What does a sustainable freelance business look like?

If you know me, you know I talk a lot about running a sustainable freelance business. My coaching membership program, called SUSTAIN, is focused on that very thing.

But what does it mean to run a sustainable business?

That’s what I want to talk about today.

To sustain means to support, nourish and provide relief in a steady manner. When we think of sustainability, we often think about the environment. Sustainable products benefit the environment, society and the economy, while protecting the environment and public health. Large companies that operate sustainably, like Patagonia, try to make sure that their products benefit the environment, society and the economy over the entire product lifecycle. In other words, they want to make sure that, from end-to-end, from raw materials to final disposal, the product has a positive impact.

When I talk about building a sustainable freelance business, I focus on how your business does or does not extract from your own energetic potential.

Many of us were brought up in a work culture that says “more, better, faster.” Productivity was a game and if we could master it, we’d make more money. We’d get a promotion. We’d be recognized for our value.