Your plant-based practice isn’t limited by your motivation, your recipes, or your compassion — it’s limited by its weakest link. In this episode, Michele explores the Theory of Constraints and how a single bottleneck can shape your vegan practice, your daily choices, and even your confidence.
Using a classic car-factory example, Michele breaks down how systems stall when one step is overloaded — and how the same thing happens in our own lives. Whether you’re starting, restarting, or re-energizing your vegan journey, identifying the real constraint (the one you may be avoiding) can unlock ease, momentum, and clarity.
Michele also shares one of her own constraints around visibility and asking listeners to share the show — modeling how naming a bottleneck creates a path forward.
If you’ve been overthinking your vegan practice, trying to “fix” everything except the thing that truly needs attention, this episode will help you locate the actual sticking point and begin addressing it gently and effectively.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why your vegan practice is only as strong as its weakest link
What the Theory of Constraints (TOC) is, and how it applies to everyday life
A simple, memorable manufacturing example that explains TOC in action
The difference between optimizing what’s already working vs. addressing the real bottleneck
How micro-constraints like breakfast indecision, social discomfort, or evening exhaustion quietly limit your progress
Why perfectionism is often the real constraint
How to identify your personal bottleneck without overwhelm
Michele’s own visibility constraint — and how naming it opens a path to growth
Why “how you go vegan is how you do everything” applies directly to constraint-breaking
Episode Highlights
“A system is only as strong as its slowest step — and your vegan practice is no different.”
“Fifty cookbooks won’t help if the real constraint is evening exhaustion.”
“Knowledge isn’t the bottleneck if what you truly need is social courage.”
“Perfectionism isn’t a strategy — it’s a constraint.”
“You don’t need to fix everything. You only need to fix the part that’s actually stuck.”
“How you go vegan is how you do everything.”
Try This This Week
Identify one bottleneck in your plant-based practice:
What moment of the day creates friction?
Where do you feel the most self-conscious or unsupported?
Which small step are you avoiding?
What emotion leads you to choose convenience over intention?
Choose one constraint and gently place your attention there — not on all the other things that feel imperfect.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
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