457: Building a Business That Supports Your Life with Samara Bortz
- E457
- 51:59
- June 22nd 2026
What if growing your business didn’t have to come at the expense of your wellbeing?
In this episode of Passports, Profits & Pixie Dust, I sit down with business coach and mentor Samara Bortz to talk about sustainable business growth, navigating pivots, avoiding burnout, and building a business that actually supports the life you want to live.
Samara shares her fascinating journey from professional musician and choir director to website designer and ultimately business coach. Along the way, we dive into topics that so many entrepreneurs are struggling with right now—including social media burnout, balancing a side hustle while working full-time, and finding marketing strategies that align with your personality and strengths.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by trying to do all the things, questioned whether you're showing up on the "right" platforms, or wondered when (or if) it's time to leave your day job, this conversation is for you.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
✨ How Samara transitioned from music educator to entrepreneur and business coach
✨ Why many women entrepreneurs are craving a more sustainable way to grow their businesses
✨ The truth about social media burnout and how to market your business without forcing yourself into strategies you hate
✨ Why Instagram isn't the answer for everyone
✨ How platforms like Substack are creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and writers
✨ The importance of building a business around your strengths rather than someone else's blueprint
✨ Side hustle vs. full-time entrepreneurship: knowing when you're ready to make the leap
✨ Financial safety nets and why Samara doesn't subscribe to the "quit your job and figure it out later" philosophy
✨ The mindset shifts many entrepreneurs need to make around money, success, and career paths
✨ Hiring support, virtual assistants, and creating more capacity in your business
✨ Morning routines, journaling practices, and productivity habits that help entrepreneurs stay grounded
✨ Favorite books, travel destinations, and a few fun rapid-fire questions
Memorable Takeaways
"If a platform is draining your energy, getting little engagement, and you don't enjoy showing up there, maybe the question isn't how to fix it—maybe the question is whether you need to be there at all."
"Your business should support your life, not the other way around."
"The more safety and stability you can create before making a major leap, the more thoughtfully you can grow your business."
Resources Mentioned
- Playing Big by Tara Mohr
- Substack for long-form content creators
- Samara's podcast: Lead With Heart Podcast
- Samara's self-paced program: The Heart Method
Connect with Samara Bortz
🌐 Website: samarabortz.com
🎙️ Podcast: Lead With Heart Podcast
📝 Substack: The Heart Behind It
📱 Find Samara on social media: @samarabortz
Connect with Lindsay
https://www.lindsaydollinger.com
https://www.atlastiseetheworldtravel.com
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Passports, Profits & Pixie Dust, leave a review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur who needs a reminder that success doesn't have to come with burnout.
And if you're a travel advisor (or aspiring travel advisor) looking to grow your business with more confidence, strategy, and support, I'd love to connect with you!
Until next time, keep chasing those passports, profits, and pixie dust dreams! ✨🩷✈️
Passports, Profits and Pixie Dust
Welcome to the Passports, Profits and Pixie Dust Podcast! Host Lindsay Dollinger shares tips, strategies, stories, and interviews that will help you grow the travel business you want without burnout...with some pixie dust (FUN) sprinkled in!
Are you ready to be empowered to start or uplevel your business so you can earn the income you deserve to live the life of your dreams? It's time to create and own your magic!
About Lindsay: Lindsay is a travel agency owner, podcast host, high school Spanish teacher, dog mama to Bella, and Disney lover! She lives in Ohio with her younger sister and their rescue dog (from Puerto Rico), Bella. She's obsessed with all things Disney (the parks, movies, studying the business model, and running RunDisney races).
She started in business in network marketing in 2016. Needing an outlet to feel fulfilled after her mom passed away from a nearly 17 year battle with breast cancer in 2015, she quickly found that she was obsessed with helping other women also grow their businesses, and her coaching business very organically grew from her success in her own business and helping others on her team. She started this podcast in 2020 to share not only her own business advice and tips as she's on the journey herself, but also to interview other motivational women to share with YOU ! Additionally, she has always loved Disney, and one of the things she does is work as a travel agent who specializes in Disney and cruises. So, it was very natural for her to add her Disney-inspired branding into her business coaching, and the rest is history!
www.lindsaydollinger.com**The opinions expressed by Lindsay Dollinger on this podcast, her website, or her social media accounts are those of her own and are not those of any other company she partners with.
Meet the Host
Lindsay is a women’s business coach, podcast host of the Passports, Profits and Pixie Dust podcast, high school Spanish teacher, dog mama to Bella, travel advisor, and Disney lover! She lives in Ohio with her younger sister and their rescue dog (from Puerto Rico), Bella. She's obsessed with all things Disney (the parks, movies, studying the business model, and running RunDisney races).
She started in business in network marketing in 2016. Needing an outlet to feel fulfilled after her mom passed away from a nearly 17 year battle with breast cancer in 2015, she quickly found that she was obsessed with helping other women also grow their businesses, and her coaching business very organically grew from her success in her own business and helping others on her team. She started this podcast in 2020 to share not only her own business advice and tips as she's on the journey herself, but also to interview other motivational women to share with YOU ! Additionally, she has always loved Disney, so it was very natural for her to add her Disney-inspired branding into her business coaching, and that’s how she formed her membership, The Social Sales Society.
