Reflecting on My TEDx Journey and the Work Supports Life? Movement

Sharing my message, Work Supports Life, Not the Other Way Around?, at TEDx Wilson Park was a dream come true. Since delivering my TEDx Talk, I have taken some time to reflect on the journey that brought me to the TEDx stage, advice for anyone reading this who may also want to give a TEDx Talk one day, and how we can all embrace the Work Supports Life? movement.?

The Journey to TEDx

When I received the notification from TEDx Wilson Park saying I'd been selected as a speaker, I was overjoyed. For years, I dreamed of sharing the Work Supports Life? message with TEDx, and I poured everything into it—sending out 85 applications! My 80th application was finally accepted by TEDx Wilson Park, and even after I was chosen, the rejections continued to come. It wasn’t just about saying “yes”; it was about finding a TEDx with the right theme and the right audience.

TEDx Wilson Park’s theme turned out to be “Human,” and the concept of Work Supports Life? is all about embracing our humanity and prioritizing a life that values health, connection, and joy. When the moment finally came, I celebrated with my family, grateful to finally share a message I’ve built my life and business around.

Advice for Aspiring TEDx Speakers

For those who also want to share their message with the world, lean into what is uniquely you. Nearly 20 years ago, I started my business with a simple goal: create a way to work that allowed me to be present with my family and my clients. I didn’t realize at the time that this would be such a radical idea, but as I worked with business owners, I kept hearing the same desire—to find a way to step back and create more personal time without sacrificing business success.

In Tap the Potential’s Better Business, Better Life program, we work with clients to create sustainably profitable businesses that support their lives. If you have a message that is grounded in your personal values, it’s going to resonate. Be a gift from your gifts, and share what you know will make a difference.

Navigating the Pressure of Hustle Culture

We live in a hustle culture that often glorifies overworking, but much of the pressure we feel is self-imposed. Often, the stories about looming deadlines or expectations are just that—stories. When I am feeling the pressured to hit deadlines, I check in with myself and ask: Is this pressure coming from me or someone else? And if it’s external, how can I manage these expectations in a way that honors my boundaries?

We teach people how to treat us, so set boundaries that allow you to focus on what’s meaningful. Time block your meetings, schedule your face-down work time, unplug, and take time off. When we role model these boundaries, we’re also setting a powerful example for others to do the same.

Making Work Supports Life? a Reality: Focus on What Matters Most

The reality is, there will always be more to do. To make Work Supports Life happen in real life, start by identifying your “$10,000 an hour” activities—the tasks that will make the biggest impact on the business. This may not be immediately obvious, so start by looking at the tasks you handle each day and ask, “What can I offload?”

When we work from our strengths, focus on high-impact tasks, and delegate the rest, we not only ease our workload but allow our businesses to thrive in ways that truly align with our values.

Want to Start Creating Work Supports Life? in Your Life?

If this message resonates with you, I invite you to take the Work Supports Life? Pledge. It’s a simple but transformative commitment to:

1. Set a stop time each day and fully unplug.
2. Take weekends off—no work, and be fully present.
3. Create meaningful experiences with loved ones during your unplugged time.

Take the pledge here. This is a small step, but it's one that can lead to big changes, helping you ease burnout, increase your sense of fulfillment, and build a life that supports what truly matters.

Thank you for joining me on this journey! I look forward to sharing my TEDx Talk with you soon. Together, let’s continue to spread the message that Work Supports Life—not the other way around.

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?. TEDx 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.