“Nobody on their deathbed ever said, ‘I wish I had spent more time at the office.’”
— Paul Tsongas
These days many people, even us in the Gen X category, are realizing life is not just what you do for a living, but making a living to have a life. Family, friends, children, faith and even personal serenity have now become the focus over work, career advancement, profit and wages, sales goals and business growth. All of which are still achievable and essential to avoid becoming financially or intellectually stagnant in your current position, whether you own a business or whether you work for someone else. But it’s also vitally important to focus on your life, your story, your community outside of work.
Whether you are just beginning as a business owner or you are a seasoned entrepreneur, it’s never too late or too early to ask … how can I sustain a life while also growing my business? How can I find enjoyment in my career without making it the primary focus of my life? And how can I prevent my business (or my career) without it becoming the sole focus of how I identify myself?
Defining Yourself
“Build a business you’re proud of, but never let it define the person you are.”
– Nicole Mueller
I’ve been in business nearly 30 years and these are goals that I continually work on refining by checking myself regularly. How and why? Running a business—especially as an entrepreneur—can easily blur the line between who you are and what you do. The key is developing a habit of regular self-check-ins so your business supports your life rather than consuming it. Here are some practical ways to do that. Ask yourself questions such as:
- Am I feeling energized or constantly drained?
- Have I spent meaningful time with people I care about this week?
- Am I working because it’s necessary, or because I don’t know how to stop?
- Is my business serving my life goals, or replacing them?
Define your Priorities
“You must decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage to say no to other things.”
— Stephen Covey
Take a moment to consider what is truly most important to you. It’s okay if your business or career is on that list, but there should be other valued items on there too like your family, your health, your spirituality, your mindfulness, your hobbies or creative outlets, your friendships, your giving back to your community, your pets, or whatever else that gives you purpose and meaning into your life.
After your write that list down in order of importance, then estimate how much time you need to spend on each of those to produce peace of mind, humanity, spirituality and your inner joy. Then set boundaries. Boundaries for
- social media time,
- for answering emails/texts/phone calls,
- for work hours (set a regular schedule of days/hours per week)
- for unnecessary meetings, lunches and networking events
- for tasks that could/should be delegated to others.
Setting these boundaries will help you avoid work to interfere into your personal time. Occasionally, conduct a self-performance review to ensure you are allocating quality time for family, personal growth and mental peace.
Define your Business around your Life
“Balance is not something you find, it something you create.”
– Jana Kingsford
1. Design your life first—then build the business around it.
Decide what you want your days to look like: work hours, family time, rest, hobbies, travel, quiet. Your business should support that vision, not erase it.
2. Set real boundaries—and honor them.
Not every message needs an instant reply. Not every client needs access to you 24/7. Create office hours, response times, and days off—and treat them as non-negotiable.
3. Build systems, not just hustle.
If everything depends on you, you don’t own a business—you own a job. Develop systems that free your time. Create:
- Clear processes that can be replicated by a trusted member of your time.
- Simplify your workflows to ensure you are making the most of your time, with the least amount of exhaustive unnecessary tasks.
- Create checklists for each and every day, for each week and for each month. Organize your day by setting a realistic task list for your work day.
- Automated tools can help in communication, in billing and invoicing, in data entry, and in online marketing. Utilize these to free up your life while sustaining your productivity.
4. Delegate before you feel “ready.”
You don’t need to do everything well—just the things that matter most. Hand off what drains you so you can focus on what grows the business. Find trusted, focused and hard-working people that love what they do. And a big part of your teams’ success and joy is your responsibility, by leading your team with kindness, empathy, positive encouragement, patience and informative instruction. The hours you invest in them to learn will provide an immeasurable return down the road. You want them to have a life too, so treat your team as you want to be treated. And resist the urge to micromanage, just because they do it differently doesn’t mean it’s wrong. If the client is satisfied with the output, you should be too.
5. Choose clients wisely.
Not every dollar is worth your peace. Work with people who respect your time, values, and boundaries. If people balk, complain or resist the way your process works especially before the project begins and the contract is signed, then let them take their complaints elsewhere. If they show you who they are, listen and learn before they become a client. (This is treasured advice I wish I knew 30 years ago.)
6. Price for sustainability, not survival.
Undercharging leads to overworking. Fair pricing allows you to serve well without sacrificing your life. Your prices should not be negotiable, but the levels of service you provide can offer a variety of price points for each individual client. Do not negotiate price, as that will only incur greater financial costs and mental stress that will make the project no longer worth your time.
7. Protect your energy like an asset.
Your creativity, focus, and health are part of your business. Schedule rest and relaxation the same way you schedule work. If you don’t give yourself time to unwind, relax, meditate, exercise, cook healthy foods and sleep, than burnout is an inevitability. Take vacations (or staycations) several times a year so you have days or a week away from the office. I guarantee you will come back refreshed and ready to get back to work with vigor.
8. Build freedom into your model.
Fix what ties you down. My goal in the early 2000’s was to build a business that gave me the freedom to raise my son without putting him into daycare, and giving him the quality time every child deserves. Now the same built-in methods provide me time to volunteer, assist my community and enjoy life. Its still a busy life, as it was then, but when I need it, its a blessing to have a business that affords me the ability to take a day off when needed.
9. Let “enough” be enough.
You don’t have to chase endless growth. Choose growth that matches your life—not growth that costs it. If your business has not grown but you are satisfied with the profit margins, the influx of new work, while also balancing recurring clients, then what is the problem? I used to think if a business isn’t growing, it’s dying. That is just not true. While I do agree that a business should continue to evolve with market needs, continue to find creative ways to attract new audiences and offer new or modified services that accommodate current trends. But I also believe that if your business hasn’t increased by measurable percentage points each year, that does not mean you are failing. Build a business that fits your needs, not one that is pushed into unnecessary growth modules just to impress someone else.
10. Remember why you started.
Most entrepreneurs didn’t start to be exhausted—they started to be free. Keep your business serving your life, not replacing it. If you lost sight of the original ‘why’ when you started, go back to that newbie entrepreneur you used to be and ask her or him: “Is this what you envisioned when you started?” If not, it’s time to make some adjustments in how your time is spent, who is on your team and what you delegate. It may be hard for Type-A personalities, thinking no one can do what you do your job as well as you do it, but handing over some of those responsibilities will free you time and your mind space.
Real Joy in Business & Life comes with Balance
“A successful business isn’t one that takes everything from you. It’s one that gives you more life in return.”
Building a successful business should not come at the expense of your well-being, your relationships, or your sense of fulfillment. When you intentionally design your business in a way that supports your life rather than drains it, work becomes something you can truly enjoy instead of something you simply endure. Success then looks different—it means having the freedom to pursue meaningful work while still making space for the people, experiences, and priorities that matter most. By creating systems, setting boundaries, and staying connected to your original purpose, you can build a business that provides both professional achievement and personal balance. When work and life exist in harmony rather than competition, real joy in what you do becomes possible.
If you need help delegating online marketing, content creation or office management, give us a call to see how we can lighten your load and reduce your redundant and brain-draining tasks.
