Freedom in Entrepreneurship: Protecting the Plate in Front of You
The Myth That Won’t Die
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard someone declare:
“You can never have freedom as an entrepreneur.”
It’s said with certainty, as if it’s a universal truth.
And yet, in my experience—both personally and as a career counsellor—it’s not the only truth.
Many of my career counselling clients come to me wanting to explore self-employment or entrepreneurship but are paralyzed before they even begin. Why? Often it’s because of one person’s story they’ve read, heard on a podcast, or seen online. They think: If that’s what it takes, I can’t do it.
The problem? They’re building an entire belief system around a single, often extreme, narrative. Posterism can feel like a hidden job in and of itself (the webinar can be viewed here). We shared with our audience a new framework we are experimenting with in our practice that we called the Valued Self, a proposal for how to support individuals feeling like an imposter.
Exploring Colorado with my family on our RV trip — the kind of freedom I envisioned when I designed my business to fit my life, not the other way around.
The Jamie Kern Lima Example
When I read Jamie Kern Lima’s Believe It, one part stuck with me—not the fairy-tale ending when she sold IT Cosmetics to L’Oréal for billions, but the chapters about the early grind. She writes candidly about running on empty, sacrificing sleep, health, and relationships just to keep the business alive. It was inspiring, yes, but also sobering. Her success came with a cost that, for many people, simply isn’t sustainable. That story reinforced for me that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be built on burnout—you can design it in a way that protects your life while you grow.
Why I Designed My Business Differently
When I wrote my very first one-page business plan (before I was even licensed), the non-negotiable values section was the first I filled out. The first line? “Fridays are always off.”
Fast-forward to today:
I don’t see clients two days a week.
Tuesdays are dedicated to working on my business, not in it.
Once a week, I meet a friend or colleague for coffee or lunch. These moments aren’t “breaks”—they are essential for creativity, connection, and sustaining self-confidence.
With my kids’ competitive hockey and dance schedules this year, I’m committed to ending work by 4 pm so I can arrive present and unhurried. That’s not just a freedom value—it’s about peace, harmony, and my parenting priorities.
Push vs. Pull: A Better Way to Work
Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity introduces a simple but profound concept:
A push system is when new tasks, projects, and obligations keep being “pushed” onto your plate, no matter your current load. It often leads to chronic overwhelm and burnout.
A pull system means you focus on the plate in front of you—your existing priorities—and only take on new work when there’s genuine capacity.
Newport shares examples from MIT’s Broad Institute, where shifting to a pull-based workflow cut work-in-progress in half and improved results. He also recommends a “simulated pull” for individuals—keeping a “holding tank” of ideas and only promoting them to active status when there’s room.
I’ve adopted this approach wholeheartedly. Every day, I make deliberate choices about whether to take another meeting, add a project, or simply pause. This is the opposite of Jamie Kern Lima’s early burnout years—and it’s what makes my business sustainable.
How This Shows Up in Career Counselling
Many clients in my career counselling practice struggle with public speaking anxiety and low self-confidence. When they picture entrepreneurship, they often imagine back-to-back meetings, relentless networking, or constant pitching—activities that feel overwhelming.
When I walk them through the pull system, they begin to see a different possibility:
You can design a business that works with your natural energy.
You can block time for deep work, creative thinking, and even recovery.
You can intentionally cap your workload to prevent burnout.
I often share examples of entrepreneurs who protect their schedules—blocking days for strategy, refusing weekend work, or limiting the number of active projects—without sacrificing growth. These stories give my clients permission to reimagine what’s possible.
Practical Steps to Protect Your Plate
Identify Your Non-Negotiable Values. Write them down in clear, concrete language. (“I finish work at 4pm” is more powerful than “I want more time with family.”)
Build Around Them. Structure your week so these values aren’t just ideals—they’re built into your schedule.
Adopt a Pull System. Keep a list of future projects, but only pull them in when you have true capacity.
Communicate Boundaries. Clients, collaborators, and even friends can respect your boundaries—but only if you share them.
Final Thought
Freedom in entrepreneurship isn’t guaranteed. But it is possible—if you design for it from the start.
If you’re navigating a career change, wondering whether entrepreneurship is for you, or struggling with self-confidence and public speaking anxiety, our team of career counsellors can help you design a path that aligns with your life, not just your work.
Explore more on my blog:
Freedom is possible—not by chance, but by careful, deliberate choice.
Wondering how to create more balance in your career or business? Let’s talk about what freedom could look like for you
Moments like this
— tea in hand, space to think — remind me that building a business with intention creates room for what matters most."
