Stay On Course Podcast - Episode Show Notes
Working Less, Playing More: The Path to Living Life by Design
Guest: James R. Elliot, Business Coach for Natural Health Practitioners Host: Julie Riga
Episode Overview
Discover how to break free from the time-for-money trap and transform your business from burnout to breakthrough. In this inspiring conversation, Julie sits down with James R. Elliot, a business coach who helps natural health practitioners and coaches build thriving businesses while working less and living more. Together, they explore the essential mindset shifts, productivity strategies, and authentic leadership principles needed to design a life aligned with your deepest purpose. Learn how to eliminate the toxic patterns keeping you stuck, invest in yourself courageously, and create the freedom to pursue what truly matters.
Working Less, Playing More: The Path to Living Life by Design
About This Episode
Julie sits down with James R. Elliot, a business coach and former corporate professional who spent 14.5 years learning the hard way that working longer doesn't mean working better. After transforming his own life from burnout to freedom, James now helps natural health practitioners and coaches break free from self-doubt and the endless time-for-money cycle.
Together, they dive into the mindset shifts, productivity hacks, and authentic leadership principles that allow you to work less, earn more, and actually live the life you're building.
Fun Fact: James is a foodie whose favorite food is coconut Thai curry.
Key Topics Discussed
The Three Ingredients for Success:
- Mindset Transformation - Breaking free from toxic "work hard" programming and redefining productivity
- Strategic Productivity - The power of focus, elimination, and working in shorter, more intentional bursts
- Delegation, Automation & Elimination - Stop doing what shouldn't be done at all; delegate what doesn't light you up
Living Life by Design:
- Negotiating flexibility in corporate environments
- The 10-year overnight success reality
- Why rest and play are investments, not distractions
- Being authentic even when it's uncomfortable
Memorable Quotes
"There's no greater waste of time than perfecting something that shouldn't be done at all."
"We're here to live, not to work. Find something you love and do it really well."
"If you're counting the days till you retire—Mayday, Mayday, we have a problem."
"It's toxic to not do what you love. It's toxic to not be the authentic version of you."
"Give yourself permission to play, to rest. That's the best investment in your work."
Key Takeaways
- Most people get only 3 hours of actual productive work per day—focus on quality over quantity
- Eliminate before you optimize: stop doing things that shouldn't be done at all
- Turn off ALL alerts and notifications for deep, focused work
- Authenticity attracts success: being real draws the right people and opportunities
- Rest is an investment in performance, not a distraction from it
- Don't postpone fulfillment until retirement—invest in yourself today
- Ask yourself: Did I live? Did I love? Did I matter?
Connect with James R. Elliot
Connect with Julie Riga
Stay On Course Podcast - Leadership coaching and transformation for purpose-driven professionals
🎧 Subscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts
