Megan Rafuse On Decision Making, Persistence, and Perfectionism

And So, She Left: Wisdom from Women Beyond the Corporate World

Content warning: this episode contains references to self-harm and other issues related to mental health.

As an entrepreneur, drawing a line between personal value and the success of your venture can be a daunting task. But when your personal journey intimately intertwines with the quality of your services, that line becomes increasingly blurred. On this episode, we're joined by Megan Rafuse, Co-Founder and CEO of Shift Collab - one of Canada's largest online therapy practices.

In this vulnerable conversation, Megan candidly delves into her responsibility as a clinician to continually learn from her clients; and her belief that when one teaches, two learn. She shares her journey of balancing the enriching insights gained from her clients with the complexities of maintaining personal and professional boundaries. Being in the mental health field added another challenging layer, the weight of appearing 'perfect' whilst dealing with her own struggles.

From navigating through traumatic experiences to the pressures of bootstrapping a seven-figure business amidst her mental health battles, Megan unveils the intricate dynamics that formed the foundation of Shift Collab. She also takes us through what she eloquently calls the "troughs of sorrow" — those difficult moments that tested her resilience, shaped her journey, and from which she eventually emerged stronger.

Learn more about Shift Collab.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to learn as a teacher from your students
• Acknowledging when you're in a "trough of sorrow," and how to emerge from them stronger and more resilent
• What to do when your image and public personality reflects the quality of the services you provide
• Effective tips for working with your significant other as a Co-Founder
• Why decision making is not an innate skill, and how to build your decision making muscles

Quote of the Week:

"If my sense of self is too much attached to the company…at the expense of the business’ success, then I’m not a healthy leader." - Megan Rafuse

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.

Music by © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

Songs used in this episode include: "Air Hockey Saloon," "I Can't Imagine Where I'd Be Without It," "Stories About the World That Once Was," "Short Song 021523," "Short Song 022423," "The Lower Third Hall of Fame," "Short Song 020523," "Short Song 030923," "Cylinder 1."

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License