It doesn’t happen overnight.
That feeling of finally breathing again…
Of walking through your studio doors and feeling the flutter of joy instead of the weight of responsibility…
Of remembering, deep in your bones, why you started this in the first place.
It happens slowly, like fog lifting. And sometimes, it takes hitting a wall – like burnout, exhaustion, or loss – to see what needs to change.
This is exactly what happened to Sherry.
And this is a blog written in the hopes that you don’t have to hit that wall before making a shift.
Sherry joined us in Evolution about four years ago, like many of our members: brilliant, big-hearted, and juggling it all. And recently, she had a moment she wanted to share.
With her blessing, I’m passing it on, because I believe her words are going to give permission to someone out there who desperately needs it.
When Burnout Doesn’t Look Like Collapse, But Feels Like Defeat
“I’ve been so grateful for all I learned in SE but experienced some major burnout. I couldn’t figure out what or why… I just found myself on this gerbil wheel of defeat even though things were going pretty well.”
Studio owners are so good at pushing through. You make it look effortless from the outside, even when it feels like you’re barely keeping it together behind the scenes.
And lately, we’ve been hearing more and more about this exact experience – from podcast listeners, clients, and our own team. It’s why Episode 7 of Season 3 of Your Studio Podcast is all about breaking the cycle of firefighting, and why Episode 8 explores the impossible expectations we place on ourselves – especially when “work” and “life” don’t exist in tidy compartments.
Burnout doesn’t always show up with sirens and smoke. Sometimes, it’s just this dull ache of going through the motions. And for Sherry, the turning point came from something unexpected.
A Tragedy, A Classroom, and a Wake-Up Call
“We lost a teacher to cancer and had a hard time replacing her, so I stepped in for the last 2 months. I said ‘to hell with the admin tasks, I’m going to focus on these kids.’”
In the middle of heartbreak, Sherry made a bold, intuitive choice: to return to the heart of her work.
“We had such a great time, bonding and became a close group.”
And in that return, she remembered.
She remembered that she loves being in the classroom. That her magic is in connecting, encouraging, creating. That the admin overwhelm, the inbox, the tracking, the logistics – those things were draining her not because she was failing, but because they aren’t her zone of genius.
The Most Liberating (and Overdue) Decision
“So I did a thing in May, our last month of the season. I hired a virtual admin.”
Cue the chorus of angels.
And it wasn’t perfect at first (what new system ever is?) but it was good. It was aligned.
And it was long overdue.
“It’s been so great!! A little overwhelming at first trying to get her acclimated to Trello, which has all the info she needs… thanks to SE!!! Woohoo!!! She was so impressed with all I had done. I smiled knowing it was all because of my time with y’all!”
This, friends, is what doing the hard work on your business leads to: clarity. Confidence. Delegation with ease.
If you’re unsure where to start, we’ve created this free Studio Admin Cheat Sheet to walk you through exactly what to delegate, even if you can only afford 5 hours a week.
That’s all it takes to begin reclaiming your energy and creativity.
Permission to Let It Be Easier
“Someone asked me why I waited so long to hire an admin. My answer shocked me… I thought as the founder, I should be the one doing all the behind-the-scenes things.”
That one sentence says so much.
This belief – that we’re only a “good leader” if we carry everything – is costing us our health, our joy, and our creativity. And it’s everywhere in studio life.
But Sherry saw it for what it was. And when she stepped away from what wasn’t meant for her?
“For the first time in a while, I pulled up to the studio/school, and felt this good flutter feeling through my gut, I was happy to be there. I couldn’t wait to get inside and start making things, creating a space that’s safe and magical.”
That’s the goal. That’s what we’re working toward.
Let’s Rise Together
The part that stayed with me most, though, was what she said at the end:
“If you want to share this… just to give permission to that one or group who feels like they have to do the hard things, I’m here to tell them that it doesn’t have to be hard! It’s not hard for my admin, she’s loving it!”
This is the kind of leadership that lifts others up.
Sherry could’ve kept this moment to herself. But instead, she shared it—so someone else might find the courage to let go of the struggle sooner.
That’s what we mean when we say this community isn’t built on competition—it’s built on contribution.
When one studio owner rises, we all rise. There’s more than enough success, freedom, and creativity to go around.
Thank you, Sherry, for modeling not just what’s possible, but what’s permissible. For turning your transformation into a gift. For showing us that even after years of doing it all… it’s never too late to change the rhythm.
With fierce belief in your freedom …
ALL my best,
Chantelle
P.S. Ready to start small? Download the free Studio Admin Cheat Sheet and discover what’s ready to come off your plate. You don’t have to do this alone – and you were never meant to.
