Organizing Operations and Overcoming Burnout with Amariah Murdock
It is the classic entrepreneurial trap: we start a business to gain freedom, only to find ourselves stuck in the day-to-day hustle, watching our days blur together in a cloud of decision fatigue. We convince ourselves that if we just push a little harder, we will finally break through to that elusive "flow state." But according to my latest guest, you can't hustle your way into a sustainable rhythm. You have to strategize your way there.
In this episode, I am chatting with Amariah Murdock, the self-proclaimed "black, bubbly strategic partner in ops." As the CEO and founder of Infinitexec, she provides elite fractional support to high-achieving CEOs so they can actually enjoy life beyond business. In addition to being an ops wizard, Amariah is also a serial entrepreneur who runs Joy Ride Rentals, a baby gear rental company in Southern Utah, and hosts the Mompreneurs Making Moves podcast.
We are stripping away the curated "Instagram success" filter to talk about the reality of slow seasons, the identity crisis that comes with pivoting careers, and the four steps you need to take right now to stop burning out.
Navigating the Highs and Lows of Entrepreneurship
One of the most refreshing parts of this conversation was Amariah’s willingness to be vulnerable about the current state of her business. We often hear from founders only when they are celebrating their highest revenue months, but rarely do we hear about the quiet struggle of the months that follow.
Amariah shared that while her business hit six figures and thrived last year, this January started out frighteningly slow. For a breadwinner and high-achiever, that silence can be deafening. However, she offered a powerful mindset shift that separates the entrepreneurs who make it from the ones who quit: Hard times are moments, not destinations.
Successful founders understand that a slow season doesn't define their worth or their future capability. It is simply a moment in time. It’s a signal to pivot, nurture relationships, or refine strategy, rather than a sign to close up shop.
Four Steps to Be Productive Without Burning Out
If you are feeling the creep of burnout, or if you are currently staring at the ceiling at 2:00 AM, wondering how you are going to get it all done, Amariah suggests four immediate shifts to reclaim your time and energy.
1. Radical Honesty
Burnout thrives in fake positivity. The first step to fixing it is to stop pretending you can handle everything. Be honest with yourself about what drains you, where you are getting in your own way, and what is realistically achievable in this season. You cannot fix a problem you refuse to acknowledge.
2. Determine the "Best Use of You"
Just because you can take that meeting or update that spreadsheet doesn't mean you should. Amariah describes the CEO’s role as the anchor in a relay race. You are there to drive the vision home, not make all of the decisions. If you are doing everyone else’s job, you aren't running your leg of the race. Effectiveness is about alignment, not just volume of work.
3. Simplify Everything
We love to overcomplicate our businesses with fancy tools and complex workflows to feel "official." But complexity often leads to chaos. Amariah is a huge advocate for stripping things back. Create systems that are simple, sustainable, and actually get the job done without the friction.
4. Delegate Ownership, Not Just Tasks
This is the game-changer. Most founders struggle to let go because they delegate tasks ("Post this photo") rather than ownership ("Manage our social presence"). When you only delegate tasks, you remain the bottleneck because every decision still has to go through you. When you delegate ownership, you empower your team to think like founders, freeing you up to focus on the big picture.
Imposter Syndrome and The Myth of "Checking the Boxes"
Why do so many capable female founders struggle to delegate ownership? According to Amariah, it usually stops at mindset. Imposter syndrome is real, and it often stems from a lifetime of trying to fit into a box that wasn't made for us.
Amariah’s background is a perfect example of breaking that mold. Coming from a family of teachers, she spent years following the "good girl" path. She checked the boxes, did what was expected, and eventually hit a wall of massive burnout during COVID. Leaving that secure identity to become a "rebel entrepreneur" was terrifying, but it was the only way to find true alignment.
Whether it is societal pressure, religious expectations, or family tradition, many of us are running races we never signed up for. Amariah reminds us that it is okay to pivot. It is okay to change the plan. You don't have to follow the checklist to be successful. You just have to be true to yourself and do no harm.
Defining Worth Beyond Appearance and Achievement
In one of the most touching moments of the interview, I asked Amariah what she would say to her younger self. Her answer was immediate: "You are not ugly."
Growing up as a Black girl with thick, puffy hair in an affluent, predominantly white neighborhood, Amariah spent years feeling like an outsider because she didn't fit the visual standard of those around her. She internalized the idea that her worth was TIED to how she looked or what she could achieve.
This is a struggle so many women face – anchoring our identity to our appearance or our productivity. Amariah’s advice to herself, and to all of us, is to detach our worth from these conditional labels. Your value isn't in your hair texture, your dress size, or your monthly revenue. It is in who you are.
Answering the Chaotic Questions
If you could go back to 2005 and talk to your 12-year-old self in middle school, what would you say?
I would say you're not ugly. I'm black with very thick, puffy hair. I grew up in a very white, high-upper-middle-class neighborhood, and everyone had beautiful, straight hair. The exact opposite of what I look like. I convinced myself that if I don't look like that, then I'm missing it because everyone else looks like that. And so went through this like a very early identity crisis type thing. And I figured my worth was in how I look and what I can do. That's it. And if I could just hone in on those things, the world would open up for me. How you look is important, and what you can do is also important. But when it becomes who you are, I mean, that's a very limiting conditional identity. And so I would tell myself, "You are beautiful. You're not ugly, and be very careful what labels you allow people to put on you.”
If a new mom comes to you for advice, what's the first thing you tell her?
I would say just believe in yourself and sometimes take the leap and just do it. A lot of the people I work with are multi-millionaires and billionaires; they just do it. They get an idea, they research a little bit, and then they just jump. They just do it. And when I started my first business a few years ago, I just did it. Just got the money and started and built it and just went and started it. So, that’s what I would say: Don't overthink it. Don't analyze it. Don't plan it. Just do it.What do you hope your kids remember about this time in their lives?
I want them to remember that I was always resourceful and that, even in times like now, when business is slow, I was never totally freaking out in a corner, thinking I was limited to other people. And I, this is where my faith comes in. I'm a huge believer in God. He is the one who provides for me. That's what I believe. So, it's not based on my highest-paying clients. It's not based on who I think is going to give me the money. It's based on who I work with that God aligns me with. I will always have what I need as long as I'm in that alignment. That's what I truly believe. So being resourceful and being aligned is what I hope that he remembers when he’s older.
Key Takeaways
Amariah Murdock serves as a powerful reminder that business, much like marriage, requires humility, flexibility, and the willingness to grow. You cannot just "stick it out" without adapting; you have to pivot when the season calls for it.
To connect with Amariah and get your operations in order:
Website: Infinitexec
LinkedIn: Amariah Murdock
Podcast: Check out Mompreneurs Making Moves wherever you listen to podcasts.
Ready to Hear More Stories Like This?
Talking with Amariah reminded me why I started this podcast in the first place: to connect with incredible, amazing powerhouse women.
If this conversation inspired you, you're going to love The Chaotic Middle podcast, where we feature real stories from real people navigating the beautiful mess of work, life, motherhood, and everything in between.
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