The Off Switch: Finding Balance in Business and Life

As a business owner, it's easy to fall into the trap of sacrificing everything for your business. I see so many people doing what I used to—working far too many hours, telling themselves that if they push harder now, they'll have more time for the important things later. But the truth is, that elusive "someday" often never comes.

?My Journey

At 15, I knew I wanted to run my own business. My parents were already in business, so I left school a year early and studied business at university. I bought into the story that hard work is the path to success. So, while studying full-time, I also worked full-time at an accounting firm. I thought I was gaining the needed skills, but I wanted to be somewhere else.

After university, I got my first taste of running a business. My parents signed a joint venture with McDonald's, and I took over the family meat business. I wore many hats—general manager, apprentice butcher, delivery driver, accountant, marketer, and salesperson. This journey taught me a lot about what works and what doesn’t.

I avoided a corporate career, opting instead for the freedom of entrepreneurship. My journey took me from New Zealand to Thailand, where I fell in love with the country, scuba diving, and my now-husband, Jonny. We ran a successful kayaking business before moving back to New Zealand, where we bought a boat business in the Bay of Islands.

?The Turning Point

We bought the boat right before the global financial crisis. Despite the odds, we paid off a quarter of a million dollars in six months. But it came at a cost. We lived, worked, and socialized on the boat, ignoring everyone who said we’d go bankrupt. We survived and thrived, but it wasn’t sustainable.

Our businesses grew, and I ran four businesses with a combined team of 90 people. I worked 60 to 100 hours per week, had a young baby, and gave 100 hours a month to community projects. From the outside, it looked successful, but I was barely surviving.

I existed on caffeine and too much wine, and I kept saying yes to everything. I was hooked on sacrificing myself for all the things I thought I should do. I missed so much because I was so busy. I learned that you can't do everything at once if you want to do anything well.

?Learning to Say No

I didn’t want to give up on business, but I knew it wasn’t sustainable. This was the start of learning how to say no and designing a business that served my life rather than being my life. We began to extract ourselves, selling off businesses and resigning from community roles to prioritize the essentials. Now, I work 30 to 40 hours a week, make time for what matters, and know who we are and where we’re going.

?A Hard Lesson on Christmas Day

I didn’t listen to the first gentle message to slow down, so the universe sent me another one. It came on Christmas Day three years ago. One of our businesses was a large restaurant, and on Christmas Day, five of our 25 staff didn’t show up. My husband and I spent Christmas Day working, leaving our daughter with a babysitter.

That evening, my daughter asked, “It’s Christmas Day. Are you still at work? The next time you and Mama have to work on Christmas Day, can you tell me first? I just want you to read me a story.” Her words hit hard. I stayed at work until 1 AM, sacrificing those precious moments.

When I got home, I promised her we would never do that again. From that day forward, we decided to eliminate everything that wasn’t most important to us. By the end of the year, we focused only on what we truly loved, including the businesses designed around our desired life.

Your children can be your greatest teachers. Recognise the patterns that hold you back and make conscious choices that align with your true priorities. Book a Moxie Breakthrough Call with me if you’re ready to find balance and build a business that serves your life. Let’s rewrite your story together.

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