Breaking Free from the Hustle: An Exclusive Interview with Holistic Wealth Coaches Ania & Dion

In today’s fast-paced world, success is often equated with long hours, relentless hustle, and constant sacrifice. Many entrepreneurs and professionals push themselves to the limit, believing that working harder is the only way to achieve financial success. But what if there was a better way? Ania and Dion-René Hulsman, founders of Wholistic Wealth, are challenging this outdated mindset by helping business owners and high achievers work smarter—not harder. Through their holistic approach to wealth, they teach individuals how to scale their businesses, enhance their well-being, and create sustainable success without burning out.

In this exclusive interview, Ania and Dion share their personal journeys of overcoming stress, burnout, and even life-threatening health crises to build a business and lifestyle centered on balance, fulfillment, and true wealth. They dive into the principles of holistic wealth, the dangers of the hustle culture, and practical strategies to shift from survival mode to thriving. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, or simply someone looking to break free from the endless cycle of overwork, their insights will inspire you to redefine success on your own terms.

Thank you so much for joining us, Ania & Dion! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory?

Ania Hulsman: Absolutely! My journey into coaching began with a personal health struggle. I suffered from severe rashes and hives for years, and no doctor could pinpoint the cause. By accident, after a bout of the flu, I realized I had a dairy intolerance. This discovery ignited my passion for nutrition, leading me to become a health coach. However, I quickly noticed that many people knew what they needed to do but struggled to do it. That realization pushed me toward studying behavioral change, mindset, and personal development. I became a certified coach under Tony Robbins and worked in that field for years, yet I still felt stuck—working hard but not seeing the returns I expected. My journey of self-discovery led to a later diagnosis of ADHD, which changed my entire perspective on how I worked and processed information. Meeting Dion, who had a similar experience of overwork and burnout, reinforced the idea that there had to be a better way. That realization led us to build our holistic wealth coaching business together.

Dion-René Hulsman: My story took a more traditional path—engineering degree, corporate job, MBA, and consulting roles in senior leadership. I worked relentlessly, believing success required constant effort. For over 20 years, I functioned on just four hours of sleep a night and consumed more than 40 cups of coffee daily to keep up with my workload. I was successful on paper but was completely ignoring my health and personal life. At 35, I had a heart attack, but I still didn’t slow down. My real wake-up call came when I met a coach who challenged me to focus on the present instead of obsessing over the future. That moment shifted my thinking and led me to explore coaching. Eventually, I left corporate to start my own business, but I made the same mistakes—working harder instead of smarter, doing everything myself, and ultimately burning out. Meeting Ania changed everything. Just weeks after meeting her, I was diagnosed with aggressive cancer and a severe heart condition requiring immediate open-heart surgery. Facing my mortality forced me to rethink my entire approach to work and life, which ultimately led to the creation of our holistic wealth coaching business.

What is “holistic wealth,” and why is it so important?

Ania Hulsman: Holistic wealth is about achieving success without sacrificing your health, happiness, and relationships. Many entrepreneurs work endlessly, believing that’s the only path to financial freedom. But what’s the point of financial success if you’re too exhausted to enjoy it? Holistic wealth ensures that your financial goals align with your well-being, allowing you to thrive in all aspects of life.

Dion-René Hulsman: It’s about redefining what success means. We see so many business owners running on autopilot, working harder but not necessarily getting further. Holistic wealth is about balance—achieving financial success while also maintaining time freedom, strong relationships, and overall fulfillment. If your success comes at the cost of your health or happiness, then it’s not true success.

Many entrepreneurs think working harder equals more success. What’s the problem with that mindset?

Dion-René Hulsman: The issue is that effort alone doesn’t guarantee success. Many entrepreneurs spend hours doing tasks that don’t actually drive results. They become trapped in the cycle of overwork, thinking more hours equal more money. But in reality, without the right strategy, they’re just burning themselves out without truly moving forward.

Ania Hulsman: I’ve worked with many clients who were pushing themselves to exhaustion but seeing little return. The problem isn’t effort—it’s efficiency. The real key is working smarter, not just longer. Identifying what actually produces results and focusing on that is far more effective than simply increasing work hours.

Why do you believe so many business owners struggle with scaling their businesses?

Dion-René Hulsman: One of the biggest reasons is that they try to scale using the same mindset that got them to their current level. What works when you’re a solopreneur or running a small business often doesn’t work at a larger scale. Many business owners continue doing everything themselves because they believe no one can do it as well as they can, but that’s exactly what holds them back. Scaling requires shifting from being the worker to being the leader—learning to delegate effectively, trust your team, and implement systems that allow the business to grow without requiring you to be involved in every detail.

Ania Hulsman: Another challenge is that business owners often have subconscious beliefs about success that limit their growth. Many fear that scaling will mean more stress, less freedom, or losing control over their vision. That’s why mindset work is a big part of what we do—we help entrepreneurs reframe their thinking so that they can grow their businesses while maintaining their quality of life. When you shift your beliefs, your actions follow, and that’s when real scaling becomes possible.

What strategies do you recommend for people stuck in the hustle cycle?

Dion-René Hulsman: The first step is analyzing where your time goes. Are you focusing on high-impact activities, or are you stuck doing things that could be automated, delegated, or eliminated? Entrepreneurs need to shift their mindset from being doers to being leaders—working on their business rather than in it.

