The Power Pause:
Transforming Menopause into Your Entrepreneurial Advantage
Have you ever thought about how much time, money, and energy you've spent on wealth management and business growth—yet pushed your health to the back burner? I know I have. So so much money. So so little focus on my health (until recently).
Which is why I was psyched to have Dr. Sam Graber on our #GreyMatters Podcast.
As a physician specializing in metabolic health for high-achieving women, Dr. Sam brings a revolutionary perspective to something we (older business women) don't talk about enough: how our bodies change during menopause and beyond, and how these changes can actually become powerful allies in our second act businesses. (Seriously? What? An ally??? Tell me more!)
Dr. Sam has dedicated her practice to helping women navigate these physical transitions with wisdom rather than fear. As she works with women 50+, she hears countless stories of physical challenges derailing brilliant ideas. The exhaustion, brain fog, weight changes, and sleep disruptions can feel like roadblocks on the entrepreneurial journey.
But what if these changes weren't working against you but instead were signaling an invitation to create differently?
The Metabolic Foundation of Your Business
While we often reduce metabolism to weight management, Dr. Sam has a much more expansive view. According to her, metabolism is the energy engine driving every aspect of your business and life.
And in my opinion, for women leaving corporate to start their own venture, understanding this foundation is critical.
"Your metabolism is more than what your body composition is. It's literally what runs your entire life, from conception on," Dr. Sam shared during our conversation.
She emphasized that the first thing she focuses on with her high-achieving women clients is their metabolism—not because it's about appearance, but because it powers everything else.
"I start with metabolism because if we go chase all the other stuff, I think you're missing it. This is like upstream thinking," she explained.
Dr. Sam's perspective is refreshingly practical. When starting a business after 50, your physical energy directly impacts your mental clarity, emotional resilience, and creative capacity. The good news? According to Dr. Sam, you can absolutely recalibrate this system.
The Pause in Menopause: Your Business Advantage
One of Dr. Sam's most powerful insights was about the "pause" in menopause. Rather than seeing this life phase as a deficit, she reframes it as a purposeful slowing down—a chance to take inventory of what's working and what's not.
"I think the better we can understand ourselves, the better we can treat ourselves, and the more grace we can show ourselves," Dr. Sam shared during our podcast.
For women transitioning from corporate careers to entrepreneurship, Dr. Sam believes this pause is actually perfectly timed. She sees it creating space for:
Reviewing what aspects of your corporate career truly fulfilled you
Identifying skills you want to carry forward into your life and business
Releasing old patterns that no longer serve your vision
Connecting with your deeper purpose before building new structures
As Dr. Sam noted:
"It's a time to definitely do an inventory, see what's working, see what's not, but also update some of your vision for your life."
(This is exactly what happens in my Women's Reinvention Collaborative—women use this transitional "pause" to connect with their authentic voice before building their personal brand and thought leadership platform.)
Breaking Free from Outdated Operating Systems
Dr. Sam has a brilliant way of describing how women approach their changing bodies. She believes we're working with outdated models that never served us in the first place.
"We're just operating from a manual that literally was never written for women."
In her practice, Dr. Sam helps women recognize when they're trying to force themselves into frameworks designed for different life stages and circumstances. She believes this mindset shift is transformational for women creating second act businesses. You're not behind, failing, or incapable—you're simply working with outdated instructions.
The Holistic Approach to Midlife Business Building
What makes Dr. Sam's approach so unique is her commitment to holistic, personalized care based on each woman's unique circumstances.
When working with clients, Dr. Sam looks at their entire metabolic picture:
Physical capacity and energy patterns
Emotional needs and desires
Relationship priorities
"If you're conditioned and you think these things are going to happen, it's amazing how powerful the mind is.”
Finding Your Rhythm: Business Growth in Cycles
Dr. Sam's discussion of working with our natural cycles was particularly eye-opening. She's pioneered approaches that honor the body's inherent wisdom.
"I'm a real big fan of looking into working with our nature or with our cycles, even as post-menopausal women and as men, we have cycles," she shared.
Dr. Sam explains that we all experience natural ebbs and flows of energy, creativity, and drive. Instead of fighting against these patterns, she teaches women to work with them:
"There are some times where I'm ready to take on the world and I'm out there and I'm promoting, and then there are other days where I just don't feel it."
Rather than the relentless "hustle culture" model of entrepreneurship, Dr. Sam promotes a rhythm that honors your natural energy:
Creative phases for content development and program design
Connection phases for building relationships and community
Implementation phases for systems and structure building
Reflective phases for assessment and course correction
This cyclical approach to both health, energy and business building creates sustainability—essential for women creating businesses designed to carry them through the next 20-30 years of their lives.
The Wisdom Advantage: Your Greatest Business Asset
Perhaps most inspiring is Dr. Sam's perspective on aging itself. While society often frames aging as decline, Dr. Sam sees it as a powerful ascension.
"I'm thankful for the opportunity to age… We can get stronger, more vital. We can get sharper with time," she emphasized.
I love how she defines herself:
"I think aging is a bad word. I would probably be considered an anti anti-aging doctor 'cause I'm thankful for the opportunity to age, because the alternative and all that."
The Metabolic Detective: Solving Your Unique Puzzle
What struck me most about our conversation was Dr. Sam's genuine excitement about solving each client's unique metabolic puzzle. She approaches each woman as a fascinating mystery to solve, not a problem to fix.
"I love it," she shared. "When I first get on a call with someone, I have to sit, (and I have to not smile too much) because for me it's such a joy and it is so much fun seeing what’s possible. Because I literally can see that person across the screen and their life completely changing."
This detective-like approach reflects her deep belief in each woman's potential for transformation—even when they don't yet believe it themselves.
"I know that that person across from me doesn't quite believe it yet, and that's a lot of it, is like building that trust and that love between two people."
Practical Next Steps: Aligning Health with Business Vision
So how do you begin aligning your physical well-being with your business vision according to Dr. Sam? First of all, make sure to follow her work:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drsamgraber
Website: https://drsamgraber.com/
Dr. Sam recommends these practical insights:
Focus on metabolic health - Start with understanding and supporting your energy production systems
Balance stress and recovery - Build deliberate rest into your business model
Work with your natural cycles - Plan your work according to your energy patterns
Trust your intuition - Reconnect with your internal guidance system
Take a holistic approach - Consider how all aspects of your life interact
Creating Your Next Chapter
As Dr. Sam so beautifully put it:
"As we're shifting into this stage of our lives, it's a time to definitely do an inventory, see what's working, see what's not, but also update some of your vision for your life."
Throughout our conversation, Dr. Sam reminded us that our bodies aren't our adversaries—they're our greatest allies. The same is true for this stage of life. Your age, experience, and wisdom aren't obstacles to entrepreneurial success—they're your competitive advantage.
As we concluded our conversation, Dr. Sam shared:
"We can bring more wisdom out into the world. But we have to focus on it."
Listen to the Full Conversation
Ready to hear more insights about aligning your health with your second act business? Listen to my full conversation with Dr. Sam Graber on the Grey Matters Podcast:
And if you're ready to explore creating your own purpose-driven business after corporate, I invite you to learn more about the Women's Reinvention Collaborative where we help women 50+ create sustainable, meaningful businesses aligned with their purpose and well-being.