By far the most common conversation we have with the folks we interview is about work-life balance. Starting a business or pursuing a creative career makes finding work life balance really tough because there is no clear start and end to one’s work day. We’ve shared some of our conversations on the topic below.

Kelsey Shields

This is such a great question and honestly, something I’m almost constantly thinking about.

When I first started out as an artist, I had just left my job as an elementary art teacher. Even though having kids still felt far off, I knew I wanted to create a career that would allow me to be home with them when the time came. I couldn’t see how teaching and motherhood would realistically fit together. Teaching left me completely exhausted each day, and I was determined to build something that felt energizing and allowed me to both create and parent. Read More>>

Eric Nelson

I got into real estate investing with one goal in mind: creating a better work-life balance. The idea of spending 30+ years tied to a desk before finally getting to enjoy life just didn’t sit right with me. Getting started took a lot of hard work, patience, and persistence — but now I have the balance I was chasing. I still work, of course, but it’s on my own terms. I have the freedom to travel with my wife and kids and live life in a way my old career never could’ve offered. Read More>>

Sara Jehn

This is an interesting question for someone who is self-employed. I’ve known since I was a teenager that I wanted autonomy over my schedule, and one way to do that was by starting my business. I know when I’m really busy that I choose to be this busy, and when business is slow, it’s a chance to take advantage of the free time. For me, the balance is making peace with the ebbs and flows of self-employment and knowing I wouldn’t have it any other way. Read More>>

Bec Koop

My perspective on work-life balance has evolved significantly as I’ve grown older and wiser. In my younger years, it was normal for me to juggle multiple jobs and work 80–90 hours a week. Back then, the idea of work-life balance felt almost comical. Today, I place far greater importance on it, understanding that it is essential not only for truly enjoying my time off but also for preventing burnout. Read More>>

Cassie Lopez And Mallory Kincaid

In the beginning, balance wasn’t really the goal, building something that could at first match both of our teaching salaries was. We both worked full-time as teachers while launching this company, pouring every spare moment into it for three years. It was a season of hustle by design. In the spring of 2022, we took the leap and went full-time with the business, which brought another wave of hard work as we navigated the intense growth and inevitable challenges of scaling and growing a team. We are strong believers that hustle culture isn’t dead at the start of a business but the goal is always a slower life once the business has grown. Read More>>

Sarah Spencer

Starting a mural business shortly after collage was nerve wracking. I had a lot of questions for myself; will I make enough money to pay the mortgage, where will I find my clients, how will I get people to trust me to paint the vision in their head? The only thing I knew for sure was that I was a hard worker and had 24 hours a day to make it work. It was easy to paint weekends, late at night, say yes to parade of homes deadlines. Four years into that life and some very slim winters finically, the client base was there and I had a solid reputation with designers and home builders. So naturally I would change that comfortable living and start a family. Owning your own business and picking your clients is absolutely a blessing with kids. I had to be a lot more selective with my time and am so thankful my husband had a salary job so I could devote a lot of time to their lives when they were little. Working during the hours of kindergarten school days and summer breaks was always stressful, but I learned to skip lunch and paint fast. 24 years later and I have almost come full circle. The kids are almost all in collage now and I have so much time for work. I still prioritize my family and pick my jobs, but I have the ability to take on huge projects without a lot of guilt. Read More>>

Sarahjane Chartier

For years, I bought into the myth that balance meant doing everything equally well, all the time. But life doesn’t work like that—and neither does leadership. Over time, I’ve come to see balance less like a scale and more like a rhythm. Seasons change. Priorities shift. And the goal is no longer to keep all the plates spinning, but to be present where I am—with God, my family, my team, or my clients. Read More>>