Spark Good Podcast
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...
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#51: The Mid-Year CEO Reset: 5 Steps to Refocus for the Second Half of the Year
<p >"We're not starting over. We're resetting — moving forward with greater awareness, understanding, and wisdom." - Stephanie Malon-Rufi</p> <p >It's easy to let a busy first half of the year stand in for a good first half of the year. What's harder — and more valuable — is actually stopping to check.</p> <p >In this episode, Stephanie walks through a five-step mid-year check-in built for the halfway point of the calendar year: Reflect, Evaluate, Sort, Edit, and Take Action (RESET). Rather than waiting until December to look back, Stephanie makes the case for building reflection into a regular rhythm — and shows wh...
![[LIMITED EDITION] Double Your Profit & Break the Hustle Cycle](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.libsyn.com%2Fp%2Fassets%2Ff%2F1%2Fc%2F0%2Ff1c0622dfe4e3aa6d959afa2a1bf1c87%2Flimited_Edition_Double_Your_Profit___Break_The_Hustle_Cycle.png&w=256&q=75)
[LIMITED EDITION] Double Your Profit & Break the Hustle Cycle
<p >What if the problem isn't your effort?</p> <p >Many service-based business owners are working incredibly hard—and still feeling stuck.</p> <p >In this special training, Stephanie shares why working harder isn't always the answer, the hidden patterns that keep entrepreneurs spinning their wheels, and the six foundational elements that create sustainable growth, profitability, and momentum.</p> <h3>In this episode you'll learn:</h3> Why hustle alone doesn't create long-term business growth The difference between the Push-Collapse Cycle and the Surge-and-Stall Cycle The "flood versus flow" analogy and what it reveals about your business Why most business challenges ar...
#50: Growing a Business Without Losing Yourself: A Conversation with Marlee James of Reviving Roots
<p >What happens when the business model you carefully designed doesn't work the way you expected?</p> <p >For many entrepreneurs, that moment can feel like failure. But often, it's actually an invitation to pay attention, adapt, and build something even stronger.</p> <p >In this episode of the Spark Good Podcast, Stephanie sits down with Marlee James, founder of Reviving Roots, a holistic mental health and wellness organization centered on Black wellness in Minneapolis. Marlee shares her entrepreneurial journey—from launching a solo therapy practice to building a thriving community-centered organization that now serves clients through therapy, workshops, retreats, co...
#49: What 'More of the Same' Is Costing You Every Month
<p >It's easy to see the risks that come with change. What's harder to see is the cost of not changing.</p> <p >In this episode, Stephanie shares the story of a business owner who appeared to have a thriving, growing business—but beneath the surface was a pattern many entrepreneurs know all too well: saying yes to every opportunity, staying busy, and working incredibly hard without a clear strategy for growth.</p> <p >What began as a request for marketing help quickly revealed deeper challenges around profitability, capacity, focus, and decision-making. Through this real-world example, Stephanie explores the hidden co...
#48: Why Your Business Goals Fall Apart Before You Start
<p >You set the goals. You bought the planner. Maybe you even created the color-coded spreadsheet.</p> <p >And yet... a few months later, you're wondering why you're off track.</p> <p >Most entrepreneurs assume the problem is a lack of discipline, accountability, or a better strategy. But what if the real issue isn't the goal itself?</p> <p >In this episode, Stephanie explores a different possibility: that many business goals fail before they ever have a chance to succeed because they're built on a foundation that isn't strong enough to support them.</p> <p >If you've ever found yourself...
#47: Are You Actually Making Money or Just Staying Busy?
<p >You're booked. You're busy. Clients are coming in. On the surface, things look good.</p> <p >But if you're honest with yourself, are you building a profitable business—or have you simply created a very demanding job? </p> <p >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.</p> <p >You'll hear why so many entrepreneurs unknowingly fall into the "hustle trap," how busyness can disguise deeper fin...
#46: The One Shift That Changes Everything in Your Business
<p >This episode explores the shift that changes everything for service-based business owners — and it's probably not what you think. If you've been stuck trying new tactics, tweaking your offers, or working harder without seeing the traction you want, this conversation will help you step back and look at what may actually be holding your business back.</p> <p >Stephanie shares why so many entrepreneurs stay trapped in "operator mode," constantly delivering and reacting instead of truly building a business that can grow sustainably. She introduces the foundational mindset shift that needs to happen, why it matters so much, and ho...
#45: The CEO Shift: From Money Avoidance to Financial Clarity
<p >If you've ever told yourself you're "too busy" to look at your business finances — or found yourself dreading that annual tax time reckoning — this episode is for you. Stephanie gets honest about a pattern she carried for years and what it was really costing her, not just financially but in the confidence and clarity she brought to her business every day.</p> <p >In this episode Stephanie shares three practical starting points for building a healthier relationship with your numbers — including one that most financial advice completely skips over. If you've ever wanted to feel more grounded, clear, and in con...
#44: The Hidden Friction Slowing Your Business Down
<p >We all start a new quarter, a new season with the best intentions — a solid plan, clear goals, and real motivation to make it happen. But what if the thing slowing you down isn't your strategy or your schedule? In this episode, Stephanie introduces the 13-week cycle framework and her Sustainable CEO Framework to help you set up your next season with clarity, realistic expectations, and the right rhythms to stay consistent.</p> <p >And then there's the thing nobody really likes to talk about. There's a hidden friction that quietly creeps into so many entrepreneurs' plans — especially for thos...
#43: Why You're Working Hard But Not Moving Forward (And What to Do About It)
<p >If you've ever ended a long workday wondering how you were so busy—and yet feel like nothing really moved forward—you're not alone. In this episode, Stephanie Malon-Rufi digs into one of the most frustrating experiences entrepreneurs face: working constantly without seeing the traction, revenue, or momentum you know is possible.</p> <p >She unpacks five common patterns that quietly keep business owners stuck, even when they're doing "all the right things." From scattered focus to hidden habits that drain your progress, this conversation will help you start recognizing what might be getting in your way. More importantly, it o...
