From Survival to Strategy: The Leadership Detox That Changes Everything
- Sarah Beth Herman
- Oct 7
- 5 min read
Written by: Sarah Beth Herman5x CEO | Leadership Mentor | Host of No Silverspoons
When people meet me now — a five-time CEO, podcast host, and mentor to leaders around the world — they often assume I always knew what I was doing.
But if you’ve listened to Episode 89 of No Silver Spoons™, you know that’s not the case. My first business? It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t strategic. And it definitely wasn’t a success story.
In fact, it failed.
But that failure was the turning point that taught me everything about leadership, accountability, and resilience. It became the foundation of how I built my companies — and how I teach entrepreneurs to rebuild their lives and businesses with systems that actually work.
This blog is your follow-up to that episode — the real, actionable version of how to detox your leadership, reset your focus, and keep going when things don’t go the way you planned.
How My First Failure Became My Leadership Education
I was young, newly married, and convinced that if I could just own a business, everything in life would make sense. So, I bought a salon.
I had no mentor, no systems, no plan, and no money. I just had hope — and a $5,000 down payment.
What I didn’t have were the questions I should’ve asked, the boundaries I needed to protect myself, or the wisdom to recognize a red flag when I saw one.
Within months, I was bankrupt, humiliated, and exhausted.
But here’s what I learned: failure gives you data. It’s a teacher that doesn’t ask for permission.
That failure taught me how to think critically, manage emotions under pressure, read contracts, and lead through chaos.
More importantly, it showed me that success doesn’t come from performing well — it comes from recovering well.
That’s where the idea of the Business Detox Action Plan came from.
What It Means to Detox Your Business
You can only carry so much chaos before it starts leading you. If you’re constantly reacting, fixing, or firefighting, you’re not leading — you’re surviving.
A business detox isn’t about doing more. It’s about getting honest about what’s breaking your energy, time, and focus.
There are three categories where leaders usually need to reset:
Category | What It Means | Example |
People | The relationships that drain your energy or erode your trust | A team member who resists every new idea or creates tension |
Patterns | The habits and cycles that keep you stuck | Overcommitting, saying yes out of guilt, or avoiding uncomfortable conversations |
Processes | The systems that should support you but instead slow you down | Doing everything manually, repeating tasks that could be automated, or micromanaging |
In my Business Detox Action Plan, I guide you through each of these categories so you can name them, clear them, and move forward with calm clarity.
It’s not a workbook full of fluff. It’s a fifteen-minute reset — built to help you regain control of your time, emotions, and direction.
The Science Behind the Reset
Leadership isn’t just emotional — it’s neurological. When you constantly push without rest or clarity, your nervous system enters a survival state, making it harder to think critically or make confident decisions.
Here’s the truth:You don’t need more motivation.You need better mental space.
That’s why the Business Detox Action Plan includes practices backed by behavioral and cognitive science:
Cognitive Appraisal: Reframing failure as data lowers stress and activates problem-solving regions of the brain. (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984)
Implementation Intentions: Linking a cue to an action (“If it’s Monday morning, then I review my calendar”) increases consistency by 70%. (Gollwitzer, 1999)
Self-Compassion: Treating yourself like you’d treat a talented friend boosts resilience and adaptive leadership. (Neff & Germer, 2017)
You don’t need to power through every mistake — you need to learn from it and then move wisely.
That’s how sustainable success is built.
Accountability That Actually Works
I’ve led people for over two decades, and I can tell you this with certainty: Accountability doesn’t thrive in isolation.
That’s why I built the Keep Going Broadcast Channel and GoodPods Community — free spaces where entrepreneurs and leaders can stay grounded, check in weekly, and receive encouragement without the noise of social media algorithms.
Here’s what you’ll find inside:
Early access to new digital downloads
Monday episode reminders from No Silver Spoons™
Real conversations about leadership, burnout, and rebuilding
A place to stay accountable without judgment
Accountability isn’t about being watched — it’s about being supported.
When you surround yourself with others who are choosing growth over perfection, you begin to see progress differently.
The 12-Week Keep Going Program
The Business Detox Action Plan is just the starting point. The full transformation happens over 12 weeks in my Keep Going Leadership Program — a guided journey designed for high-performing entrepreneurs who are ready to stop spinning and start stabilizing.
Each week focuses on one of four pillars:
Mindset Recovery — Breaking emotional and cognitive burnout loops.
System Strategy — Building workflows that support your sanity and success.
Leadership Communication — Saying less, meaning more, and creating clarity.
Sustainable Accountability — Establishing habits and follow-through that last.
This program is designed to change how you think about productivity, people, and peace.
Because leading well isn’t about how many hours you work.It’s about how intentionally you use the ones you have.
The Embarrassing Truths We Need to Talk About
When I first told this story — the one about losing the salon, going broke, and learning everything the hard way — I almost didn’t hit “publish.”
It’s hard to admit the ugly parts. It’s easier to share the polished pieces.
But here’s what I know now: your most embarrassing moments often become someone else’s permission slip to heal.
That’s why I started the No Silver Spoons™ podcast — to remind entrepreneurs that there’s no shortcut, no “made it” moment, and no perfect plan.
There’s just your story, your growth, and your decision to keep going.
Ready to Reset?
If this message found you in a season of burnout, confusion, or chaos — I want you to know something: you’re not behind. You’re becoming.
Start small. Start where you are.
🎧 Listen to Episode 89: “Keep Going — The Business Detox Story That Changed Everything”
Download the Business Detox Action Plan — your 15-minute leadership reset
💸 Use code KEEPGOING for $5 listener access
Then join the community:
Instagram Broadcast Channel: @nosilverspoons_podcast
GoodPods Group: “Keep Going” under No Silver Spoons™
This is where accountability lives. This is where leadership grows roots.
Because you don’t need a finish line to keep going — you just need the next right step.
References
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer Publishing.
Gollwitzer, P. M. (1999). Implementation Intentions: Strong effects of simple plans. American Psychologist, 54(7), 493–503.
Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2017). Self-Compassion and Psychological Well-Being in Leaders. Mindfulness, 8(1), 234–240.
Grant, A., & Parker, S. (2022). Reframing Work Design: The Cognitive Mechanisms of Reflection and Resilience. Academy of Management Review.
American Psychological Association. (2022). Leadership Resilience: Behavioral and Emotional Adaptation in Entrepreneurship.
Fredrickson, B. (2013). Positive Emotions Broaden the Scope of Leadership and Build Resilience. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Readers should consult with appropriate professionals for specific advice tailored to their circumstances. All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of information and references; however, errors may occur. If you notice any inaccuracies or would like to suggest updates, please contact us at hey@sarahbethherman.com. © 2025 Sarah Beth Herman. All Rights Reserved. By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. This post may contain affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through them. References included where known. Please email hey@sarahbethherman.com to report missing attributions or inaccuracies
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