I was joined by
to explore how to transform life’s challenges into creative power through what she calls the Lemon Tree Mindset. We unpacked how moments of personal disruption — like being stranded abroad during the pandemic — became the fertile soil for her book, courses, and thriving community on Substack. Veronica walked us through her unique philosophy of turning adversity into opportunity, as well as the psychology behind procrastination and how creators can build momentum by understanding their own blocks.Veronica shared how her book The Anti-Procrastinator categorizes six distinct procrastinator types — from perfectionists to rebels — and gave practical, compassionate strategies to overcome each. We also explored how creators can build a resilient, connected brand presence without burning out, and how collaboration and simplicity are key to growing an engaged community.
Key Highlights
From Stranded to Strategic
00:00 – 01:24
Veronica opens with the story of being stuck in Australia during the pandemic, away from her home and family. This moment of unexpected isolation became a turning point that birthed her Lemon Tree Mindset — a philosophy of planting seeds from life’s lemons instead of just making lemonade.What the Lemon Tree Really Means
01:24 – 02:14
She expands on the Lemon Tree metaphor as more than just branding — it's about reclaiming authorship over your life story, especially when things fall apart.Building a Multifaceted Creator Life
04:01 – 04:57
From corporate talks to bestselling books and multiple product launches, Veronica shares how she manages a rich, multidimensional career by staying grounded in purpose and clarity — not spreading herself thin.The Anti-Procrastinator Framework
04:57 – 06:35
Veronica introduces her book and explains why she went beyond typical productivity tips to explore the root causes of procrastination. Her goal: to help readers become their own anti-procrastinators.Types of Procrastinators: Part I – The Perfectionist & The Dreamer
06:35 – 12:00
She breaks down the first two archetypes: the perfectionist who sets the bar too high to start, and the dreamer who has visionary ideas but struggles to bring them into form.Types of Procrastinators: Part II – The Worrier & The Crisis Maker
12:00 – 18:56
The discussion moves into how fear and stress derail action. Veronica offers mindset shifts to help worriers focus on best-case scenarios and explains how crisis-driven people can build in buffer zones to avoid burnout.Procrastination as a Leadership Mirror
18:56 – 19:58
Veronica ties the procrastinator types into leadership development, especially in creative and collaborative spaces. She shares how to lead others by recognizing and supporting their behavioral patterns.Overcommitting & the Empathy Trap
20:11 – 21:50
She explores how high-empathy people, especially women and moms, tend to overcommit and sacrifice their own goals. Veronica shares the importance of boundary-setting and saying no with grace.Time Management & Underpromising
21:50 – 25:59
Drawing on her experience working with Apple, she shares tips for time estimation, pacing creative work, and her granular process for writing a full book in just 90 days.The Rebel Procrastinator
25:59 – 29:15
The final archetype: the rebel who resists tedious or bureaucratic tasks. Veronica urges rebels to channel that energy into purposeful action instead of complaint.Course Creation Without Perfection
29:15 – 33:14
Veronica discusses launching her first course — How to Win on Substack — and how she overcame procrastination by focusing on usefulness over perfection.From Newsletter to Thriving Community
33:14 – 36:59
She explains how she reimagined her Substack as a two-way community space using Notes, Chat, and collaborative events, and how this helped her grow to 11K+ engaged readers.Crickets to Conversations: Starting from Zero
36:59 – 39:51
For those just starting out, Veronica shares tips on staying motivated through the early silence, building trust, and joining existing communities to create traction.Final Reflections: What Seed Will You Plant?
39:51 – end
In closing, Veronica brings it full circle with a call to action: identify the seed you want to plant — whether it’s a course, book, or new habit — and start small, without waiting for perfect timing.If you’re ready to grow your Substack with confidence, Veronica’s course How to Win on Substack offers a clear, no-fluff roadmap to building an engaged community, increasing visibility, and monetizing your writing without burnout.
Want to dive deeper into Veronica’s work? Explore her books:
🎥 Catch Veronica’s Summit session replay on cross-community collaboration, plus 25+ mini courses to help you build your Influence Ecosystem:
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