The Present Entrepreneur: Building a Business That Serves Your Life (Part 2)
Remember that fog we talked about in Part 1? Now that you've found your clarity, let's talk about something equally important – creating a business that doesn't just make money, but actually fits into your life. (And yes, it's totally possible!)
The Myth of the "Always On" Entrepreneur
Let me share something personal: I used to think being a "successful" entrepreneur meant being available 24/7, just like in my corporate days. My phone would ding at midnight with client messages, and I'd jump to respond.
Or... I'd look at the email and try to tell myself that I'd take care of it later, but it now was renting real estate in my head. Sound familiar?
Here's the truth bomb: That's not success – that's a recipe for burnout.
The real magic happens when you design your business around your life, not the other way around. And I'm not just talking about scheduling – I'm talking about creating a business that reflects who you are and how you want to live.
Your Business, Your Rules
One of my clients came to me exhausted from trying to run her consulting business like her old corporate job – rigid 9-to-5 hours, back-to-back Zoom calls, and that constant feeling of being "on." Together, we redesigned her business to match her natural rhythm:
• She's a morning person? Great – client calls happen before 2 PM
• Needs Wednesdays for deep work? Blocked off
• Wants to pick up kids from school? Non-negotiable family time
The result? Her revenue actually increased by 30% because she was working in her zone of genius at her peak times.
Creating Your Business Boundaries
Here's a simple exercise that changed everything for me (and can do the same for you):
List your non-negotiables (family time, exercise, hobbies)
Identify your peak energy hours
Design your business offerings around these parameters
Remember: You're not just a business owner – you're a whole person with a life, interests, and relationships outside of work.
The Permission Slip You've Been Waiting For
Consider this your official permission slip to:
• Create business hours that work for YOU
• Say no to clients and energy vampires who don't respect your boundaries
• Design services that energize rather than drain you
• Take that midday yoga class without guilt
Action Step: Take 30 minutes today to write down what your ideal work week looks like. Not what you think it should look like – what you actually want it to look like. This becomes your blueprint.
The truth is, running a business shouldn't feel like a prison you've built for yourself. It should feel like freedom, possibility, and joy – even on the challenging days.
Ready to design a business that truly serves your life? Join me for Part 3, where we'll dive into practical systems to make this vision your reality.
Want to explore how to build a business that works for your life, not against it? Let's chat. Book your discovery call today.
