We've been sold a lie.
Society tells us that success is measured by the size of our bank accounts and our possessions. And a lot of social media (especially platforms like Instagram) reinforce that point.
But I'm here to tell you that's it’s not true.
True success is about designing a life that allows you to do work that matters, spend time with people you love, and pursue your passions without being constrained by a job you dislike that forbids ‘side hustles’ or ‘passion projects’. It's about having the freedom to structure your days in a way that brings you joy and fulfillment.
I know this because I've lived it.
When I first started out as a solopreneur in 2019, I bought into the hustle culture mentality. You can go back and read it in my content.
I thought the only way to make it was to grind all day and chase every dollar. But after a year or so, it left me teetering on the edge of burn out for the second time — stressed and miserable.
It wasn't until I took a step back and reevaluated my priorities that things started to shift. I realized that I didn't want to build a business that consumed my entire life. I wanted to create something that supported the life I wanted to live.
Life first, business second. So, I made some changes.
First, I built my personal brand on LinkedIn.
It took me about 8-12 months to really do it right and get the attention I needed to shift my business model. The decision to build my brand on LinkedIn is still one of the best decisions I've made in my business life.
The next thing I did was start to decouple my earnings from my time.
I transitioned from the long hours and high pressure that can often come from consulting and service work and started building small digital products I could sell every day. It changed my entire mindset on building a better business that supported my life.
But more than that, building digital products gave me the freedom to be intentional about how I spent my time. Instead of being chained to my desk, doing consulting work and sending deliverables, I could take my dog for a midday walk, go out to lunch with my wife, or hit the gym whenever I felt like it.
And you know what? My business never suffered – instead, it thrived. I would often come back and see $500 on my Stripe account while I was busy doing things I love.
Here's the truth: you can't pour from an empty cup.
When you're always running on fumes, the quality of your work suffers. But when you prioritize your well-being and create space for the things that matter most, you show up as the best version of yourself. That’s what the combination of personal branding and digital products did for me.
I'm not saying it was easy. It wasn’t.
Building a life you love takes hard work and a bit of risk. Not to mention some guts. It requires you to say 'no' to things that don't align with your values and to set boundaries that protect your time and energy. But to me, it was worth it.
Think about it this way: What's the point of all the money and success in the world if it comes at the cost of 24/7 hustle and grind? If you're making millions of dollars but can't hang out with your family, are you really winning? Life is too short to spend it doing constant work to make as much money as possible.
So, my challenge to you is this: Get clear on what matters most to you. What does your ideal day look like? What brings you joy and fulfillment? Once you've got that vision in mind, start making choices that align with it. Consider how you can also decouple your time from earning money.
If you don't know where to start, consider building your personal brand on platforms like LinkedIn. You can follow the simple plan inside of my LinkedIn Operating System. It's not just a course – it's a proven roadmap to building a brand that supports the life you truly want. That's why 25,000 students and 60 LinkedIn Top Voices have enrolled in it (and it's currently 50% off!).
Join 25,000+ students growing their LinkedIn accounts now.Remember: Your time is your most valuable asset. Don't waste it chasing someone else's dream. Optimize for life, not money. That's the real path to success.
