Podcast

March 20th, 2025

The Apple Cart, S2 E1: How to Balance Life and Business on Your Own Terms

In this episode of the Apple Cart, I’m joined by Lenka Koppova to talk about how small business owners can balance life and business for better health and wellbeing.

Lenka is a Marketing Therapist for Coaches and Health & Well-being Professionals. She helps them to create businesses that enable them to live their dream lives.

She helps them to use digital marketing strategically so they can grow their business (without feeling overwhelmed) in a way that sustains their business long-term.

She’s on a mission to help them bring more fun and joy into their marketing to be able to create a thriving business that fulfils all their dreams!

Listen to the Interview

How Lenka Balances Life and Business on Her Own Terms

Lenka says her whole life has been about doing things differently. “Because I never felt like I belong and I fit in. And I want to follow the path that is laid out for you from school, work, family and house. It just didn’t feel right for me.

“And I always knew that I want to be self-employed and be in my own boss. I wanted to have control, so I started freelancing. But I saw that entrepreneurs focus on work and nothing else. And for me, my business is my life and my business is my lifestyle.

“So after a period of burnout, I reassessed. If my business serves my lifestyle, what kind of life do I want? And then I thought about what my business would look like to make sure I achieved that.”

What Putting Your Life and Business First Looks Like

Lenka says she doesn’t have the same life goals as most people. “I’m not planning to have kids or buy a massive house. I’ve always been a minimalist. So I went back to the values I held strongly.

“I don’t want a lot of stuff, so I don’t need a ton of money to pay for things. And that was such a mind shift for me, because I’d been in a money manifesting mindset. Once I realised I didn’t want to hit 6 or seven figures, I could think about how to have a comfortable life.

“So for me, that means I start the day slowly. I mediate, journal and go to the gym. I have a couple of major clients and a couple of side projects. But I also have space to travel, have my own podcast and explore all sorts of hobbies. I’m not constrained by a timetable – mine or anyone else’s.”

life and business

Advice for People to Disrupt Life and Business

Want to disrupt your status quo? The first step, says Lenka, is to believe that you can. “So often, we live in a belief that a certain lifestyle is for others, not us. We can’t do it because of our obligations. Which are really limiting beliefs.

“So the first step is really, truly understanding and believing that yes you can. Anything is possible. You have the power. And you are creative and unique. Stop holding yourself back.

“Start imagining a world where you can do what you want. What does success mean to you? And what would a happy, fulfilling life look like? Remember, there’s more to it than just money. There’s time, energy and space to be creative too.”

Why You Need to Follow a Variety of People Online

When I started out in business, I followed of people who were experts in digital marketing and social media. But I found it hard to relate to them. So I culled my ‘follow lists’ and made a point of connecting with people I knew in real life.

But interestingly, Lenka did the opposite. “I found that I was following other marketers, coaches and content creators. And I felt pressure to be on the same path as them. I saw them achieving things and compared myself to them.

“So I unfollowed or hid anyone who was in the same sort of space as me. And then I started to follow people who talk about things I wanted to learn about. That was stuff like health and wellbeing, mindset, creativity. And I didn’t feel so inadequate.”

Timestamps

  • 0:33 – 03:16: How Lenka does things differently
  • 05:18 –08:57: Lenka’s experience of becoming self-employed
  • 09:22 – 11:45: What putting your life first looks like in reality
  • 12:04 – 14:46: Advice for people wanting to be disruptive in life or business
  • 18:11 – 20:20: Why you need a variety of people to follow on social media
  • 23:01 – 31:00 Why I decided to leave Newcastle and move to rural France
  • 38:03 – 40:47: How Lenka takes her cat in her camper van

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