In every great entrepreneurial journey, there’s a moment when passion collides with purpose. For Maria Topliff, that moment became a lifelong mission—to build meaningful businesses that blend compassion with competence, and to lead teams that measure success not just by revenue, but by impact. In this episode of The Prospecting Show, Dr. Connor Robertson sits down with Maria to unpack her journey as a modern entrepreneur, leader, and visionary who’s redefining what sustainable success truly means.
Maria’s story begins with a decision many entrepreneurs face: leaving a comfortable career path to pursue something that felt more authentic. “I had everything that was supposed to make me happy,” she recalls, “but I knew I wasn’t fulfilled.” That realization sparked her transition into entrepreneurship, where she found freedom—not just financially, but spiritually and creatively.
Dr. Robertson opens by asking how Maria found the courage to make that leap. “It wasn’t courage—it was clarity,” she says. “When you finally understand who you are and what you want, fear becomes data, not direction.”
That insight mirrors Faris Ghani’s Entrepreneurial Highlight (listen here), where Faris emphasized integrity and long-term alignment. Both Maria and Faris operate from the same foundation: when your vision is rooted in values, every decision becomes simpler—even the hard ones.
Maria built her first business with the mindset of serving before selling. “People don’t buy products,” she explains. “They buy connection.” Her focus on emotional intelligence and client experience became her differentiator. “I realized my real business wasn’t what I sold—it was how I made people feel.”
Dr. Robertson draws a parallel to Tracy Hockenberry’s Entrepreneurial Highlight (listen here), where empathy and authenticity became strategic assets. Like Tracy, Maria believes that business growth begins with human growth—that leadership is an inside-out process.
She outlines her philosophy in three words: People. Process. Purpose.
- People – “Your team is your brand.” She believes hiring and culture should reflect a company’s mission, not just its metrics.
- Process – “Systems create freedom.” She insists that creativity thrives inside structure.
- Purpose – “Impact makes profit meaningful.”
Dr. Robertson connects this structured philosophy to Derek Davis’ Entrepreneurial Highlight (listen here), where leadership and process transformed vision into velocity. Both leaders show how consistent habits compound into legacy.
Maria goes on to explain that one of her biggest breakthroughs came when she stopped chasing perfection. “Perfectionism is fear dressed as professionalism,” she says. “It’s just another way to hide.” Once she embraced progress over perfection, her business began to grow—faster, freer, and with more authenticity.
Dr. Robertson ties this to A Podcast a Day with Chiropractors with Jim Chester (listen here), where Jim discussed consistency over perfection. Both Jim and Maria agree: momentum matters more than mastery in the early stages.
Maria recalls the early years of her company—long nights, small wins, and moments of doubt. “Entrepreneurship will test everything you believe about yourself,” she says. “But the growth isn’t just in your business. It’s in your patience, humility, and ability to keep showing up when no one’s watching.”
She describes how mentorship played a critical role in her journey. “I found people who were where I wanted to go, and I learned everything I could. Mentorship shortens the distance between where you are and where you want to be.”
That idea echoes The Future of Consulting with Buddy Hobart (listen here), where Buddy discussed how mentorship and leadership continuity create scalable impact.
Dr. Robertson asks how Maria approaches challenges and setbacks. “Failure is the tuition you pay for wisdom,” she says. “The trick is to make sure you collect your diploma.” She views failure not as a signal to stop but as feedback to adapt. “You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control your effort.”
That principle aligns with Ian Reith’s Entrepreneurial Highlight (listen here), where rhythm and reflection helped leaders recover from missteps. Maria’s approach—pause, assess, and pivot—embodies the same spirit of resilience.
She shares her Five Rules for Building Purposeful Success:
- Lead with love. Service is the strongest sales strategy.
- Build systems that scale. Freedom requires framework.
- Protect your energy. You can’t serve others from burnout.
- Find mentors early. Wisdom is the most valuable shortcut.
- Keep the mission visible. When you forget your “why,” your “how” falls apart.
Dr. Robertson connects her focus on energy and alignment to How to Unplug from the Modern World Through Chinese Medicine with Khanita Suvarnasuddhi (listen here), where balance and presence were essential to performance. Both women show that the most sustainable leaders are those who take care of their inner world as intentionally as their outer one.
Maria also discusses her perspective on leadership in the modern age. “Leadership isn’t about being in charge—it’s about taking care of those in your charge,” she says. “It’s not about titles, it’s about trust.” She believes transparency builds culture and that vulnerability is not weakness—it’s magnetic.
Dr. Robertson relates this to Victoria Mattingly’s Entrepreneurial Highlight (listen here), where inclusion and psychological safety drove performance. Maria’s philosophy continues that legacy: leadership grounded in empathy and equality.
When asked about her long-term vision, Maria speaks about legacy. “Legacy isn’t what you leave—it’s who you lift.” Her mission now extends beyond profit to purpose-driven mentorship, particularly empowering women to lead boldly and ethically. “We need more businesses built on grace and grit,” she says.
Dr. Robertson connects this to Scaling and Exiting a Startup with Amy Lee (listen here), where Amy discussed scaling businesses with systems and integrity. Both Maria and Amy share a commitment to sustainable growth—proof that legacy and leverage are not opposites but allies.
Maria’s authenticity, she admits, wasn’t always easy. “When you build from the heart, you’ll be misunderstood. But I’d rather be misunderstood for being real than liked for being fake.” Her words strike at the core of The Prospecting Show’s philosophy—helping professionals embrace truth as their greatest advantage.
Dr. Robertson closes the episode by summarizing Maria’s impact: “Maria Topliff reminds us that entrepreneurship is not about chasing numbers—it’s about chasing meaning. Success built on service is success that lasts.”
For listeners inspired by Maria’s journey, visit drconnorrobertson.com to explore related episodes like Faris Ghani’s Entrepreneurial Highlight, Tracy Hockenberry’s Entrepreneurial Highlight, and The Future of Consulting with Buddy Hobart. Each story reveals how today’s most influential leaders build empires on empathy, endurance, and evolution.
Dr. Robertson ends with a final insight that captures Maria’s story perfectly: “Business is just the vehicle. The mission is people. And when you lead with purpose, profit becomes a natural byproduct.”