What “building a business around my lifestyle” really means to me


Howdy! Reader,

You’ve probably heard me say this before:

“I’m building a business that suits my lifestyle.”

Yes? No? Regardless...

A hot topic which has occurred this week, that I have pop up within my immediate community and within the groups and chatter around all that has been the conversations around self-love, health and lifestyle balance.

I want to capture my thoughts on all this and reiterate why I do what I do.

I share this with the hope to inspire, motivate and encourage you to reflect on this too.

Last Newsletter can be read here

🤷🏻‍♂️ Life & Thoughts

So I will say it again...

“I’m building a business that suits my lifestyle.”

It sounds self-explanatory, but it’s also broad — and maybe even a little vague. So I want to unpack what it actually means to me.

At the core of it all: Freedom First.

The dream?
To build something that runs
with or without me, so I can pour my energy into what lights me up — training for ultra marathons, working on my podcast, exploring new ventures, spending time with Karla, and travelling freely. That’s the goal.

From the outside, it might look chaotic. Honestly? Sometimes it is.

That’s the result of me constantly pushing to grow, instead of playing it safe or staying lean. I’m okay with that — because I’m not just building a business, I’m building a foundation. I’m learning as I go, making bold reinvestments, and refining over time.

I’m playing the long game — and I’m willing to give it 5 to 10 years of intentional effort because I believe the payoff will be stronger, smoother systems and a more seamless business later on.

“Growing slow” to me doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means being willing to build deliberately — not expecting overnight wins, but putting in the reps to truly make something worthwhile.

And no, I don’t have it all figured out.

A lot of the time I’m testing things, learning on the fly, and seeing what sticks — what feels aligned, and what doesn’t. That’s the beauty of it: I get to choose.

Back to the lifestyle side…

Yes, this business is built on my blood, sweat, and tears, but it’s also grounded in purpose, values, and alignment.

  • I know the why behind what I’m doing.
  • I know the direction I’m heading.
  • I might not know all the details, but I know what’s required to move forward.

My values are clear. I choose when to speed up, when to slow down, when to work late, or when to take the afternoon off.

That freedom? I’ve already created it.

What I haven’t yet created is full flow — a business that operates seamlessly without me. That’ll come. I’m working on it.

But here’s the most important part:

I love this.
I love the challenge.
I love the problems it creates because they make me better, sharper, more self-aware.

Every step teaches me something new about myself.

Beyond business, here’s my bigger mission:
I want to inspire, innovate, and promote success in those around me.
I want my actions to spread happiness, express life, and spark motivation.
I want to create opportunities — not just for me, but for others too.

That’s why I share.
That’s why I document the journey.

I have big dreams. Some are in progress. Some still feel far off.
And that’s okay — they’re mine to chase. Just like yours are yours.

I know my POV won’t always make sense to others — but I hope by living it out loud, you’ll be encouraged to live yours too.

So don’t worry about doing it perfectly.
Build what you want.
And keep showing up.

Enough on that...

Ill break it down to you in practical and actionable things you can do:

With this all in mind, don’t focus on:

  • Perfection in Every Detail: You won’t see every process fully polished from day one. I’m iterating as I go—so skip expecting flawless, final-form systems.
  • Overnight Success: This isn’t about instant wins or viral moments. It’s a 5–10 year play of steady reinvestment, learn-and-refine, not a lightning-fast pivot.
  • Micromanaging Me: You don’t need to see me glued to the desk 24/7. I choose when I work—whether that’s late-night listings or morning runs—and the business adapts.
  • Strict Lean Operations Right Now: I’m heavy-reinvesting to accelerate growth; “lean” processes will come later once the foundation’s solid.
  • Comparisons to Others’ Journeys: My path is built around my life and loves... ultra-marathons, podcasting, hobbies, investing, charity fundraisers and family time. Don’t benchmark me against someone else’s definition of ‘success.’
  • Knowing Every Answer: I’m learning on the fly. It’s okay not to have all the details mapped out—what matters is moving toward the goal with purpose and values.
  • One-Size-Fits-All Business Advice: This model suits my lifestyle: high autonomy, freedom first. Yours may look different—and that’s exactly the point.

Business Snapshot for 2025 (currently):

June is in full force, though the expenses wont come till another week... so it is all too early to callout where we will be... but Ill have a go anyways:

  • EOM Sales Forecast: 790
  • EOM Revenue Forecast: $29.1K
  • EOM Net Profit Forecast: $4.7K

Current Metrics (but expenses yet to come):

Content

Latest Content:

Closing thoughts

I hope to see you around via my Youtube, my Instagram or maybe even in person!

Thanks!

Chris Furlong // say hello@clfurlong.com

LINKS & AFFILIATES:

AMEX:

I recently got the American Express® Business Platinum Card to ease my cash flow - not saying it’s a must-have, but if you’re considering, definitely worth a peek! (Not financial advice.) If you are curious or looking for one, reach out as I can send you a referral for some bonus points.

PEOPLE:

📊 Reseller Spreadsheet:

  • Click here, to see the VIP offer for you as one of my biggest supports.
  • Watch the DEMO, live with Ethan Rooshock

PRINTER I USE: https://ausprint.co/collections/shop/products/ausprint
Get $20 off your order with CHRISFR20 with a printer or labels over $249.
AUSPRINT USB Printer Review: https://youtu.be/wUFJhe12kmE

I use this printer now EVERYDAY.

Also, I have had more people in the last week ask me what boxes and bags do I use for my Clothing on eBay, so here they are:

MAGIC MIND - https://www.magicmind.com/clfurlong

use CLFURLONG20 to save up to 56% off Magic Mind

PREVIOUS READS: First and Latest:

Week 1: https://ckarchive.com/b/lmuehmh9od64
Week 186: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/remember-to-zoom-out-before-you-focus-in-again
Week 187: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/it-s-taken-5-years-but-i-am-ready-for-the-next
Week 188: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/will-you-commit-to-being-a-better-you
Week 189: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/that-fear-isn-t-a-red-light-it-s-a-signal-that-you-re-about-to-grow?
Week 190: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/why-you-should-never-listen-to-the-doubters?
Week 191: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/1-491-days-later-and-i-cannot-believe-it
Week 192: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/it-s-scary-it-s-risky-but-it-still-feels-right-to-do
Week 193: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/a-year-from-now-you-will-have-wished-you-started-today
Week 194: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/the-reality-of-why-you-get-annoyed-at-others
Week 195: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/five-years-ago-i-had-no-plan-now-i-run-a-business-out-of-a-warehouse
Week 196: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/why-i-am-happy-to-continue-to-focus-long-term
Week 197: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/7-tactical-lessons-for-you-to-leverage
Week 198: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/i-have-to-get-out-of-my-own-way-you-might-too
Week 199: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/the-new-quarter-welcomes-a-new-opportunity
Week 200: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/what-s-one-unsolved-puzzle-you-re-working-on-right-now
Week 201: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/start-small-stay-consistent-and-build-your-path
Week 202: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/when-is-the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree-spoiler-today
Week 203/204: was on break
Week 205: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/remember-to-take-a-break-here-and-there
Week 206: https://artisanal-teacher-7863.kit.com/posts/the-beginning-of-the-end

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Hi! I'm a Chris

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