Ania Hulsman: Mindset is just as important as strategy. If you believe that success only comes through constant struggle, you’ll resist any change that makes things easier. We help clients rewire their beliefs, showing them how to achieve greater success without burnout by aligning their business strategy with their personal well-being.

You both have overcome major personal challenges. How has that shaped the way you coach your clients today?

Ania Hulsman: Our personal experiences have given us a deep understanding of what it means to struggle and how difficult it can be to break free from unhealthy patterns. Because we’ve faced burnout, health crises, and mindset barriers ourselves, we bring a level of empathy and authenticity to our coaching. We don’t just teach theories—we teach strategies that we’ve personally used to transform our lives and businesses.

Dion-René Hulsman: Absolutely. Having faced near-death experiences and business failures, we understand how easy it is to get stuck in survival mode. But we also know firsthand that there is a way out. That’s why we focus on helping our clients shift their mindset, simplify their workload, and create systems that allow them to scale their businesses without sacrificing their health and happiness.

How does neurodivergence play a role in how people approach success and business?

Ania Hulsman: Neurodivergent individuals, such as those with ADHD or autism, often process information, energy, and stress differently than neurotypical individuals. Many traditional business strategies assume a one-size-fits-all approach, but that doesn’t work for everyone. For example, I need structured breaks, specific lighting, and the right type of music to stay focused and productive. Many of my clients with ADHD struggle with time management, prioritization, or energy regulation, and instead of forcing themselves to fit into conventional productivity models, they need to create systems that align with how their brains work. That’s a huge part of what we help with—understanding your unique strengths and building a business model around them instead of forcing yourself into an unsustainable mold.

Dion-René Hulsman: From a leadership and team-building perspective, understanding neurodivergence is also crucial. Many entrepreneurs unknowingly create work environments that don’t support neurodivergent team members, which leads to miscommunication and burnout. We help leaders recognize different working styles and optimize team dynamics so that everyone can contribute at their highest level without unnecessary stress.

What was the turning point that made you realize you needed to change the way you were working?

Dion-René Hulsman: The real turning point for me was when I was diagnosed with aggressive cancer and a severe heart condition. It was a shock because I had always pushed my limits, thinking that working harder was the key to success. But suddenly, I was forced to confront the reality that I might not survive. That moment made me question everything—why was I working so hard? What was I sacrificing? Facing mortality put things into perspective. I knew that if I got a second chance, I had to do things differently. That’s when I committed to finding a way to create success without destroying my health and personal life.

Ania Hulsman: For me, the shift came when I started seeing patterns in my coaching clients that mirrored my own struggles. I was helping them grow their businesses, but so many of them were stuck in a cycle of overworking and burnout—just like I had been. When I realized that traditional success strategies weren’t working for everyone, especially for neurodivergent individuals like myself, I knew I needed to take a new approach. That’s when I started combining mindset, business strategy, and well-being to help people succeed without sacrificing themselves in the process.

How do you help business owners break free from being their business’s biggest bottleneck?

Dion-René Hulsman: One of the biggest problems business owners face is trying to do everything themselves. I was guilty of this too. Many entrepreneurs think no one can do things as well as they can, so they don’t delegate properly. We help them step back, identify their zone of genius, and start delegating tasks that don’t require their direct involvement. The key is not just handing off work but also providing clear guidance and context, so their team understands the bigger picture.

Ania Hulsman: Another big issue is control. Many entrepreneurs fear that letting go means losing quality, but the opposite is true—holding on too tightly stifles growth. We help business owners set up processes, create accountability, and empower their teams to take ownership. That shift not only reduces stress but also allows the business to scale more efficiently.

Tell us about your coaching program. How does it help entrepreneurs break free from the hustle?

Dion-René Hulsman: Our 90-day program is designed for business owners who feel stuck in overwork and want to scale their business without burning out. We combine coaching and consulting, helping them implement systems, refine their mindset, and build a sustainable approach to success.

Ania Hulsman: We also bring in experts—a PhD researcher and an Eastern medicine doctor—to ensure a well-rounded approach. Success isn’t just about business strategy; it’s about mental and physical well-being too. Our goal is to help entrepreneurs work smarter, increase their impact, and create a business that supports their life, rather than the other way around.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Dion-René Hulsman: We would love for your readers to connect with us! They can visit our website, Wholistic Wealth, where they’ll find detailed information about our coaching programs, upcoming retreats, and resources on achieving holistic wealth—success that goes beyond just financial gain. We regularly share insights, strategies, and client success stories to help entrepreneurs transition from burnout to sustainable, fulfilling growth. Readers can also reach out directly through our website’s contact page if they have any questions or are interested in working with us. Additionally, we’re active on LinkedIn, where we post valuable content on mindset, business strategy, and holistic well-being. If anyone is looking for a way to break free from the hustle, redefine success, and build a thriving life and business, we encourage them to reach out—we’d love to support them on their journey!

Thank you both for sharing your insights today. It has been such an inspiring and insightful conversation.

Ania Hulsman: Thank you so much, Stacey! It was truly a pleasure to be here and share this conversation with you. We appreciate the opportunity to spread our message, and we hope it helps your audience take meaningful steps toward achieving true wealth, not just in their businesses, but in their lives as well.

Dion-René Hulsman: Yes, thank you, Stacey! Your platform is making a real difference, and we’re grateful to be part of this discussion. We’d love to come back and continue exploring ways to help entrepreneurs work smarter, not harder, and create a life they love. Looking forward to connecting again in the future!