{"podcast":{"title":"Spark Good Podcast","slug":"spark-good-podcast-6446770","podcast_index_feed_id":6446770,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/477105/rss","website_url":"https://www.sparkgood.net/podcast","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/f/6/8/6/f68648e5c8f0b5f85f2e77a3093c12a1/Spark_Good_Podcast_Cover_Art_1400.png","author":"Stephanie Malon-Rufi","episode_count":52,"summary":"Discover how business can ignite positive change in the world on the Spark Good Podcast. Join us as we delve into strategies, stories, and insights that empower purpose-driven entrepreneurs seeking to 'do business' differently. Host Stephanie Malon-Rufi, MBA, brings 20+ years working within and as a consultant for social businesses from the start-up phase to scaling and experience as a holistic leadership coach. From innovative approaches to profit and purpose alignment to practical tips for creating a positive social impact, Spark Good Podcast offers inspiration and guidance. Plus learn how to nurture your own well-being, change traditional rules that might be holding you back, and thrive in your role as a social business owner. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, aspiring business owner, or simply curious about the intersection of business and social impact, the Spark Good Podcast has something for you. Join our community of changemakers as we inspire, inform, and empower you to make a meaningful difference in the world through your business.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-05T16:18:45.651651+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/spark-good-podcast-6446770"},"episode":{"title":"#47: Are You Actually Making Money or Just Staying Busy?","slug":"47-are-you-actually-making-money-or-just-staying-busy","published_at":"2026-05-29T03:19:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/spark-good-podcast-6446770/47-are-you-actually-making-money-or-just-staying-busy","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/spark-good-podcast-6446770","url":"https://ef35d815-15d7-4a96-b33c-47127e236091.libsyn.com/47-are-you-actually-making-money-or-just-staying-busy","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/ef35d815-15d7-4a96-b33c-47127e236091/47_-_Audio.mp3?dest-id=4051014","summary":"You're booked. You're busy. Clients are coming in. On the surface, things look good. But if you're honest with yourself, are you building a profitable business—or have you simply created a very demanding job? In this episode, Stephanie tackles a topic many service-based business owners avoid: profit. Not revenue. Not sales. Profit. The kind that allows you to pay yourself consistently, build a sustainable business, and stop relying on hustle every time cash gets tight. You'll hear why so many entrepreneurs unknowingly fall into the \"hustle trap,\" how busyness can disguise deeper financial problems, and why profit may feel more uncomfortable than it should—especially for heart-led and impact-driven business owners. Stephanie also shares a simple way to start evaluating whether your offers are actually serving your business or quietly draining it. If you've ever found yourself wondering why you're working so hard but still feeling stressed about money, this conversation may challenge some assumptions—and open the door to a healthier, more sustainable way of thinking about growth. In This Episode: The difference between revenue, owner's pay, and true profit Why being busy doesn't necessarily mean your business is healthy The hidden cost of the hustle cycle How profit mindset impacts business sustainability A simple exercise to assess whether your offers are actually profitable Why purpose and profit don't have to be in conflict Resources Mentioned: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Free Live Training: Double Your Profit and Break the Hustle Cycle (June 17): https://unique-author-9818.kit.com/freetraining Sign-up for Double Your Profit & Break the Hustle Cycle: Grow a Profitable, Grounded Business with the 6-Step Roadmap Most Service Businesses Skip: https://unique-author-9…","meta_description":"You're booked. You're busy. Clients are coming in. On the surface, things look good. But if you're honest with yourself, are you building a profitable bus…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1246,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/spark-good-podcast-6446770/episodes/47-are-you-actually-making-money-or-just-staying-busy/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/spark-good-podcast-6446770/47-are-you-actually-making-money-or-just-staying-busy.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}