• The Creative
  • Posts
  • The Business You Build Should Support the Life You Want

The Business You Build Should Support the Life You Want

The Creative

3 min read.

I was in this cage…If your business isn’t serving your life, it’s time to rebuild it.

Most people don’t build businesses.
They build cages.

They start with good intentions—freedom, flexibility, meaning.
And somewhere along the line, the business starts running them.

More hours. More stress. More pressure to keep up.

But here’s the truth:
Your business should be built to serve your life—not the other way around.

Signs it’s flipped the wrong way:

  • You feel guilty when you’re not working.

  • You’re “on” 24/7 but still feel behind.

  • Every new client feels like another weight, not an opportunity.

  • Vacations feel like a joke.

How to flip it back:

✔️ Define what success looks like for you (not your industry)
✔️ Build systems that work without you being chained to them
✔️ Ruthlessly protect your time, energy, and focus
✔️ Remember: Freedom is built, not gifted

1 Book Recommendation

📘 Company of One by Paul Jarvis
A fantastic read if you want to scale your business thoughtfully instead of blindly chasing growth for growth’s sake.

1 Quote

"The goal isn’t more money. The goal is living life on your terms."
— Chris Brogan

Final Thoughts

If your business isn’t supporting the life you want—
you’re allowed to rebuild it.

You’re allowed to change your mind.
You’re allowed to pivot.
You’re allowed to make it lighter, smarter, and more aligned.

The only bad business is the one that traps you.

Keep building the right way.

—Brian

Want help creating a system that keeps showing up for you, even when you don’t feel like it?
📅 Book a 15-min strategy call

Talk soon,

Brian Town
Founder, Michigan Creative

Ready to start your own newsletter? Use the link below:

P.S.

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of my new book, The Lonely CEO, on Amazon below!