You built a profitable business. Now, let’s make it sustainable.
Source: Pexels by Pavel Danilyuk
Many entrepreneurs experience rapid business growth, only to realize their business is running them instead of the other way around. They land big opportunities, secure major partnerships, and hit revenue milestones, but behind the scenes, they feel overwhelmed and disconnected from their original vision.
I’ve worked with clients facing this challenge. They try to fix their strategy by focusing on external goals, but they overlook an important factor: aligning their business with their personal vision. This is a mistake.
One client, for example, had a thriving brand with corporate partnerships and media opportunities. But despite the success, they felt stretched thin, constantly reacting instead of leading with intention. Their business had grown, but it wasn’t structured in a way that supported the life they truly wanted.
Today, I want to share how to realign your work and vision, so your business serves you. Not the other way around.
1. The ‘Big Picture’ Exercise
One of the first steps in realigning your business is stepping back to define your ideal life, without the pressure of current constraints. I call this the Big Picture Exercise, inspired by my own coach’s want list (a list outlining everything you truly desire out of a partner, career, life so that you are clear with your actions and intentions). The goal of this exercise is to envision success on your own terms, not just based on revenue or industry standards, your peers, or your family.
A few questions to start asking yourself about your business, include:
What do you want your ideal day look like?
Who would you be working with?
Do you have a team (or are you a solopreneur)?
Who does your business serve (e.g. BIPOC community, women, children, techies, etc)?
Do you want to build a venture backed company or a small business (note: yes, the two are different and the actions you take to grow them will also be different)?
What lifestyle elements matter most to you? How would you balance work, travel, family, and personal time? And which of these are most important for you?
Quick tip: Write your answers somewhere you'll see them regularly. This isn't just a mental exercise. It’s your compass for decision-making.
2. Identifying the Disconnect
Once you’ve answered these questions, the next step is identifying the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Often, entrepreneurs realize they’re spending most of their time on tasks that drain them rather than work that aligns with their vision.
For example, you might envision a business that allows you to travel, focus on creative projects, or build generational wealth. But in reality, your days are packed with short-term projects that don’t support your bigger goals and drain your energy. You may love creating content and building a community, yet find yourself stuck chasing partnerships that don’t support this.
This disconnect is key. It becomes your roadmap for change. By recognizing where your business and lifestyle are misaligned, you can start making strategic shifts toward a structure that actually supports your goals.
3. Bridge the Gap with Aligned Goals
Once you’ve identified the disconnect between your current reality and your ideal vision, the next step is realignment. The good news? You don’t have to do everything overnight. It will happen through small, intentional shifts that bring your daily work closer to your long-term goals.
Start Small: Define Success on Your Terms
A common mistake is assuming success has to look a certain way — whether it’s scaling quickly, landing big partnerships, or hitting a specific revenue milestone. But true success is personal. Instead of defaulting to industry norms, ask yourself:
What metrics matter to me? (e.g., creative freedom, financial stability, flexibility, impact)
Am I saying yes to opportunities because they align with my vision or because they seem impressive (e.g. popular brand, check size is large, spotlight potential)?
For some, success means growing a large brand and hiring a team. For others, it’s about having a lean business that prioritizes creative freedom or work-life balance. The goal is to stop chasing external expectations and start making choices that move you toward your personal definition of success.
build the roadmap
And then, once you’ve clarified what success looks like for you, use it as a guide for decision-making:
Evaluate current projects (e.g. do they align with your vision)?
Create criteria for future opportunities
Develop a strategy that supports both financial growth and personal fulfillment
And remember, it’s not about a dramatic pivot. It’s about making small, consistent choices that bring your business and life into sync.
Feeling stuck in the chaos of growth? Let’s map out a strategy that aligns your business with your life. Book a creative strategy session with me.