Meet Stacie Helton

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stacie Helton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Stacie, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

Breaking Free from Burnout

I hit burnout hard. It crept up over years of saying “yes” to every task, project, and request. At the time, I thought I was proving my worth—showing my boss and coworkers that I was reliable, hardworking, and ready to grow. But in reality, I was setting myself up for exhaustion. I had unknowingly opened the door to being taken advantage of, and over time, the weight of too many responsibilities started to crush me.

What made it worse was my drive to prove myself. I came into the role with high-level management experience from large-volume businesses. I wanted to show I could handle anything thrown my way, that my past accomplishments meant something here. At first, company leaders seemed impressed, but over time, I realized they didn’t care about my experience or the value I could bring—they only cared about what I could say “yes” to. My growth wasn’t upward; it was outward. More responsibility. More tasks. More pressure. But no additional pay. Very little recognition. Just the trust that I’d always get the job done.

At first, I didn’t see it that way. I blamed others, thinking, “Why do they keep piling things on me?” But the truth was harder to swallow—I had no boundaries. I was the one who said “yes” without hesitation, trying to prove myself without realizing I was overextending. The resentment I felt had no real target but myself.

The tipping point came when work stress spilled into my personal life. Sundays turned into a dreaded countdown to Monday. Anxiety set in, not because I hated my job but because I had trapped myself in a cycle of people-pleasing and overcommitment. I felt stuck, frustrated, and lost in the “why me” spiral, even though deep down, I knew how I’d gotten there.

I reached a point where something had to give. I realized that if I didn’t change, nothing else would either. It wasn’t easy—learning to say “no” felt foreign and uncomfortable. Setting boundaries after being the “go-to” person for so long felt like a betrayal of my own work ethic. But I leaned into the discomfort because I knew it was the only way forward.

As I began untangling myself from burnout, I realized something big: my entrepreneurial mindset and personality had been stunted under the employment of others. I was burned out because I was operating within a structure that didn’t allow me the freedom to flourish. It hit me—I could do everything I was doing for others, but for myself.

I didn’t just want to work for myself; I needed to. I started seeing my burnout as a lesson, showing me exactly what I didn’t want to repeat in my future. I took everything I had learned over the years—my management experience, my work ethic, and my understanding of what makes a business thrive—and started building a vision for my own path.

I realized I could offer the same value, joy, charisma, and results as an independent business owner. The difference this time? I would set the boundaries. I would set the price. I would control my environment, my schedule, and my responsibilities. If someone wanted to work with me, they would get the same dedication and excellence—but at my worth and on my terms.

It wasn’t an easy transition, but it was the right one. By restructuring how I offered my value and work ethic, I took back control. Burnout wasn’t just something I overcame—it became the catalyst for creating the life and career I truly wanted. Now, I wake up each day knowing I’m building something that reflects who I am and what I stand for.

Boundaries aren’t walls—they’re the foundation for freedom. And saying “no” isn’t weakness; it’s the ultimate power move.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m an advisor for businesses looking to grow, expand, or start up, with a special focus over the last decade on the chiropractic and holistic industry. My journey into entrepreneurship began after experiencing burnout in traditional employment roles. I realized I could take all the knowledge, experience, and work ethic I had honed over the years and build something for myself. That realization sparked my passion for helping others achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.

My background includes a pivotal role in building a startup business brokerage into a thriving company. I oversaw and directed their lending division, which taught me the ins and outs of structuring successful business deals. Even after stepping out on my own, I’ve maintained a strong partnership with that brokerage, handling their lending services through my business.

Now, I provide advisory and lending services for entrepreneurs, helping them set up their businesses for success from day one. While I work across various industries, I have a particularly big presence in the chiropractic field. Chiropractors are incredibly skilled healers, but many lack the management and business savvy needed to run and grow a successful practice. That’s where I come in—offering expertise in business development, creating models for growth, and providing the tools they need to thrive.

What excites me most about my career is the opportunity to help others grow and achieve their goals. Many people have great ideas and aspirations to become business owners, but they often struggle with the motivation and clarity to bring those ideas to life. I get to bridge that gap, guiding them through the complex process of buying or starting a business, shedding light on everything from funding to strategy.

Building strong relationships is at the core of what I do. My approach combines expertise with a personal touch, ensuring that my clients feel supported and empowered every step of the way. It’s incredibly rewarding to see their businesses flourish and know I played a part in their success.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue expanding my reach and helping even more entrepreneurs succeed. Whether it’s launching new consultation programs or enhancing my lending services, my focus remains on creating value for businesses and equipping them with them with the tools they need to grow.

For me, entrepreneurship isn’t just about running my own business—it’s about using my journey, insights, and skills to inspire and uplift others

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey were resilience, adaptability, and relationship-building—and trust me, a little sarcasm and quick wit didn’t hurt either. Fun fact about me: I’m not a very serious person, but I take my job seriously. I firmly believe there’s no problem in life that can’t be slightly improved with good coffee, a great playlist, or a perfectly timed joke. It’s all about finding balance!

1. Resilience
Resilience is like your favorite coffee—strong and necessary to get you through the tough days. I’ve had moments where I felt like throwing in the towel, but resilience taught me to fold that towel, use it to wipe off the sweat, and keep going. The shift from burnout to building my own business wasn’t easy, but the ability to keep showing up—even when I didn’t feel like it—was a game changer.
Advice: Learn to laugh at the chaos. You’re going to mess up. You’ll send emails with typos, make decisions that flop, and question everything at some point. But the key is to keep going. Resilience is built in those moments where you say, “Well, that didn’t work—what’s next?”
2. Adaptability
Let me tell you, adaptability is a must. If I wasn’t adaptable, I’d probably still be crying over a boss who thought my middle name was “Yes” or trying to manage my time with a planner that looked more like a game of Tetris. The truth is, the business world throws curveballs, and you’ve got to be willing to pivot. I’ve had to learn industries I knew nothing about and adjust on the fly, but those challenges taught me how to thrive in uncertainty.
Advice: Be like a chameleon—but not the kind that blends in. Be the kind that adapts to thrive. Read, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to say, “I have no idea, but I’ll figure it out.” Bonus points if you can laugh at yourself along the way.
3. Relationship-Building
Relationships are everything in business. I’ve built my career on trust, honesty, and sometimes a little humor to break the ice. If you can make someone laugh during a stressful meeting or bring a positive vibe to the room, they’ll remember you. And if they don’t? Well, at least you had fun trying.
Advice: Treat people like humans, not networking opportunities. Be genuine. Follow up. Send the thank-you email, and for goodness’ sake, spell their name right. And remember, relationships aren’t about what people can do for you—it’s about building real connections that matter.

Final Thoughts
For those just starting out, my biggest advice is to own who you are. You can be strong and joyful, empowered and funny, determined and relatable all at once. Success isn’t about fitting into a mold—it’s about breaking the mold with your personality and skills. So, say “no” when you need to, laugh when things go sideways, and remember: you’re not just building a career—you’re building a life that feels good to live.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was give me my faith and instill the values that shaped who I am today. They were the foundation of my resilience, adaptability, entrepreneurial spirit, empowerment, joy, courage, and willingness to take risks. Both my parents were business owners, and growing up, I got to witness firsthand how they balanced running businesses, raising four daughters, and keeping God at the center of it all.

Though I lost them at a younger age, they left a lasting legacy of grace and wisdom that continues to guide me. Their influence is still a strong presence in my life and my business today, and I’ll always be grateful for the incredible example they set.

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