The
Podcast

Sleep: The #1 Strategy to Building a Successful Company {and Staying Sane For the Long Term

Arianna Huffington has written a bestseller on it.

The New York Times is proclaiming it’s praises.

Harvard Business School can’t stop talking about it.

The single most important thing for an entrepreneur is none other than…

a good night’s sleep.

{silence}

More important than…..

  • That last email I need to send?
  • The bookkeeping I stayed up to midnight to do?
  • The 7 AM meeting?
  • Every other one of the 26 million items on my to do list?

Yes, really {and I’m not trying to be obnoxious as I say that}. Your sleep matters to you and in turn to your business…because when you aren’t all there, your business suffers in turn.

As an entrepreneur in my early 20’s, I subscribed to the rule of more…more work, more profits, more of anything, but sleep. And, you know, I kept going like that for a healthy few years.

My turning point? The day I woke up in Guatemala City after two weeks of non-stop travel and work and realized I was sick. Like, really sick. Like, I got on a plane and flew home that afternoon, slept 18 hours and got diagnosed with pneumonia the next day.

The warning signs had been there for months, but I wasn’t listening to my body until it stopped me dead in my tracks.

So today, enjoy this video from our friend Arianna and promise me one thing…tonight, turn it all off early and get an extra hour of shut eye. I can’t wait to see what that means for tomorrow!

With Grit and Gratitude,

Lise

P.S. If you need any more persuasion, here’s an oldie, but goodie favorite of mine!

Recommended Episodes

  • Live from The HFA Show 2026: Lise Kuecker and Mike Goscinski

    Y’all may not realize it, but decisions made in Washington D.C. and state capitals shape your studio’s operations, contracts and long-term viability—and typically feel out of your control.  Learn about the value of advocacy and how you have a stake (and more influence than you think) in Episode 723: Live from The HFA Show 2026:

    Listen Now

  • From Manager to Leader: The Mindset Shift that Transforms Your Studio Team

    Many studio managers stay stuck in the weeds—solving problems, teaching classes and doing all the things. But to grow, you need to move from manager to leader, and ultimately to investor.  Beyond delegating tasks, you take on a new role. Alina Cooper walks you through it in Episode 722: From Manager to Leader: The Mindset

    Listen Now

  • Why Clients Quit Your Fitness Studio

    Studios don’t lose members suddenly—it happens slowly, quietly, and often without you ever knowing why. Given how hard you worked to earn your clients, be proactive to keep them. Understand the reasons clients leave—and how you can prevent it or save them instead—with Matt Hanton and Lisa Taylor in Episode 721: Why Clients Quit Your

    Listen Now

  • Building a Culture of Ownership (Without Micromanaging)

    Most boutique fitness owners want a team that’s empowered to act like an owner. But they unintentionally create a business where everything depends on them—and end up frustrated. With an ownership culture, your studio runs well even without you. Make it happen with Alina Cooper in Episode 720: Building a Culture of Ownership (Without Micromanaging).

    Listen Now