This episode, we’re pausing the hustle to take a big-picture look at what really matters in both business and life. Danielle Hayden, CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., sits down with Taylor Thompson, founder of Personal Brand House, bestselling author of More Life, podcast host, and national speaker, to talk about what it means to build a business that gives you more life, not just more work and revenue. 

Taylor brings a refreshing take on entrepreneurship—less “do more,” more “do what matters to you”. From overcoming burnout to designing a lifestyle-first business model, Taylor shares personal insights, financial mindset wisdom, and actionable steps to help you avoid deathbed regret and define success on your terms.

Key Takeaways: 

• Define Your “Enough”: Growth is great, but not if it’s at the cost of the things that really matter to you in life. Know what enough looks like for you and structure your business to support that. 

• Start with the Life You Want: Reverse-engineer your business model based on your ideal calendar, energy, and goals—not arbitrary revenue benchmarks. 

• Zone of Genius ≠ Zone of Aliveness: Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean it should be your business. Fulfillment matters just as much as skill. 

• Detach Your Worth from Your Numbers: Your financials aren’t a report card. Use them as a tool for informed decisions, not as a reflection for your identity. 

• Pause to Notice Meaningful Moments: “More life” isn’t only about having more stuff. It’s about feeling more joy, presence, and alignment in everyday moments. 

Topics Discussed:

(01:05 – 03:52) Taylor’s Mission: Helping others avoid deathbed regrets with tactical strategies to build businesses that prioritize what matters most to them

(03:53 – 06:28) Reclaiming Freedom: Monetizing a Personal Brand & Restructuring Your Business Model to Work Smarter, Not Harder

(06:29 – 10:14) Trading Time for Money and Why Knowing Your “Enough” is Essential

(10:15 – 13:56) Two Exercises: How to Figure Out What You Really Want & How Much Time and Money You Need to Get That 

(13:58 – 16:10) What a Lifestyle Business Looks Like: Calendar-First, Value-Aligned, Purpose-Driven

(16:11 – 18:15) The “More Life” Concept and How You Can Implement It Logistically

(18:16 – 21:09) Creating “More Life” for Yourself Even as a Workaholic

(21:18 – 25:09) Detaching Self-Worth from Financial Performance and Using Data Over Drama

(25:10 – 26:29) How to Explore What Having “More Life” Feels Like

(26:33 – 28:47) Where You Can Connect & Find Taylor Thompson’s Work

Resources:

Taylor’s Book | More Life

Work with Taylor | https://www.heytaylorthompson.com/pbm 

Follow Taylor on IG | @TheTaylorThompson

Taylor’s Podcast | High Performer

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