For the Weirdos: Forget Work/ Life Balance. How a Radical Rest practice drives success for people like us

Are you tired of chasing the mythical 'work-life balance' unicorn? What if I told you that the secret to entrepreneurial success isn't about balance at all, but about embracing intense work followed by radical, unapologetic rest? Buckle up, because I'm about to shatter everything you thought you knew about productivity and self-care.

The Work-Life Balance Myth

You’ve heard it a thousand times: work-life balance. It sounds nice, doesn’t it? But let me tell you, it’s a myth—a fantasy wrapped up in a neat little package that we’re all supposed to aspire to. If you think that’s what I mean when I say Radical Rest, Let’s set the record straight. Radical rest isn’t about finding balance; it’s about embracing the ebb and flow of work and restorative rest, on your own terms.

My Burnout Wake-Up Call

I used to buy into the hustle culture, listening to folks like Gary Vaynerchuk saying, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” I pushed myself to the limit, burning the midnight oil and cursing under my breath, trying to reach that elusive balance everyone talks about. But you know what I found? That approach didn’t work for me. It burned me out, drained my energy, and left me feeling empty.

Why Your Brain is Craves Rest

Did you know that your brain operates on Ultradian Rhythms, cycles of roughly 90 minutes of intense activity followed by 20 minutes of rest? Embracing Radical Rest aligns perfectly with how our brains are wired for optimal performance. During these rest periods, neuroplasticity kicks in, allowing your brain to reorganize and adapt—crucial for the creative problem-solving and strategic thinking that drive business growth.

When you engage in Radical Rest, you're setting the stage for entering a flow state, where your mind is fully immersed and performing at its peak. This intentional rest reduces cortisol levels, the stress hormone that leads to brain fog, hinders effective leadership, and causes you to make poor choices. By managing stress through Radical Rest, you're enhancing your ability to make clear, strategic decisions that propel your business forward.

If that’s not convincing enough, research from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine shows that a good night's sleep can boost creative problem-solving by 15%. As entrepreneurs, we solve problems all day long. If we can solve a lot of problems, for a whole lot of people, we make more money. 

What I Mean by Radical Rest

Let's be clear: Radical Rest means the exact opposite of  following someone else's rules for relaxation. It's about resting on your terms, restoring your way. At its core, Radical Rest means tuning into what recharges you, then unapologetically making space for it in your life.

This could mean conquering a mountain trail, diving into a documentary marathon, or simply taking strategic 15-minute breathers throughout your workday. Maybe it's using the Pomodoro technique with 5-minute rest intervals, or perhaps it's a week-long retreat from the digital world. The key is that it's personal and intentional.

When I taught Miller Heiman Sales training, we used an exercise where new salespeople had to ask questions to determine the ideal vacation destination for a family. This activity honed their skills in active listening and understanding individual needs—key components of Radical Rest. It was one of the most effective training methods because it mirrored the personalized approach I advocate in my coaching—tailoring rest practices to fit each entrepreneur's unique rhythm. In the game, the father mentioned, “I want to go somewhere I can recharge and reset.” Most of the salespeople assumed this meant a beach vacation, but he actually wanted to be active, engaging in activities like zip lining, cycling, and hiking. They missed the crucial follow-up question: “How do you like to recharge on vacation?” The activity lasted longer than a Monopoly game, illustrating how challenging active listening can be, though not as difficult as identifying our own needs.

Radical Rest is about listening to your body and mind, recognizing what you need to feel energized and inspired. It's not one-size-fits-all; it's tailor-made for you. Whether you recharge through physical exertion, mental stimulation, or complete disconnection, honor that need without guilt or hesitation. It's recharging on your terms, and it's the secret weapon of successful entrepreneurs who understand that true productivity stems from being genuinely refreshed and aligned.

It wasn’t until I embraced Radical Rest—really leaning into my custom rest practice routine, like frequent visits to the black sandy beaches of Costa Rica—that I began to thrive. During a five-month hiatus after implementing and tweaking systems in my real estate business, I grew and so did my business, breaking the 7-figure ceiling. My creativity soared, and I felt more aligned with my purpose than ever before. Imagine what a tailored rest practice could do for your business and well-being. You don’t have to flee the country for rest, that’s how I rest on my terms. You could binge-watch Netflix for a weekend, focus on a more deep, intentional, spiritual recharge that rejuvenates every part of your being, brunch with your girlfriends, or go on a long hike and let nature do its job of grounding revitalization. 

Sprinting Through Work and Rest

Here’s how I do it: I work in sprints and  rest in sprints. When I’m working, I’m all in. I can pull late nights, going until three in the morning, catching a few hours of sleep, and getting right back to it. And when I’m done—when the project is birthed into the world—I relax, really relax. After launching my first course, I took three months off, diving into a deep rest that was as physical as it was mental and spiritual. That’s when I felt most alive, creative, and most aligned with my purpose.

The same goes for me and exercise. I don’t follow a consistent routine like clockwork. Instead, I may go hard for 90 days, working out every other day, and then pause or slow down to open up space for the next important goal. This is not about quitting, it’s about knowing when you have put yourself in a position with enough momentum that you can focus some of the energy on a rising, more important goal. Everything cannot be of major importance all at the same time. You have to choose. 

Because of this, I have been called inconsistent or even “waffly,” as one of my cousins put it. But I’ve come to understand that my body, my mind, knows when it’s time to shift gears. It’s not inconsistency; it’s intuition. Move when it feels right, not what society tells you it’s right.

I absorb what I need—whether it’s from podcasts, influencers, books, workout programs—and when I’ve got what I came for, I move on. This deep diving into something, soothes my need to extract every bit of value, and then letting it go when I’m satisfied. Here is the key: Once you see something, you cannot unsee it. When I consume, it becomes part of me. I move through the world with this knowing. 

Embracing Your Unique Rhythm

If you’re a fellow weirdo like me, if you work in sprints and rest in sprints, you’re not inconsistent. You’re in tune with what you need. Whether or not you have behaviors of someone with ADHD or ADD doesn’t matter anymore. I used to work myself in a tiff because I didn’t work like everyone else. Be strategic.  Be intentional. Mold your life around the way you tick. You know when to push and when to pull back, and that’s a major strength.

From Shame to Success: Your Action Plan for Radical Rest

I used to carry shame, feeling like I wasn’t doing it “right” because it didn’t match what the experts said. But once I embraced it, and stopped trying to fit into a precast mold, everything changed. I started to thrive, to really thrive, because I was finally moving in a way that was natural.

Here’s my advice: Find out what lights you up. Experiment. Try new things. Go hard when you find something that makes you feel alive. When you’ve had your fill, rest. Rest deeply. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re doing it wrong. Your life, your rules.

Start small: this week, schedule one day of complete disconnection from work. This CAN be a Sunday - eyyyy ‘Self-care Sunday’   Turn off notifications and dive into one of those things you’re experimenting with that truly rejuvenates you. Whether it's a day in nature, immersing yourself in a hobby, or simply sleeping in, make it count. Then, gradually increase these periods of radical rest into vacations or company wide days and watch how it transforms your work and life. 

I’m writing this as I soak up the last rays of the sun on a beautiful vacation in Aruba where we celebrated with our dear friends for their 40th wedding anniversary and it was EPIC. This is my way, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Work-life balance is a myth. Radical rest helps you thrive on your own terms. Endeavor to find what works for you. Embrace your weirdo and let it take you where you’re meant to be.

Grab your free Radical Rest Toolkit now and start thriving on your own terms.