Building a Business as a Party of One: How I’m Learning to Beat Burnout Without Burning It All Down
There are a few things people don’t really tell you when you start your own business:
It’s not just about doing the work you love.
It’s about doing all the work.
And it can be exhausting.
When you’re building a business as a single-person operation — no marketing team, no assistant, no CFO — you are the CEO, the marketer, the accountant, the IT department, the CFO, and the janitor all rolled into one.
It’s a lot. And if you’re not careful, burnout creeps in fast.
The Exhaustion No One Talks About
When you’re a solopreneur, there’s this unspoken pressure to always be “on.” Creating content. Managing finances. Delivering services. Keeping up with emails. Staying visible online. Trying to “network” when you barely have energy to text your friends back.
Oy it’s a lot. You have to wear every hat. And some of those hats don’t even fit!
I’m a therapist. I’m a coach. I’m trained to help people heal and transform, not to build sales funnels, run Facebook ads, or write email sequences that “convert.” Maybe you can relate?
Most of us didn’t start businesses because we dreamed of being marketing experts. We started because we had a passion and wanted to help.
But somewhere along the way, the helping can get buried under the pressure to perform, sell, and stay relevant.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. It’s easy to feel behind. It’s easy to start wondering if you’re even cut out for this.
I get it because I’ve been there. Ok, honestly, I’m still there somewhat.
The Shift That Changed Everything
Here’s the truth I had to learn the hard way:
Trying to build your business exactly like everyone else will burn you out. (And worse — it’ll make you resent your dream.)
For a long time, I tried to “do it right” by following everyone else’s playbook: Post X times a day, say Y in your captions, and send Z emails per week.
Some of it worked. Some of it didn’t. But almost all of it left me feeling disconnected from myself and from the people I actually wanted to serve.
Until I finally realized: I needed to find a way that felt like me. Authenticity isn’t just about what you say, it’s about how you live your business.
I still listen to experts. It’s important to pay attention and learn from the best. But I filter everything through one powerful question: “How can I adapt this so it feels energizing, not draining?”
Marketing isn’t supposed to feel like pulling teeth. Business building shouldn’t feel like dragging yourself through mud every day. And burnout is definitely not a badge of honor. It’s a flashing warning light saying: There’s a better way.
The Better Way
I’m obviously not perfect at it yet. Some days still feel heavy. But more and more, I’m finding a rhythm that feels natural. I’m showing up in ways that feel real, not forced. I’m building a business that sustains me instead of draining me. And you can, too.
If you’re a solo business owner feeling stretched thin, please hear this:
You’re not failing. You’re learning.
You don’t have to market like an extrovert if you’re not one.
You don’t have to hustle like your worth depends on it. It doesn’t.
You don’t have to do it their way. You can find your way.
The dream you started with is still there; still alive. You don’t have to burn it down to feel whole again. You just have to build it differently.
So, if you could build your business your way, what’s one thing you would do differently starting today? Let’s start creating businesses and lives that actually feel good to live in.
If this resonated, I’d love to hear from you:
Want more ways to reconnect with your purpose, energy, and power — without overworking or overthinking it? Join the waitlist for IGNITE: The Burnout Revolution and be the first to know when the doors open.
Are you ready?
If we haven’t met, hello! I am Meg. I am the Burnout Revolutionist. I don’t fix. I don’t convince. I simply guide burned-out humans in survival mode back to an energetically aligned life. You can find me in several places outside of my website:
You don’t have to keep just surviving. There is a way to feel clear, energized, and creative again. There is a way to earn well, live well, and actually enjoy your work and life again.
If something in you is whispering (or screaming), “this isn’t it…” Listen to it. That’s your spark. That’s the part of you that’s still alive — and ready for something more aligned. If you’re ready to take the first step, I’ve got you.
Start with my free guide on burnout recovery. It’s not fluff. It’s the truth I wish someone had handed me years ago. Or join the waitlist for Ignite: The Burnout Revolution for Professionals — a space where real transformation begins.
You were never meant to push yourself into the ground just to be successful. Let’s build something that actually works — for your career and your life.