Can You Be a Boss AND Live the Soft Life?

Cassie Wilson
Mar 25
3 min read

Let's address the sparkly, well-manicured elephant in the room - can you build an empire while still having time for bubble baths and sunset yoga?

My short answer? Not immediately.

But hang with me here, because there’s hope on the horizon.

The Early Days: More Grind than Glow

I'll be real with you - those first few years of entrepreneurship? Whew. They're about as "soft" as a brick wall. We're talking late nights, endless emails, and coffee… lots of coffee.

You're wearing all the hats (and none of them are cute)
Your self-care routine becomes "remembering to eat lunch", or if you’re like me, “minimizing stress-eating and managing excess bloat and gas”
Meditation? Nah. More like "stress-scrolling at 3 AM" because yOu DeSeRvE iT

The Plot Twist: Building Soft into Strong

Here's what nobody tells you - you can strategically build soft-life elements into your business journey. It just needs to be intentional and on the calendar.

Start with Mini-Soft Moments: Schedule 15-minute morning meditation sessions/nature walks, or treat yourself to a fancy coffee once a week. Small luxuries count!
Automate the Hard Stuff: Use tools, templates and systems that make life easier. Your future soft-life self will thank you.
Build Your Dream Team Early: Even if it's just a virtual assistant for 5 hours a week - start delegating and creating SOPs (standard operating procedures) to prepare for additional off-boarding.

The Evolution: From Hustle to Harmony

As your business grows, you can gradually increase your "soft" quotient. It's like a video game, unlocking new levels of luxury as you earn it*

Year 1-3:

Basic self-care maintenance
Schedule actual lunch breaks away from your desk
Set a firm "no meetings after ___" rule
Book a monthly massage or day off for stress relief
Meal prep on Sundays to ensure proper nutrition (hack your time as much as possible to maintain your health)
20-minute daily walks for mental clarity

Year 4-5:

Start delegating and creating systems
Hire a virtual assistant (even if it's for just a few hours per week)
Create templates for common business tasks
Set up automated billing and invoicing
Outsource social media management or use scheduler to integrate strategy
Build SOPs (standard operating procedures) for routine processes

Year 5+:

Begin implementing more significant lifestyle changes
Work only 4 days per week
Take quarterly wellness retreats
Schedule regular facials and spa treatments (or whatever else floats your boat)
Implement a "no work on vacation" policy
Design your ideal work schedule (like starting at 10am)
Work smarter, not harder

My Current Reality Check

Even now, running a successful business, I'm not living the fantasy we see these girls showcasing on social media. In the meantime, for where I’m at now, I've created my own version of "Soft-Adjacent Living."

Morning meetings? Never.. I only take meetings after 12pm**
Regular nail appointments are now "business wellness expenses"
Delegate the tasks that drain my energy when I can***
Schedule "do nothing" time in my calendar (and actually enforce it!)

The truth, my truth? You can have both - just not simultaneously at first.

Think of it as building a luxury home. The foundation and framework aren't pretty, but they're essential for creating a comfy space you'll eventually enjoy.

So keep grinding and remember your northern star because your silk pajamas and morning yoga/pilates sessions are waiting on the other side! 💪✨

*is this a sick way of motivating ourselves, delaying gratification?

**I’m actually pretty firm with this rule, but there are times that I bend for the right opportunities

***Still at the point where I’m either soliciting work from friends, getting my nephews to help me or hiring out VERY cheap international work (integrity?? yikes… I’ll grow, though)