I've created a free private training where I walk you through the proven 3-part framework for building an evergreen sales machine that doesn’t depend on you showing up every day.

Apply here to see if you’re a good fit & get access to the private training.

You hired help to lighten your load… so why are you working harder than ever?

In this episode of Million Dollar Year, we’re unpacking the hard truth most online business owners avoid: delegation done wrong will drain you faster than doing it all yourself.

You’ll learn the three most common delegation mistakes keeping you stuck in the “Chief Babysitter” role—and the exact framework I use to build a team that owns outcomes, not just tasks.

If your “support” has become expensive stress, it’s time to make the shift.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why hiring a VA doesn’t automatically buy you time
• The 3 fatal delegation mistakes nearly every entrepreneur makes
• How I went from 80-hour weeks and a team of 30 to 3-day weeks and 15 weeks of vacation
• The 4-step process to build systems that actually scale
• Why building a team starts with YOU—and the mindset shift required to lead like a CEO

Resources Mentioned:

Powerhouse Program – Apply here to see if you’re a good fit & get access to the private training.

Systems That Scale Scorecard – Find your biggest bottleneck in 5 minutes or less—and finally know what to fix first.

Key Quotes:

• “You don’t need support—you need systems that produce outcomes.”
• “Delegation isn’t about handing off tasks. It’s about building a business that doesn’t depend solely on you.”
• “The moment you become the bottleneck is the moment your business stops growing.”
• “Hiring help without structure is just chaos in a prettier package.”

Find Us:
Website: ruthsoukup.biz

Instagram: @ruthsoukupbiz

I've created a free private training where I walk you through the proven 3-part framework for building an evergreen sales machine that doesn’t depend on you showing up every day.

Apply here to see if you’re a good fit & get access to the private training.

If you’ve ever thought ‘Maybe I should just be grateful for what I have,’ or ‘Now’s not the time to raise my prices’—this episode is for you. Because playing small doesn’t always look like failure… sometimes it looks like stability.

In a rapidly changing business landscape, playing it safe feels responsible—but it could be the riskiest move you make. In this episode, Ruth dives deep into the mindset traps that keep smart entrepreneurs stuck, and the subtle ways we sabotage our own growth in the name of “being realistic.” If you’ve been feeling uncertain, hesitant, or like you’re quietly shrinking, this is your wake-up call.

What You’ll Learn:

• What “playing small” really looks like (and how to spot it in yourself)
• 5 sneaky signs you're operating from fear instead of vision
• Why success often makes us more risk-averse—not braver—and how to fix that
• How AI disruption reveals whether you’re shrinking or stepping up
• The real cost of playing small in a moment of massive opportunity
• 3 steps to break out of small thinking and make bolder, more strategic moves

Resources Mentioned:

Powerhouse Program – Apply here to see if you’re a good fit & get access to the private training.

Key Quotes:

• “Playing small doesn’t always look like failure. Sometimes it looks like stability—and that’s what makes it so dangerous.”
• “The people who thrive during disruption aren’t the ones who play it safe. They’re the ones who play to win.”
• “Fear disguises itself as wisdom. It tells you you're being practical when really you're just being protective.”
• “If you're not growing, you're dying. If you're not evolving, you're becoming irrelevant.”

Find Us:
Website: ruthsoukup.biz

Instagram: @ruthsoukupbiz

I've created a free private training where I walk you through the proven 3-part framework for building an evergreen sales machine that doesn’t depend on you showing up every day.

Apply here to see if you’re a good fit & get access to the private training.

Believe it or not, this entire episode was created with the help of AI tools. And I'm not ashamed — I'm genuinely excited about it, because this may be some of my most authentic and creative work yet.

If you’re poking around the online business world right now, you’ve likely seen the backlash: AI fatigue. Creators swearing off automation, Google's algorithm updates sidelining weak content, “going manual” becoming a badge of honor. But here’s the thing — it’s not AI that’s killing authenticity. It’s lazy strategy. In this episode, Ruth cuts through the noise to show how AI, when used strategically and thoughtfully, doesn’t dilute your voice — it amplifies it.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the real problem isn’t AI — it’s the quality of the content.
• Ruth’s personal AI journey: from early disappointment to creative liberation.
• How AI has leveled-up her business with time savings and better content—without losing authenticity.
• Why “garbage in, garbage out” is real, and how to add yourself into the process to avoid it.
• Real-world ROI: From podcast creation to email, Instagram, and systems, AI has radically increased speed and impact.
• How AI can support customer service, team operations, strategy, and more — not just content.
• The mindset shift: AI isn’t a shortcut, it’s an amplifier — and your competitive edge.

Resources Mentioned:

Powerhouse Program – Apply here to see if you’re a good fit & get access to the private training.

AI Engine Workshop - Train AI to think like you, so your business stops depending on you.​

Key Quotes:

• “The problem isn’t AI. It’s lazy content.”
• “Strategic AI use doesn’t make you less authentic. It makes you more creative and more real.”
• “You have to add yourself into the process — garbage in, garbage out.”
• “AI doesn’t replace your expertise — it scales it.”

Find Us:
Website: ruthsoukup.biz

Instagram: @ruthsoukupbiz