Episode 281: Are You in A Toxic Relationship With Your Business?

If someone were to ask you today "Have you ever been in a toxic relationship?" what would be the first thing to come to mind? When we think of a toxic relationship, we often think of it as either a romantic relationship or even a friendship. More times than not, you wouldn't think of the relationship you have with your business. But the truth is, you and your business can be in a toxic relationship right now.  This week I dive into the red flags that stand out when it comes to a toxic relationship with your business and what you can do to ensure it gets to a healthy place. Biggest Takeaways We've previously talked about how to grow your business, how to ensure you aren't leaving money on the table and how to keep a positive mindset to move you forward. But this week I want to talk to you about the relationship you have with your business and if there may be some red flags that are occurring. You might notice Clients that always nitpick Employees holding you hostage Boundaries with time that don't exist Worry taking over your sleep And at least 8 more serious red flags you need to be watching out for as well as ways to turn it around into a healthy place. Recommendations: Look into help from  Better Marketing With Bella for all your business content needs. If that is something you are interested in, jump on the waitlist today. Next week we are gearing up to get commitments from existing customers for their renewals (which was over 80% last semester!) before welcoming our new members, so now is the time to get on the list. Shoot me an email and let's chat! [email protected], I want to hear from you and how I can help YOU move your business forward in a healthy direction. Links Better Marketing With Bella Better Marketing With Bella Waitlist  Episode 225: Running A Bussiness Through Divorce Or Major Life Changes Episode 3: Who Am I? Getting Real Personally and Professionally  Let's Connect Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review! Click this link – Bella In Your Business Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section Click on ‘Write a Review’' Are You New Here? Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below. Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here. Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here. Transcript: This is episode 281 of Bella in Your Business. Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business. So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump! Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today we’re going to talk about something I’ve actually never talked about before. However, I’ve been percolating on this topic because the more I do these complimentary 20-minute consultations with you guys, the more I hear this come up. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I offer a free 20-minute “What problem do you want to solve?” consultation, which you can book at jumpconsulting.net. One of the recurring themes I’ve been hearing is this: are you in a toxic relationship with your business? Now, stay with me here. “Toxic” is a strong word, but it’s important to think about. In the past few years, people have become more aware—more conscious—of what’s happening in their lives, relationships, and environments. So today, I want to talk about the relationship you have with your business. I see a lot of business owners who might be in a toxic relationship with their own business. I encourage you to open your mind today and think about this with me: could this be you? Could this describe your company? Because I’m hearing a lot of red flags that sound a lot like toxic traits. Are there certain clients who are always nitpicking for no reason—making mountains out of molehills? Maybe they complain that you arrived at 7:32 instead of 7:30 and act like it’s the end of the world. Or maybe you have an employee who’s holding you hostage—someone who’s a know-it-all, never follows rules, or constantly tests boundaries. You’ve corrected them multiple times, but you’re afraid to let them go. Every time you get a text, email, or call from them, your body tenses up because you’re thinking, “What is it now?” What about boundaries? Are you constantly being run over by your business? Are you skipping meals, eating fast food, or running on caffeine and convenience store snacks? Are you sleeping poorly or waking up in the middle of the night worrying if you forgot something? What about communication? Are your employees gossiping, complaining, or tearing each other down? Do you have team members who don’t collaborate or who stop communication completely when they’re supposed to be working together? Maybe your approval process has too many layers—your office manager, HR, or staff ask you about every single step instead of taking ownership. You end up helping them instead of them helping you. Or maybe you’re micromanaging out of fear—afraid to let anyone make a mistake. That’s a red flag too. When you don’t let your team take initiative, it sends a message that you don’t trust them. Or maybe you’ve fallen into the blame game—blaming your staff, your clients, or your circumstances instead of asking, “What responsibility do I have in this situation?” Sometimes, we need to look inward and ask how we’ve contributed to the problem. And maybe, just maybe, you’re the kind of boss who doesn’t really care. Ouch, I know that stings. But if you expect employees to have no boundaries, respond instantly, skip vacations, or never take sick time—then that’s toxic too. Do you actually show appreciation? What did you do for Employee Appreciation Day or Professional Pet Sitter Week? Those moments matter because they build culture. Maybe your team has entitled people or know-it-alls. Maybe you’re burnt out yourself. I recently saw a pet sitter post an emoji of her face on a piece of toast with the caption, “I’m burnt out. I’ll get back to calls in 48 hours.” My heart hurt for her because clearly something went wrong long before that moment. It’s not professional, but it’s also a symptom of something deeper—burnout. High turnover is another red flag. Constantly losing employees not only destroys morale but also scares clients and prevents you from building a stable company culture. All of this leads back to the same point: you might be in a toxic relationship with your business. So how do we fix it? First, remind yourself why you started this business. Write it down—on your mirror, in your car, or on your computer. “I started this business because…” and finish that sentence. Maybe it was to help pets, to have freedom, or to build stability for your family. Reconnect with that reason. For me, my business serves two purposes. One, I feel most alive when I’m coaching, speaking, and helping people have those lightbulb moments. And two, I built this business for time freedom. I wanted the luxury of time—not money. Time to live life on my terms. As a single mom, I have my daughter Olivia 50% of the time. When I have her, I’m fully present—no coaching calls, no emails. Just us. Because you only get 18 summers with your kids, and in my case, even fewer because we started with 182 days in the NICU. My business does not run me—I run my business. I’ve designed it intentionally so it supports the life I want. Many of my clients have done the same. Some bought RVs and travel with their families. Others spend weekends at cabins or designed systems so they could start families through IVF. That’s what it looks like to have a healthy relationship with your business—one that gives you freedom, not exhaustion. If you’re reading this and thinking, “Yep, that’s me—I’ve got red flags,” it’s okay. Awareness is the first step. This episode isn’t about judgment—it’s about waking up. Stop living on autopilot, running on the hamster wheel, and dreading Mondays. You were meant for more. I’ve seen clients transform their businesses and their lives. They’re traveling, resting, enjoying their families, and still growing their companies. That’s possible for you too. Ask yourself: are you working for your business—or is your business working for you? If you’re constantly stressed, overworked, or underpaid, that’s not freedom. You deserve better. So what can you do right now? First, identify the toxic patterns—bad clients, unfit employees, broken systems, poor boundaries, lack of vision. Then, start fixing one piece at a time. Create systems and processes that bring calm and consistency. Clarify your vision and work toward it daily. And check what you’re attracting. If you’re frantic and chaotic, you’ll attract the same kind of energy—clients and employees included. Your energy becomes your magnet. Look at your social media and ask: if I wanted to work for or hire this company, what would I see? Would I be inspired—or confused? Does your feed reflect your culture, your values, your joy? Or is it just a collection of random pet photos? If you’re not proud of what you’re putting out there, let’s change that. The waitlist for Better Marketing with Bella is open at jumpconsulting.net/waitlist. Last semester,