This special montage episode features three of New Zealand’s top business minds: Marisa Fong (co-founder of Madison Recruitment, sold for $30M+), Lisa O'Neill (Energy Expert & Author), and Rich Ellis (Executive Health & Mindset Coach).Together, they reveal the brutal truth about entrepreneurial burnout. They discuss the cognitive collapse of "decision fatigue," why the concept of balance prevents scaling, and the specific energy management protocols needed to survive the early stages of building a business.What they explain◽️ The "Bandwidth Collapse": Why female founders suffer from decision fatigue first◽️ The "Demon Hours": The exact window where you must sacrifice balance to win◽️ Energy Stacking: How to transition from "CEO Mode" to bedtime without crashing◽️ The "8-Week Postpartum" Reality: The irreversible trade-offs of an exit-level founder◽️ Why "Work-Life Balance" is a myth that keeps you small (and what to aim for instead)Timestamps00:00 Intro01:30 Lisa O'Neill: Why energy is everything (and where to start)03:15 How to find a way to keep your energy up05:40 "What season are you in right now?"08:10 Rich Ellis: The reality of burnout and why it’s not "nice"12:45 The "Bedtime Transition": Stacking small opportunities for rest15:30 Marisa Fong: Mental Overload and Bandwidth Collapse18:15 The Myth of Balance: Why you can't have it all while scaling20:40 "Working like demons": The necessary window of obsession22:50 The Cost of Success: Energy, Time, and Sacrifice24:10 The 8-week tradeoff: Marisa’s irreversible decisionExamples and guide on styleFOLLOW MElinkin.bio/minaamsoWATCH EPISODE ON YOUTUBE (for spotify and apple only)https://www.youtube.com/@NotesFromTheExecutivePodcastLISTEN ONApple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bXABOUT THE EPISODEIn this compilation, Marisa Fong, Rich Ellis, and Lisa O'Neill dismantle the myth of work-life balance for entrepreneurs. They explore the cognitive cost of decision-making, the necessity of "demon work" periods, and how to manage your energy so you don't burn out before you cash out.Episode Partners:👉🏻 Hibiscus Jet Ski Hire: 🔥 WIN Free Jet Ski Rides 🔥Enter: https://tinyurl.com/y64efe7a👉🏻 Podcast GuestDownload Your Free Podcast Guide: www.podcastguest.co.nz

If you’re a NZ Business founder heading into 2026, staying small, comfortable and indecisive will kill your dream – you have to think bigger, commit to one path.Three top entrepreneurs tell us why Big Thinking in New Zealand is Hard. They say founders move too slow.

Kiwis think too small. Optionality kills. Comfort kills.

Tall poppy cuts ambition.

Learn More From

Mahesh Muralidhar https://youtu.be/jXmNi-XqLMg

Steven Zinsli https://youtu.be/r9fes_4ZU_I

Sir Ray Avery https://youtu.be/GenrFva6QBA

This Episode Is For:

• NZ entrepreneurs building or scaling a business

• Founders frustrated with staying small in New Zealand

• Business owners thinking about global expansion

• Anyone interested in entrepreneurship in NZ

Thanks ⁨@HibiscusJetSkiHire⁩ for powering this episodeL Be in to win: https://www.facebook.com/hibiscusjetskihire/posts/pfbid02oyANuNkVR8RaFtcfmBJD6PbyJjTNJfhReJtTau8ivH94fbnU1QaKmQVDWMN6ekUrl

If you are starting a business in New Zealand in 2026, this episode is compulsory viewing.

The rules have changed. What worked ten years ago will not work today.

This montage brings together three of Aotearoa’s top founders to break down the critical mistakes that kill most early-stage Kiwi businesses before they ever get off the ground.

Thanks Episode Partner

Hibiscus Jetski Hire https://hibiscusjetskihire.co.nz/

You will learn:

• How to validate your idea before you spend money.

• How to avoid building a product nobody wants.

• How to choose the right niche and avoid spreading yourself too thin.

• Why resilience, simplicity and speed matter more than ever in the NZ market.

• How AI is reshaping the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.

Watch More:

• Scott Wilson – https://youtu.be/f1wHt5QBTyM

• Tim Warren – https://youtu.be/iN4VD9wT2N4

• Steve Ballantyne – https://youtu.be/aho75bHK2-g

Chapters:

00:00 Trailer

01:00 Mistake 1 – Building Without Validation (Scott Wilson)

08:00 Mistake 2 – Going Too Broad (Tim Warren)

12:00 Mistake 3 – Building Too Heavy (Steve Ballantyne)

15:30 Final Advice for 2026

If you are serious about building a business that lasts, start here. This episode will save you time, money and years of unnecessary pain.

This episode is ideal for:

• Early-stage founders

• Aspiring entrepreneurs

• Small business owners looking to grow

• Anyone planning to launch in 2026

• Investors who want to understand NZ founder behaviour