Lisa Johnson is a business strategist, a public speaker, a bestselling author, number one podcast host and Sunday Times Bestselling author of Make Money Online.
Lisa grew her business from 30k in debt to multi-7-figures in less than 4 years using passive income and now helps thousands of business owners do the same.
I run a 7 figure online business-here’s how I’ve found a work-life balance that works for me as a leader.
When people see the numbers my business makes, they often assume I must be working ridiculous hours to keep it all going. Multi million pound launches, bestselling books, thousands of clients. It sounds like the sort of thing that only happens if you’re glued to your laptop 24/7.
It isn’t.
I didn’t build this business to spend my life chained to my desk. I built it so I could spend more time with my kids, travel, and actually enjoy the freedom I was promised when I left the 9 to 5.
But in all honesty, I didn’t get it right at the start.
In the early years, I said yes to everything. Every client, every opportunity, every speaking slot, every late night Zoom call. I was running on fumes, constantly worried that if I turned something down, I’d never get another chance. I ended up working 80 hours a week, exhausted, burned out, and missing the whole point of why I’d started my own business in the first place.
That was the wake up call. I realised that if I wanted to be a successful leader, balance couldn’t be optional. It had to be the strategy.
So, I redesigned the way I worked.
Firstly, and most importantly, I learnt everything I could about recurring revenue, and this was the biggest game changer, because instead of constantly chasing one to one clients, I created programmes, memberships and courses. That means money comes in even when I’m not online.
I got strict with my boundaries. Yes, I will still work when I’m on holiday, but I’ll work when I want to, and when it suits my plans, meaning my kids don’t get pushed aside every time “something comes up.” I came to realise that boundaries aren’t about being difficult, they’re about being sustainable. If I let my business consume every part of my life, I’d eventually lose both.
It took me time, but I accepted that leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself. It’s about knowing what only you can do and letting other people handle the rest. I’ve built a brilliant team I can trust. They look after the day-to-day, so I can focus on vision, strategy and connection.
I don’t wait for “someday” to take a break. I take two months off every summer, and regular breaks throughout the year.
And without sounding too woo, balance isn’t just about avoiding burnout. It’s about making sure joy is built into your life on purpose. For me, that’s musical theatre, travel, laughing with friends, bingeing a Netflix series, and saying yes to the little things that make life feel good.
This is what work/life balance looks like as a leader. Not waiting until you’ve “made it” to rest. Not postponing life until retirement. But choosing to build a business that works around the life you want—right now.
Balance doesn’t mean splitting your time evenly between work and life. It means creating a business that supports your life instead of consuming it.
If there’s one lesson I’ve learnt, it’s this – success without balance isn’t really success at all. It’s just exhaustion in nicer clothes.
And that’s not what I want for myself, or for anyone I work with.
