Finally Here: Lessons Learned from Scaling Down My Business for Greater Joy and Freedom

Eighteen months ago I made the big decision to hit pause on the primary revenue generator for my company. I subsequently let go of my entire team and began the work of simplifying my business. In my five month post quit update, I was starting to get clarity on what had been, why I needed to walk away, and ultimately face the one regret I had, that I hadn't made the decision sooner.

I realized that I hadn't just hit pause. I was completely done with what had been. From there on out, it was another year of tying up loose ends.

I very quickly learned that there is no shortage of resources on steps to take to scale up your business. There is virtually nothing available on how to strategically scale down an operation.

It took me eighteen months to do it. Here I am, and it's a great place to be.

Quitting Wasn't As Simple As Just Quitting

Deciding to scale down and step away from my business wasn’t as simple as announcing it and riding off into the sunset. It was a process that demanded thoughtfulness, planning, and a level of attention to detail that, at times, felt almost as consuming as starting the business in the first place.

I didn't want to blow it up and duck for cover. I wanted to mindfully tie up the loose ends, while keeping the foundation in tact along with the reputation to honour those who had invested with me over the years.

It began with the need to evaluate everything I’d created: every program, platform, email funnel, sales page, tool and subscription service. I had to decide what would stay, what I would let go of, and what could continue without me actively driving it forward.

One of the first things I tackled was The CulinaryOne Pass. This concept had been percolating in my mind for years. It was a way to unify access to all of the Culinary Nutrition content I'd created for my school and bring it under the umbrella of my own name. I also had to amalgamate my personal site, which was home to blogs, resources, and smaller courses, and the Academy of Culinary Nutrition platform, which housed my flagship professional certification program. I wanted to merge these pieces to simplify my audience's experience—and to leave a legacy of clarity and ease.

This process wasn’t just about tidying things up. On the backend, this also meant simplifying the structure: collapsing platforms, cleaning up funnels, and streamlining how people interacted with my work.

There was also the personal decision to bring my professional world back under my name. The Academy of Culinary Nutrition had become its own brand for 10+ years. It wasn’t just about logistics; it was about feeling more connected to the work I still wanted to offer.

Old habits die hard. I had one more course I wanted to create, Money Mastery. I had originally thought to release it as a very simple. audio only offering. And then I remembered who I had always been and boom. I knew this would likely be the last big creative endeavour I would embark on for a while, and in August and September of 2024 I poured myself into it fully. It wasn’t just a course—it was a culmination of my knowledge, experience, and passion for helping others achieved the financial freedom that allowed me to call it quits and 'retire' at 43.

At Long Last, the Boxes Have Been Checked

The process of wrapping up my business wasn’t quick or easy. It took 18 months of focused effort, patience, and some deep breathing when wrangling URL dinosaurs on 10+ year old websites.

In the last few weeks, I’ve finally started to feel the shift. The weight I carried for so long has lifted. My mind, once constantly spinning with to-dos and deadlines, has started to quiet. I’ve begun to rediscover what it means to have free time—actual, unstructured, guilt-free time.

I've begun to explore what a fulfilling day looks like when it's not tied to Asana task lists, and I don't have a slew of Slack messages awaiting a response. There’s still an endless stream of ideas in my head, and the temptation to act on them is always there.

I’ve adopted a new mantra: Let it breathe.

When an idea sparks, I don’t rush to make it happen. I don’t jump into execution mode or start mapping out a plan. Instead, I sit with it. I ask myself, “Is this something I truly want to do, or is it just a reflex from years of constant creation?”

Let it breathe.

This shift has been transformative. For years, I dreamed of reaching this point—a life of freedom, ease, and alignment. And now that I’m here, I can say with certainty: it’s even better than I imagined.

What’s Next?

The most common question I hear now is, “What’s next?”

The assumption seems to be that I must have another big project waiting in the wings. After all, when you’ve spent years building, creating, and achieving, all with absolute intregity, and a reputation as a successful entrepreneur, why stop now?

The truth is, my “what’s next” isn’t about doing more. It’s about savouring the space I’ve created.

I’m not filling my days with endless afternoons of lounging around (I can't even do that when I'm sick). Instead, I’m exploring what it feels like to live a slower, more intentional life. I’m rediscovering the joy of daytime walks with friends, working on creative projects that light me up, gardening, cooking delicious things, levelling up my fitness and pouring my energy into caring for my home and family.

Recently, a close friend dropped by unexpectedly, and I had the luxury of saying yes to an impromptu walk with her and another friend. These moments of spontaneity feel like the ultimate gift—a reminder of the freedom I’ve worked so hard to achieve.

I’ve dabbled with the idea of coaching, helping others get here, but it didn’t feel right. After years of managing schedules and deadlines, the thought of being tied to someone else’s calendar felt counterproductive to the life I’m trying to create. At last for now.

I’ve also toyed with the idea of writing a book—not a traditional business book, but one that tells the story of how I built a life and business aligned with my values, how I defined success on my own terms, and how I ultimately embraced the freedom to step away.

For now, though, I’m content to let these ideas simmer. There’s no rush, no urgency.

The Hardest Part

The hardest part of this transition hasn’t been my own uncertainty—it’s been navigating the reactions of others, answering others questions, invitations to women's circles where we can 'navigate life together'.

I am not lost. I am very much found.

When you step away from a successful business, people have questions. They want to know how you did it, why you did it, and what’s next. And while some of those questions come from curiosity or admiration, others carry a subtle undertone of doubt.

For me, the metrics that matter most right now—joy, freedom, alignment—make it clear that I made the right choice.

I built a ridiculously successful and wildly profitable business. Many assume I am just taking a pause before doing it again. I am not convinced that this is the case. Not to say I won't keep dabbling and doing things here and there- giving talks, hosting, recording interviews, informal coaching-- I do enjoy all of this, in moderation.

My business is breaking even, which was always my goal for this phase of the process, and I’m still taking the same salary. My one assistant continues to work almost full-time, keeping the wheels turning just enough. I no longer feel the need to chase retained earnings or prove myself to anyone, including myself. I set a ridiculously lofty goal- live a joyful, rich, fulfilling life, build a business that is of deep service and value to those who choose to be part of our offerings, and retire early. I did it all.

When I hit pause 18 months ago, I had no idea how it would unfold. There is very little out there on how to scale down a business. However, much like my experience in building it, scaling it down also required me to simply make it up and figure it out as I went.

People often talk about identity crises when leaving a business. For me, it’s been the opposite. Every day, I feel more like myself. My husband has even said that I’m not the same person I was when I was running the company. I feel different. I feel better.

This isn’t the end of my story. It’s just a new chapter—one where the metrics that matter aren’t about revenue or growth, but about heart, alignment, and living a life I love.

Image by Mars Mind at the 2024 Monetize Your Mind Summit

Meghan Telpner is a Toronto-based entrepreneur, presenter,?bestselling author and?founder?of the Academy of Culinary Nutrition. Meghan’s success in cultivating a global community?along with her unique approach to business has garnered her multiple features in Forbes, and ranked her as one of the top 100 female entrepreneurs in Canada. Having intentionally?hit pause on the growth of her primary business, Meghan is now on the journey of simplifying all aspects of life as she embarks on the joys of semi-retirement paired with deeply meaningful work?teaching courses, and guiding top level performers in heart-led living and leadership.

Meghan is available for a select number of dates in 2025. More details here.