Stop Waiting to Exhale.

Because "mission-driven" shouldn't immediately mean "running on empty."

If you come from the world of international development or social impact, you know the drill.

We are trained to operate in a state of perpetual urgency. The grant cycle is ending, the project is launching, the crisis is unfolding. There is always a reason to push harder, and there is rarely a “good time” to pause.

There is always good work worth doing.

When we leave our organizations to become independent consultants, we tell ourselves it’s going to be different. We say we’re doing it for the freedom. We say we’re doing it to “get back to the real work” without the bureaucracy.

But more often than not, we just become our own tyrannical boss.

We replicate the scarcity mindset of the nonprofit world in our own businesses. We say “yes” to projects that drain us because we’re afraid the funding will dry up. We answer emails at midnight because the client is in a different time zone and the mission feels too important to wait.

We hold our breath, waiting for the moment when we’ve “made it” enough to finally relax.

Here is the hard truth I’ve learned: The exhale doesn’t happen by accident.

In our line of work, the problems we are solving are infinite. If you don’t build a career with fierce intentionality, the work will expand until it consumes you.

Building a business with structure—with clear pipelines, firm boundaries, and intentional pricing—isn’t just about “making money.” It’s about longevity.

• Intentionality allows you to do your best work. You cannot offer high-level strategic insight when you are stuck in survival mode.

• Structure buys you presence. It gives you the ability to disconnect without the fear that everything will collapse.

• Systems protect your empathy. When you aren’t worried about where your next check is coming from, you can show up for your clients (and the communities they serve) with a full cup.

We have to stop viewing “business strategy” as a distraction from the mission. Strategy is what protects the mission.

It is time to build a container for your impact.

If you are ready to stop running on adrenaline and start building a consultancy that is designed to last, this is your invitation.

I am opening enrollment for On-Ramp to Freelance Consulting, a 6-week accelerator for consultants who are ready to professionalize their practice. We are going to build the infrastructure—the roadmap, the systems, and the clarity—that allows you to stop spinning your wheels and finally find your footing.

You have spent your career building capacity for others. It is time to build it for yourself.