Talk, but the entire line up of incredible speakers at TEDxWilsonPark on October 25th, you can purchase a ticket to the event here . If you can’t make it in person, but would still like to see my presentation, comment “LAUNCH” and a member of our team will send you the replay link!

2024 TEDxWilsonPark Speakers Include:

• Justin Carter
• Arinola Dada
• Abraham Rowe
• Steve Arnold
• Dawn Smith
• Kevin Scott
• Zay Bell
• Heath Butler
• Natalie Janine Gates

Join Our Work Supports Life? Launch Team

We need your help to spread this life-changing message. Join our Work Supports Life? Launch Team—a group of advocates who believe in this movement and are committed to helping us share it with the world. As a launch team member, you’ll be one of the first to watch the TEDx talk, engage in the comments, and share it with your network to inspire others.

Ready to help us spark this change? Comment "LAUNCH" below or reach out directly, and we’ll send you everything you need to be part of this important movement.

Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s keep working toward a world where work supports life—for all of us.

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 have 10,000 entrepreneurs take the Work Supports Life? Pledge.