In this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge welcomes Kristen Boss, Founder of Sondera, executive coach, keynote speaker, and host of The Kristen Boss Podcast. Kristen dives deep into the power of nervous system regulation, helping high achievers and leaders understand how to perform sustainably under pressure. Her approach bridges neuroscience, leadership, and emotional intelligence—offering strategies that empower professionals to thrive without burning out.

Kristen opens by revealing how intentional stillness, creativity, and mindful hobbies—like skiing or crafting—help her stay grounded. These moments of calm, she explains, are not indulgences but essential tools for recovery and innovation. High achievers often push through stress, but learning to slow down can enhance clarity and unlock creativity.

She also introduces the concept of stress types—fight, flight, and freeze—explaining how each reflects an automatic safety response that shapes our behavior in business and leadership. Recognizing these patterns allows leaders to manage reactivity, strengthen decision-making, and create more emotionally intelligent teams.

Throughout the conversation, Kristen emphasizes that sustainable high performance isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about learning to regulate your internal state. By calming your nervous system, you unlock greater focus, empathy, and resilience, enabling you to lead with intention rather than impulse.

About Kristen Boss

Kristen Boss is an executive coach, keynote speaker, and Founder of Sondera. A sought-after thought leader on high performance and nervous system intelligence, Kristen has built a global brand helping professionals and entrepreneurs master sustainable success. She is also the host of The Kristen Boss Podcast, where she explores leadership, mindset, and emotional resilience.

Connect with Kristen on LinkedIn.

About Sondera

Sondera is dedicated to helping leaders, teams, and organizations integrate nervous system intelligence into their approach to business and life. Through coaching, programs, and training, Sondera equips high achievers with the tools to perform at their best—without sacrificing wellbeing or fulfillment.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Sondera Wensite
• Kristen Boss on LinkedIn

• Why intentional stillness enhances creativity and performance
• How to identify your unique stress type (fight, flight, or freeze)
• Practical regulation tools—breathwork, micro-pauses, and reflection
• The role of empathy and curiosity in effective leadership
• Why nervous system intelligence is the foundation of sustainable growth

Kristen Boss reminds us that in a world obsessed with doing more, the real edge lies in being regulated, present, and self-aware. Nervous system intelligence isn’t just a wellness trend—it’s a leadership essential. By mastering emotional balance and responding rather than reacting, leaders can build trust, inspire teams, and sustain success in the long run.

In this episode, host Josh Elledge sits down with Mark Abbott, Founder and CEO of Ninety, for a deep dive into business operating systems, organizational culture, and the journey of scaling small and mid-sized companies. Mark—drawing on decades of experience in entrepreneurship, software development, coaching, and workplace culture—explains how leaders can build high-performing, resilient organizations by implementing the right frameworks at the right time. This blog breaks down the episode’s key insights and practical guidance to help business owners navigate their company’s growth stages with clarity and confidence.

Mark begins by explaining what a Business Operating System (BOS) truly is: a combination of tools, disciplines, and concepts that help organizations stay aligned, accountable, and scalable. He emphasizes that every company already has an operating system—whether intentional or accidental—and the goal is to consciously design one that matches the business’s stage of development. Popular frameworks like EOS, Scaling Up, and The Great Game of Business offer structured paths, but each company must adopt the tools most appropriate for their maturity level.

He breaks down the five stages of business development—Formation, Early Growth, Expansion, Maturity, and Legacy—and stresses that leaders must avoid skipping steps. For example, documenting every process too early is counterproductive; focusing instead on clarity, roles, and early team alignment yields better results. As businesses grow, they often mistake size for maturity, creating organizations that look impressive on the outside but lack foundational discipline internally.

Mark also highlights the importance of culture, trust, and forgiveness. High-performance organizations assume goodwill, set clear expectations, and use trust as a guiding principle—while also acknowledging that not all behaviors should be tolerated. He references research from Dr. Paul Zak to explain how trust chemically fuels team performance and why leaders must foster environments where transparency and accountability thrive. Platforms like Ninety help reinforce these practices by providing tools for meetings, scorecards, vision alignment, and process documentation, ensuring companies build habits that support long-term excellence.

Mark Abbott is the Founder and CEO of Ninety, a platform designed to help small and mid-sized businesses implement and sustain business operating systems. With decades of experience across entrepreneurship, leadership development, and organizational design, Mark has coached countless teams on building trust-based cultures and operational excellence. Connect with Mark on LinkedIn.

Ninety is a comprehensive software platform built to help organizations adopt, implement, and sustain a Business Operating System such as EOS. With tools for meetings, scorecards, rocks, issues, processes, and organizational clarity, Ninety equips leadership teams with everything they need to run a healthy, aligned, and scalable business. The platform supports both coach-led and self-directed implementations and includes extensive resources for long-term growth and accountability.

• Mark Abbott LinkedIn

In this episode, host Josh Elledge sits down with Dan Balcauski, Founder and Principal Consultant of Product Tranquility, to uncover the true science behind effective B2B SaaS pricing. With over two decades in software and deep expertise in pricing strategy, Dan explains why pricing is often misunderstood, what founders consistently overlook, and how SaaS leaders can turn pricing from a liability into a powerful growth lever. This blog breaks down the episode’s most actionable insights to help SaaS founders and product leaders build value-driven, scalable pricing systems.

Dan explains that the biggest mistake in SaaS pricing is choosing numbers before validating whether customers actually perceive value. Founders often rush to set a price—$49, $99, $1,000—without first understanding the customer’s pain, alternatives, or what makes the product meaningfully different. Instead, Dan recommends charging something early, engaging customers in honest conversations about value, and validating willingness to pay through real-world interactions rather than internal assumptions.

He emphasizes that pricing is ultimately about value, not features. Early-stage founders frequently offer too much for too little, or price too high without proving outcomes. Avoiding these pitfalls requires asking the right questions, initiating value conversations early, and documenting everything customers say about cost, alternatives, and perceived ROI.

Dan also stresses the importance of selecting a pricing model that aligns with how the customer receives value. Whether subscription-based, usage-based, or outcome-based, the model must match customer expectations and internal economics. This approach helps avoid unnecessary friction in the buying process while increasing expansion potential over time.

Dan Balcauski is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Product Tranquility, where he helps B2B SaaS companies build value-based pricing and packaging strategies. With over 20 years of experience in product management and pricing, Dan works with SaaS CEOs and product leaders to align pricing with customer value and business goals. Connect with Dan on LinkedIn.

Product Tranquility is a boutique consulting firm specializing in pricing, packaging, and product strategy for B2B SaaS companies. Through proven frameworks and deep market analysis, Product Tranquility helps SaaS founders create pricing systems that accelerate revenue, improve customer alignment, and scale sustainably across growth stages.

• Dan Balcauski LinkedIn
• Product Tranquility Website

• Pricing must begin with validating customer value—not picking numbers
• Why charging something early leads to stronger product feedback
• How to start pricing conversations earlier in the customer journey
• Choosing the right pricing model based on value delivery
• Why packaging and tiered pricing increase conversions
• How to use the Van Westendorp Price Sensitivity Meter
• Common pricing pitfalls (anchoring too low, freemium overuse, feature-based pricing)
• Why pricing is an iterative, evolving process—not a one-time...