Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms

I gave up organized benefits for flexibility. I gave up a dependable paycheck and low-risk employment for doing work that compensated me in ways other than cash. None of it was easy, but I can promise it’s been worth it.

What we’re discussing in this chapter is frequently referred to as “self-care,” but taking time to eat a nutritious meal, getting adequate sleep, and moving your body on a daily basis is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Good food, rest, and exercise are more than self-care—they’re basic health care.

It’s only when you incorporate elements of self-care (things like spending time in nature, quieting your mind through meditation, and incorporating elements of fun into your day) that you feel inspired to create the type of business and life you want.

Imagine you are five years in the future—far enough ahead that the kinds of limits and attitudes that hold you back now are no longer in place. Anything is possible—you could be living on an island or waking up in a quaint cabin tucked away in a forest. Your money, relationships, and health are all in tip-top shape. Everything is damn near perfect.

Habits and routines anchor you in your day and root you into your role as a creative entrepreneur. They’re the antidote to the feelings of fear and uncertainty that plague us all.

“Ugh. Her life is PERFECT.” What do you imagine happening in this person’s daily life that you’re so jealous of? That can be a clue to your own desires and needs.

But listening to your body can be as simple as recognizing the link between being stressed out and coming down with a cold.

We’re not asking you to overhaul your way of being or to undertake a huge lifestyle change; just give yourself four solid days to commit to one small change and see how it feels.

practicing your craft. Doing the work is living your life and doing your job. Consistently, persistently, every single day.