May 30, 2025
The Ugly Truth: Surviving Burnout, Staffing Nightmares, and Hard Lessons in Care Business
Care to CEOAbout this episode
Welcome back to Care to CEO, the podcast where caregivers become confident care entrepreneurs. In this candid episode, “The Ugly Truth: The Hardest Parts of Running a Care Business,” host Crystal Smith pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build and sustain a care-based business. You’ll hear Crystal’s raw reflections on staffing nightmares, staying compliant, emotional burnout, and those moments when everything seems to fall apart at once. She shares personal stories, like the unforgettable day when staff quit, clients threatened to walk, and her own child fell ill, and reveals how she found the resilience to keep going. From learning the critical difference between hiring hands and hiring hearts, to the ongoing challenges of compliance (“the license is just the wedding, compliance is the marriage”), Crystal gets real about the emotional and organizational tolls of entrepreneurship. She also opens up about the importance of self-care, learning to ask for help, and forging strong boundaries to avoid burnout. Whether you’re just dreaming of starting your own agency or are deep in the trenches, this episode is packed with advice, hard lessons, and the encouragement you need to stay in the game, even when it gets messy. Timestamps: 00:00 Entrepreneurship: A Heartbreaking Calling 04:14 Overcoming Crisis with Resilience 07:32 "Heart Over Skills in Home Care" 12:31 Organizing: Key to Legacy Building 14:58 Embracing Self-Care and Balance 19:15 Boundaries Bridge, Protect, Empower 20:43 Rethinking Boundaries as Bridges 25:42 Learning to Delegate with Love 28:52 Clutter Reflects Mental Health Struggles 31:06 Challenges of Building a Business 34:59 "Embrace Solitude in Business" 38:34 Networking for Success 41:46 Breaking Cycles, Empowering Women 46:40 Strategic Thinking Reflection 47:30 Coping with Leadership Stress Care to CEO - Podcast Show Website - https://caretoceo.com/ Crystal Smith - https://www.crystalsmithandco.com/ Crystal Smith Mentoring - https://ft.crystalsmith.online/ TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/ “Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”