This episode explores what it means to lead a slow business and why this approach is becoming central to how the work is structured and lived. It is for women business owners who value sustainability, presence, and alignment over constant output and urgency. The conversation examines how slowing down can support creativity, congruence, client relationships, and a calmer way of leading.
In this episode, we explore:
- What slow business means and how it differs from hustle-based business culture
- The relationship between pace, creativity, and sustainability
- How slowing down supports congruence and values-based decision-making
- The impact of spaciousness on client relationships and depth of work
- Why freedom and calm leadership require intentional design
Key takeaways
- Sustainable creativity arises from space and presence, not constant output
- Congruence is an ongoing practice that requires time and listening
- Depth of presence matters more than quantity of availability
- Calm, steady leadership depends on nervous system regulation
- A business can be designed to serve life rather than consume it
Resources mentioned
- Introductory workshop: How to Create a Simple, Sacred, Self-Led Business
- Episode 247: Why I’m Slowing Down
- Episode 248: The Sensitive Woman’s Guide to Planning Your Business in 2026
- Episode 249: Why I Let Go of the Membership Model (and What I’m Doing Instead)
Episode FAQs
What does “slow business” mean in this context?
Slow business refers to an approach that prioritizes sustainability, presence, and alignment over constant productivity, urgency, and growth for its own sake.
Is slow business about doing less or being less committed?
No. It is about being more intentional and present, not less engaged or impactful. Commitment remains, but it is guided by values and capacity.
Who is this perspective most helpful for?
This approach is particularly supportive for women business owners who are sensitive, spiritually oriented, or feeling depleted by hustle-based models.
How does slowing down affect client relationships?
Slowing down supports deeper presence, better listening, and trust in the natural pace of change, which can strengthen relationships and outcomes.
Does slow business mean avoiding structure or responsibility?
No. Structure and responsibility still matter. The difference is choosing them consciously rather than out of obligation or fear.
Full transcript available below.
We moved into our new home in Bordeaux at the beginning of January. After several months of being quite transient, it feels nourishing to put down roots again in a space that feels good. Creating this physical space has also created more space in my business, which is what I want to talk about today.
Before taking a break, I was offering what I called the season of slow business. Slow business is similar to the slow living and slow food movements. It prioritizes sustainability over hustle, soul listening over obligation, and spaciousness over constant productivity.
I had planned to finish a five-part series, but in early November I realized I didn’t just want to talk about slow business. I wanted to live it. I paused, simplified, and created space for a new way to emerge instead of pushing through a self-imposed deadline. This was a significant decision for me, as I’m someone who follows through. But this is the kind of leadership I want to practice now.
I’ve spent much of my life being hyper-responsible and over-functioning. While this can be a strength, it can also become a liability. I’ve done many things out of obligation or fear of letting others down. I’ve learned to set boundaries and honor my needs, and I’m continuing to deepen that practice. If something doesn’t feel good or aligned, I’m choosing not to do it. This isn’t about being unreliable. It’s about honesty and leading from authenticity rather than productivity as a way to earn worth.
Since moving to France, I’ve been reflecting more deeply on how I want to live. A quote from Annie Dillard keeps returning to me: how we live our days is how we live our lives. The small, ordinary moments create the substance of our lives. Being outside my home culture has helped me see old patterns of constant doing and time-filling that don’t match the life I value.
My intention for 2026 is a slower, more intentional, soul-led life and business. Not slower as in less committed or impactful, but slower as in more present, spacious, and alive. This isn’t about theory or trends. It’s about lived experience.
When we left our home last year, I evaluated every physical item I owned and chose what to keep intentionally. Living more minimally has been grounding. I’m now doing the same in my business—reviewing my calendar, systems, offers, and storage, and asking what wants to stay, evolve, or go.
We can build a life around what we love, or we can keep tolerating what drains us. These are different paths. I’m choosing to build around what I love. This podcast is continuing, with a simpler rhythm and shorter episodes. I want these conversations to feel like sitting with a friend, not consuming content to keep up.
There’s a strong cultural pull to conform—to produce constantly and prove ourselves. I believe we need more honest conversations about how to be impactful and successful without operating that way. This isn’t a new conversation for me, but the feminine journey is a spiral. We return to themes again and again with more wisdom and lived experience.
Today’s teaching is about the five benefits of leading a slow business.
The first benefit is sustainable creativity. When we hustle and constantly produce, creativity becomes forced and transactional. Slow business allows creativity to arise organically, from overflow rather than depletion.
The second benefit is soul congruence. Congruence is practiced day by day. It requires space to listen, to check in with values, and to notice how decisions feel in the body. Moving too fast disconnects us from that inner knowing.
The third benefit is deeper client relationships and transformations. Presence matters more than availability. Spaciousness allows for deeper listening, trust in the pace of transformation, and more meaningful connection.
The fourth benefit is leading from a calm, steady place. A business cannot be sustainable when the body is constantly in stress. Slowing down supports grounded decision-making and steadiness that ripples into all areas of life.
The fifth benefit is freedom and spaciousness. Many people start businesses for freedom, yet end up feeling constrained by obligation. Slow business is about designing work that serves life, creating breathing room in schedules and within oneself.
The five benefits are sustainable creativity, soul congruence, deeper client relationships, calm and steady leadership, and freedom and spaciousness. Noticing which of these feels most needed right now can offer insight into what is asking for attention.
A reflection to sit with is this: What is one area of life or business that is asking to be simplified, streamlined, or slowed down? And what might it look like to honor that in the coming weeks?
