A simple self-reflection tool for business owners who want a life their work fits into — not the other way around.
When I first started my business, probably a bit like you, I put everything into it.
I worked early mornings, late evenings, weekends — whenever clients were available. I was in my early 20s and my business was a high priority for me; I wanted it to work, and I needed it to work. So I did what a lot of people do: I built my entire life around it.
For a while, that was fine.
Then, a few years in, it stopped working for me. I was constantly tired, burnt out and resentful. I wanted more from my life than just running a business, and I noticed I was losing the passion and love I once had for it.
That’s when I was introduced to The Wheel of Life.
To be honest, it wasn’t until recently — when Harry, my son, turned two — that it really landed. I realised that my business is part of my life, rather than my life revolving around my business.
It started years earlier when I wanted to do CrossFit. As a personal trainer, the class times clashed with when clients wanted to train.
I remember booking into a CrossFit session and then a client said,
“I can only do Friday morning at 9am.”
That was my CrossFit time.
So I took a deep breath and said,
“I can’t do Friday morning, but I can do Wednesday afternoon.”
She replied,
“Yes, that’s fine.”
That moment was my first real experience of having a life that my business fitted into — not the other way around.
More recently, after having Harry, I didn’t want to send him to nursery. That meant my business had to fit around my life. Someone had to look after him, so I had ‘no choice’ but to work the hours I chose.
And that brought up a new question:
What do I do with the rest of my time?
I’d been so used to filling it with work. And trust me — if you have a two-year-old, staying in the house all day isn’t an option. You’ll both go mad.
That’s why I want to share a simple but powerful self-reflection tool with you.
The Wheel of Life
The Wheel of Life helps you look honestly at what’s working in your life — and what isn’t. Where your energy is going, and which areas are being neglected.
Go through each section and rate yourself from 0–10 based on how fulfilled you feel in that area right now. There’s no right or wrong — only awareness.
Business / Career
I think of this area as self-expression.
Some people believe work doesn’t need to be meaningful as long as it pays the bills. I see it differently. When this area is aligned, you feel fulfilled and like you’re contributing something worthwhile.
That doesn’t mean every day is easy. Challenges are part of the deal. But when you’ve found your Ikigai — your sense of purpose — you’re willing to move through discomfort rather than just “getting through the week”.
You might score this lower if you’re avoiding difficult conversations, staying small or feeling stuck and stagnant.
It’s also about the people you work with. Not that you’d take them on holiday — but you have real, quality conversations. I learn so much from my clients because they come from different backgrounds and perspectives.
I’ve also had periods where clients didn’t follow through, repeated the same problems, and it was exhausting. Pay attention here: do you choose who you work with, or just take whoever comes?
And finally — boundaries. How well do you protect your time and energy?
Questions to reflect on:
- Does my work currently energise or drain me?
- Where am I saying “yes” when I should be saying “no”?
Finances
Money. Especially if you’re English, this can feel uncomfortable — like sex. Important, used regularly, but rarely talked about openly (money, not sex).
You might feel anxious about money, avoid looking at it, or feel out of control. Or you might feel clear, calm and organised.
This area isn’t just about how much you earn. It’s about your relationship with money — how you think about it, talk about it and manage it.
It includes your spending habits, saving, investing and awareness. Do you know what’s coming in and what’s going out? Are your financial decisions driven by emotion or intention?
Clarity creates calm.
Questions to reflect on:
- How do I actually feel about money?
- Am I avoiding my finances or engaging with them consciously?
Health
Jim Rohn said, “Look after your body — it’s the only place you have to live.”
Health isn’t just about how you look. It’s about energy, resilience, recovery and how well your body responds to life.
Think about how you fuel yourself. How consistently you move. How well you listen to your body instead of pushing through.
What are your energy levels like during the day? If you got ill tomorrow, how quickly would you recover?
Your health underpins everything.
Questions to reflect on:
- How well do I listen to my body?
- Do my daily habits support long-term wellbeing?
Family / Friends
This is your support system.
The people who are there when things aren’t going well. The ones you laugh with, cry with and feel safe around.
Some relationships drain you — they take more than they give. Others are balanced, present and supportive.
Healthy relationships allow you to express your needs without guilt or resentment. You don’t show up out of obligation — you choose to.
There will always be people you want to see more of, and some less of. The question is whether that balance is working for you.
Questions to reflect on:
- Do my relationships give me energy or take it away?
- Where do I need clearer boundaries?
Romance
There’s a reason people say, “Choose your partner wisely.”
Being able to communicate without defensiveness, feel emotionally safe and be yourself at home is essential — especially if you’re running a business.
It’s about balancing independence with connection, and continuing to create inside the relationship so it doesn’t fall into routine.
There’s no “right” way for a relationship to look. What matters is whether it works for you.
Questions to reflect on:
- Do I feel safe and supported in my relationship?
- Does my relationship work for me?
Personal Growth
No surprise — my favourite section.
Personal growth touches every area of your life. It’s about responding instead of reacting, taking responsibility and consistently reflecting on who you’re being.
It’s not just consuming information — it’s applying it. Sitting with discomfort. Embracing uncertainty. Especially in business, where connection and communication matter more than ever.
Questions to reflect on:
- How often do I reflect on my behaviour and patterns?
- Am I turning insight into action?
Fun & Creation
This is the area many business owners neglect.
Fun doesn’t have to be productive. Creation doesn’t need a purpose. It’s about enjoying life in your way — not how you think you should.
Play, curiosity, spontaneity. Permission to enjoy yourself without earning it.
Questions to reflect on:
- When was the last time I did something purely for enjoyment?
- Where can I allow more play and creativity?
Physical Environment
Your environment impacts your mood, focus and nervous system more than you realise.
Clutter often reflects mental overload. Order creates clarity.
Your space should support how you work, rest and connect. This area is about regularly asking: What’s no longer supporting me?
Sometimes the change is simple — decluttering, storage or changing a habit.
Questions to reflect on:
- Does my environment support the life I want?
- What needs to change in my space right now?
The Wheel of Life isn’t about perfection. It’s about awareness.
You don’t need every area to be a 10. You just need to be honest about where you are — and intentional about where you want to go.
Your business is part of your life. Not your whole life.
When you start designing your life first, and then let your work fit into it, everything changes.
And that’s where real fulfillment begins.
If you’ve read this and noticed one or two areas that made you pause, sit with that. Awareness is always the first step.
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight — but you do need to be honest about what’s working and what isn’t.
If you want support having those conversations with yourself, your business, or the people around you, that’s the work I do.
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