What Does It Really Look Like to Build a Sustainable Business Alongside Life?

Jess Bates
Apr 4
3 min read

RIGHT, I need us to get real about this. You’re not sipping green juice on a balcony journalling about abundance all day. You’re navigating nap times, school runs, or a 9-5, gym, maybe a partner who’s away more than they’re home — and on top of that, you’ve got this burning desire to build something.

You’ve already found professional success — you’ve proven you’re capable. But that job didn’t fit. It drained you. It didn’t light you up. And now? You want to do work that actually matters to you. Work that means something. You want to feel that success but in a world FEELS GOOD. Like, forever.

But how do you build a business around that passion… without letting your life go to sh*t in the process?

And how do you do it without losing safety, security and without the panic and drama that can so often go with the online space. People telling you they went cold turkey on their 9-5 and build their million pound business in 6 months. NO.

Let’s talk about it. Honestly.

A sustainable business isn’t built in a vacuum

You’re not building this on a blank slate. You’re building it:

In between school drop-offs and washing loads
After the kids go to bed, when your brain is fried
During lunch breaks from a job you’re desperate to leave
On the weekend feeling guilty for taking away from time with loved ones

This isn’t about instant freedom. It’s about building towards it, step by step, without burning out or giving up halfway.

What does building a sustainable business look like in this season?

1. Strategic over sexy

You don’t need a flashy launch or a 25-module course. You need a clear niche, a simple offer, and a way to talk about it that makes people say “YES, that’s exactly what I need.”

You don’t have time to waste — and that’s a good thing. It forces focus.

💡 Ask yourself: If I could only work 5 hours a week on this right now, what would actually move the needle?

2. Momentum over perfection

You’ve probably spent hours watching others do it “right.” But overthinking is just a clever form of procrastination.

Sustainable means imperfect action, taken consistently. That might look like:

Selling before you feel “ready”
Creating messy first drafts
Learning in real time
Chipping away with small wins
Simple offers over complex funnels

💡 Your business doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to exist.

3. Boundaries like a boss

You’ve got limited time, energy, and brain space. That means you need boundaries — not just to protect your time, but to protect your dream.

This might look like:

Saying no to things that don’t serve the bigger goal
Being unavailable during work blocks (even if it’s just an hour)
Letting go of trying to explain your vision to people who don’t get it
Releasing the 'should' actions in your life that you do to please others and only doing the 'I want to' ones.

💡 You don’t owe anyone a watered-down version of your purpose. DO YOU. and fucking own it.

4. Playing the long game — with intention

You're not here to make a quick £1k and run. You're here to build a business that eventually replaces your income, gives you freedom, and lets you live in alignment.

That means:

Planning smart
Simplifying often
Prioritising sustainability over speed

💡 Some weeks you’ll sprint, others you’ll crawl. That’s how you build something that lasts. It's REAL. Listen to your energy, go with it instead of resisting it and keep in mind the long term why. That way you'll never stop.

What does it feel like?

Let’s be honest — some days it feels like chaos. Like pushing a boulder uphill while wearing a baby carrier.

But also…

It feels like purpose. Like being deeply connected to your why again.

It feels like hope — because you’re doing something that matters to YOU.

It feels like power — because you’re reclaiming how you work, earn, and live.

So let’s get serious:

This isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about:

Taking real steps towards work that lights you up
Building something that fits your version of success
Creating a business that aligns with the life you’re trying to create — not compete with it

You’re not just starting a business.

You’re building a new chapter.

One that’s yours, fully and unapologetically.

Want to stop winging it and start building something real — even if you’ve only got 5 hours a week and a brain full of doubt? Let’s talk. This is literally what I help people do.