Forward Thinking Experts

Interview with Karen King

Karen King · October 25, 2025

Entrepreneur · Executive Coach · Life Coach · Leadershipin

Interview with Karen King

Podcast: Forward Thinking Experts

October 25, 2025 · 32 min

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Interview with Karen King

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Key topicsAutomation for Normal People: How to Ditch the 9-to-5 Without Becoming a Tech GuruThe dream of location freedom often crashes into one stubborn reality: most people don’t want to become tech experts, they just want systems that work while they live their lives. Karen gets it. She’s perfected a simple approach to automation-tweaks that free up hours without complex setups. No coding, no overwhelm-just smart tools working quietly in the background. This is how ordinary people build extraordinary freedom, one automated workflow at a time. The Escapreneur Mindset: Why People Fail at Building a Freedom-First Business (And How to Avoid the Traps)Most "work from anywhere" advice focuses on tactics, but Karen reveals the hidden mental blocks that sabotage would-be digital nomads and solopreneurs. Drawing from coaching hundreds of clients, she shares stories like the mom who nearly quit because she "couldn’t figure out tech" (until automation turned her side hustle into a six-freedom business), or the corporate refugee who traded 60-hour weeks for a laptop lifestyle-but only after shifting his definition of "success." This isn’t theory; it’s tested wisdom from someone who’s helped real people cross the bridge from "stuck" to free. How I Built a Business That Lets Me Work from Anywhere (And How You Can Too)Karen pulls back the curtain on her journey from corporate burnout to running Gold Star Pro from wherever she chooses to be in the world. She doesn’t just talk about "location freedom"; she lives it, and she’ll break down the exact systems that allow her to manage a thriving tech business between ski runs. Listeners will walk away understanding how to design income streams that aren’t tied to a desk-whether they dream of travel, more family time, or simply ditching the commute. View all topics →

About Karen King

Founder and CEO Empowering Coaches and Solopreneurs

10 years Building a location-independent life60+ Countries travelled13,000 Worldschooling community membersFounder Gold Star Pro

Karen King is a visionary entrepreneur, world traveler, and founder of Gold Star Pro—a platform and coaching program designed to help solopreneurs and coaches build scalable, location-independent businesses. With over a decade of experience in technology coaching and marketing, Karen specializes in simplifying business automation so her clients can focus on creating freedom, not just revenue.

After leaving corporate burnout behind, Karen sold everything to travel the world with her family, embracing a "world schooling" lifestyle for nearly a decade. This journey inspired her to launch Worldschooling Central, a 13,000-member community helping families educate their children through travel. Now, she merges her expertise in business automation with her passion for freedom through The Escapreneur Movement—a program teaching entrepreneurs how to design businesses that fund their ideal lifestyles.

Karen’s approach goes beyond tools; she offers 24/7 support, live coaching, and actionable strategies to help clients transition from overwhelmed solopreneurs to confident, tech-savvy business owners. Whether it’s skiing in Bulgaria or working remotely from Mexico, Karen lives what she teaches and empowers others to do the same.

As a podcast guest, Karen shares inspiring stories, practical advice on business automation, and actionable steps to create a life of flexibility, travel, and purpose.

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About this episode

This week, host Dr. Sher Downing sits down withKaren King—founder of Gold Star Pro and The Escapepreneur—to talk about building businesses that support freedom, not burnout.

Karen’s entrepreneurial journey has taken her from cake decorating to global travel, from “soft sales” success to developing tech solutions for solopreneurs. Today, she helps business owners simplify systems, automate processes, and create the life they really want to live.

In this conversation, you’ll discover:

Why being “too soft” in sales can actually put you at the top of the leaderboard

The inspiration behind Gold Star Pro, an all-in-one business management platform for solopreneurs and coaches

How automation and streamlined systems free up creativity (and reduce stress)

What led Karen and her family to sell everything and travel the world for 9+ years

The vision behind The Escapepreneur—a 12-month program designed to help entrepreneurs escape the 9–5 mindset and build location-independent businesses

Actionable insights on balancing passion, profitability, and freedom

Karen’s key message: “It’s about creating a life you love, doing what you love. The more you simplify, the more freedom you gain.”

Resources & Links Mentioned:

The Escapepreneur: theescapepreneur.com – Free guide + details on the Escapepreneur Summit

Gold Star Pro: usegoldstar.com – All-in-one platform for solopreneurs and coaches

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#FreedomLifestyle #SimplifyYourBusiness #AutomationTools #DigitalNomadLife #Escapepreneur #SystemsOverStress #WorkFromAnywhere #ForwardThinkingExperts #podcast

Guest: Karen King