Navigating the line between business and self

When you run a business that depends on you, it’s easy to let it consume every aspect of your life. In this conversation with psychologist Faye Evans, we explore the pitfalls of entrepreneurial life and how to maintain a sense of self amid the chaos. "We fuse with a business and we become it," Faye explains, highlighting the dangers of tying our self-worth to our business successes or failures. This realisation led her to write her book, Soulful Simplicity, which offers strategies for maintaining personal identity in the face of overwhelming responsibilities. "Life is about refinement... Life is about making choices Key topics The line between personal identity and business ownership How entrepreneurs fuse with their businesses The impact of chronic stress on decision-making and creativity Practices for creating mental space and mindfulness Reframing burnout as profound exhaustion The importance of clarifying personal and business values Strategies for simplifying life and business The role of self-compassion and permission in recovery Time-stamped overview 00:00 Introduction to the challenges of solo entrepreneurship 02:16 COVID-19's impact and the identity crisis for entrepreneurs 04:09 The awakening: recognising profound exhaustion 05:04 The cultural glorification of busyness and exhaustion 06:00 The importance of self-awareness and boundary setting 06:48 Personality traits that may increase susceptibility to burnout 08:09 The importance of space and silence for mental clarity 09:38 Challenging the badge of honor around being busy 12:03 Life as a process of refinement and intentional living 12:39 The normalization of chronic stress and adaptation 13:34 Deciding to turn the focus inward and change 16:28 The impact of chronic stress on brain function and decision-making 18:05 Practical practices for creating mental space 22:34 Overcoming discomfort with doing nothing 26:45 Simplifying life and business to regain control 30:17 The importance of self-compassion and updating internal patterns 34:01 The danger of the competence trap in business 36:46 Clarifying purpose and values to prevent burnout 37:55 Living intentionally and making conscious choices 39:00 Final thoughts: reclaiming your life and business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices