Episode 105

full
Published on:

28th Nov 2025

Put Yourself on Your Own Calendar: Patricia Noel Drain on Working Less, Making More (After 50)

Patricia Noel Drain, founder of Patricia Drain & Associates, author of 14 books, former teacher and executive recruiter turned mentor for women 50+. Patricia helps female entrepreneurs over 50 work less and make more—doing what they love. We talk reinvention, building saleable businesses with systems (she created 27 to step out of day-to-day), and designing life around freedom, not busyness. She shares the health scare that forced a reset, the power of digital productsand high-ticket offers, and why women must give themselves permission to earn well. Expect practical prompts to find your zone of genius, say no to misfit work, and—above all—put yourself on your own calendar.

In this episode:

  • Why she mentors women 50+ to work less, earn more—and how reinvention often starts at 50.
  • From brick-and-mortar recruiter to exit: building 27 systems so the business could run (and sell) without her.
  • Health wake-up call → boundaries: freedom is the point; schedule you first.
  • Digital products and packaging expertise; thinking bigger with values-aligned, high-ticket containers.
  • Writing 14 books (including a children’s book about self-worth) after being told she “couldn’t write.”
  • Coaching mindsets: “You can’t sell you,” “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should,” and follow your flow.
  • Advice to her 18-year-old self: think bigger, then bigger again—there are no limits except the ones you set.
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About the Podcast

Scale Her Up: Female business stories and expert tips for business growth and success
The Female Entrepreneur Show. Sharing business expertise, start-up experiences and business growth strategies to overcome challenges
If you are a female business owner, self-employed freelancer, or girl boss who wants to build a successful business i.e. work less hours, make more money, and get better results from your staff, then this is the podcast for you. Hosted by Dr Brenda Hector MBA from ActionCOACH UK, this podcast provides relatable and accessible business advice and inspiration from successful businesswomen who have been there and done it before you.

This podcast is where you can
• hear female business stories
• share business success
• learn how to overcome business challenges
• get advice for businesswomen aspiring to success
• find out what needs to change
• discover how we can bring about that business revolution

Only 1 in 3 UK entrepreneurs are female.
UK men are 5 times more likely than women to build a business of over £1million turnover

If UK women matched UK men in starting and scaling businesses, it would add £250 billion to the UK economy (Alison Rose, The Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship 2018)

As a woman in business, a business coach, and a business growth expert, Brenda’s mission is to help business owners grow their companies, achieve their goals and live the lifestyle of their dreams. She's the help you need to grow your business.

About your host

Profile picture for Brenda Hector

Brenda Hector

Entrepreneur, business coach, podcast host, writer

I work with proactive ambitious female business owners to increase their profits, improve the performance of their teams and enable them to work fewer hours. I'm passionate about improving gender balance in entrepreneurship as host of Scale Her Up The female entrepreneur show podcast.

"Because being in business should give you more life"