Soft Girls Don’t Build Empires: Redefining Balance in Leadership and Business
We’ve all been sold the glossy image of “work-life balance.” The hard stop at 5:01, the weekends free of emails, the perfect morning routine with green juice and yoga before a 10 am meeting. For a long time that notion is how I believed I would build my business… or so I thought.
But the hard truth I learned is: soft girls don’t build empires.
When I first stepped into entrepreneurship, I thought balance meant protecting my time at all costs. I told myself no late calls, no weekend work, no bending on boundaries. That philosophy cost me — in money, in opportunities, and in wasted energy. Because when you’re building something from nothing, all you really have to offer is your time.
And the same is true in leadership. Balance doesn’t always look like neat 40-hour weeks and tidy boundaries. Leading a team often means being available when people need you, not just when it’s convenient. It’s not about being on all the time but rather how to be adaptable.
Sometimes balance isn’t spread evenly across your week; sometimes it shows up in pockets. As a late-night brainstorming session balanced by a slow morning. A weekend client call balanced by a midweek afternoon off. True balance is less about the clock and more about anchoring yourself in routines and rituals that bring you back to center.
Here are a few mindset shifts that changed the way I see balance in both leadership and entrepreneurship:
1. Balance happens over seasons, not hours.
Some weeks will demand more of you than others. Give yourself permission to lean into the grind — and then lean back into rest when the season shifts.
2. Time is your currency. Spend it wisely.
In business, your time is often the most valuable thing you can give. In leadership, your presence is what people value most. It’s not about protecting every hour, but about investing your energy where it matters most.
3. Balance is found in what you’re working on, not when.
It’s better to be all-in on meaningful work at 9 PM than to drag through something soul-crushing at 2 PM. Alignment > schedule.
4. Routines are your reset button.
When everything feels chaotic, the rituals you return to — journaling, prayer, exercise, even a simple walk — bring you back to yourself and remind you why you’re doing the work.
Building a business or leading a team will never look like the perfect Instagram version of balance. But when you shift your definition, you stop chasing an ideal and start embracing the real.
💡 If this message resonates with you, I’d love to connect. Follow along here and subscribe so you never miss a blog drop. And if you’re ready to redefine balance while leading or building, let’s talk coaching .
