How I Built a Business That Runs While I’m Running (Literally)

You don’t need a million-dollar funnel. You need a system that works — even when you’re off the grid.

Jul 11, 2025

Most people imagine the idea of passive income1 as this fantasy land where you sip cocktails on a beach while money magically flows into your account. That story sells well on (mostly fake) social media posts, but it’s not quite real. Even some of the passive income gurus say (in their fine print), “the average person gets little to no results”.2

The online presence I’ve built over the last decade or so is far less glamorous on the surface. There are no beaches or luxury jets (well, not always), but there is something better: peace of mind. The freedom to step away from my inbox, go for a run, or ride my motorcycle without wondering if I’ll miss a sale or drop the ball on something important.

Because the truth is, I’ve made course sales while running marathons. And I’ve sold prints from my photography collection while carving corners on my Harley. Not because I’m some kind of genius. Not because I don’t put in the effort. But because I set up a business that doesn’t fall apart when I step away. That’s the magic of automation.

A Business Designed for Life — Not the Other Way Around

When I first started out, I wasn’t trying to build some huge empire. I didn’t want a giant team or an office or endless meetings. I wanted a business that was lean, flexible, and most importantly, human. Something that allowed me to share what I love (writing, photography, travel) in a way that connected with people, while also giving me the time and space to live my life.

So I started with simple things. I wrote books. I turned some of those ideas into courses. I created free resources people could download, and added a personal touch to my emails that makes them feel more like a conversation than a sales pitch (I hope). I kept refining until the process felt smooth — not robotic, but intentional.

I didn’t outsource my voice or automate the soul out of my work. But I did make sure the mechanics could run without me being involved every second of the day.

Freedom in the Background

There’s something really satisfying about seeing a Stripe notification pop up while I’m tying my shoelaces at the start line of a race. Or opening my email after a long motorcycle ride and seeing that someone joined one of my programs.

These moments aren’t about money, they’re about time.

They remind me that I’ve built something that supports me, even when I’m off the grid. I’m not glued to my desk trying to push out one more post, or hustle through another launch. I’ve already done the work. Now the systems carry it forward.

This frees up your time to do whatever you want. That’s what automation (and the freedom it brings) means to me:

It’s not about checking out of your business — it’s about building something that works with your life, not against it.

Build It Once. Let It Run.

If you’re still doing everything manually, replying to every email, sending every invoice, writing every message from scratch, that’s ok. That was me too. You can’t automate a process that you haven’t mastered yet. But eventually, most true entrepreneurs realize that just because something can be done manually doesn’t mean it should be.

The shift happened when I decided to treat my time with more respect, and worked on the things that I enjoyed. The things that make a difference.

I started writing more, creating more content, without losing the personal touch. It’s still my story. But I connected tools that work together without needing babysitting. I learned to trust the process I had refined over the years. And then I hit publish — not just on my books or blog posts, but on a way of working that gives me room to breathe.

Want to See How It Works?

Everything I’ve just described — the tools, the setup, the strategy — I’ve put into a course called Business Autopilot and Marketing Automation.

It’s for creators, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who are tired of burning out on busywork. If you’ve ever wanted to create a business that supports your lifestyle — not consumes it — this is for you.

👉 Preview the course for free and see how it could work for you too.

The time to reclaim your time is now. You don’t have to scale like a Silicon Valley startup. Most of us never will, and probably shouldn’t want to. You just have to start — intentionally, and keep going on your terms.

Because freedom doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from building better.