How do you know if your business is the right one for you? Science has answers.
How do you know if your business is the right one for you? For freelancers and solopreneurs, this question can feel both exciting and overwhelming. The answer isn’t just about profit — it’s about alignment.
Research in psychology shows that people who build businesses aligned with their values and passions experience more satisfaction, creativity, and resilience. Here are three science-backed signs that you’re building a business that fits you — and fuels your long-term happiness.
Quick Takeaway:
- You’ve likely found your dream business if:
- You have time and energy for hobbies and personal life.
- You often enter a flow state while working.
- Your work genuinely excites you — even on hard days.
- Balance and joy are better long-term success indicators than constant hustle.
1️⃣ How to Tell if Your Business Supports a Balanced Life
Enjoying your work means that you have the freedom to pursue your passions both inside and outside of your business. When you're passionate about your work, you're more likely to find inspiration and creativity in all aspects of life. By engaging in hobbies and other activities, you can develop a healthy work-life balance that promotes mental, physical, and emotional well-being. This balance helps you avoid burnout, keep your motivation, and fosters a long-term perspective on your business.
If your business doesn't prevent you from pursuing your hobbies, it is most likely one that can be sustainable and fulfilling in the long run.
Research published in the academic journal Personality and Individual Differences divides career passion into two types: harmonious passion and obsessive passion. Harmonious passion requires that one pursues an activity with a sense of balance and flexibility, while obsessive passion suggests an overwhelming urge to engage in an activity and to become wholly preoccupied with it. It's always better to be harmoniously passionate about your business than obsessively passionate about it.
Work-life balance is a success strategy, not a luxury. Here’s how freelancers can protect their mental health.
2️⃣ What “Flow State” Reveals About Building the Right Business
According to research on flow state and motivation, freelancers who frequently lose track of time while working often feel a deeper sense of purpose and satisfaction. That’s a powerful indicator that you’re building the right business for you.
When you are truly enjoying your work, you may enter a state of flow. This means that you are completely absorbed in your work and lose track of time. You feel fully engaged and motivated, and you may even forget about the outside world.
The ability to enter the state of flow not only helps you work more effectively, but it also makes the most of your limited time and resources. Moreover, it can bring about a sense of pride and fulfillment, as you feel more in control of your work and are able to achieve your goals with greater ease and vision.
Want to stay productive while protecting your focus? Try these productivity techniques for freelancers.
3️⃣ Why Feeling Excited About Work Is a Sign You’re on the Right Path
As a solopreneur, your business is a reflection of your values and interests. When you're truly excited about your work, it's easier to stay motivated and engaged with your clients and customers.
You'll find that you're eager to take on new challenges, connect with like-minded individuals, and push the boundaries of what you thought was possible. You may even find that you're able to wake up each day with a renewed sense of purpose, eager to tackle the tasks at hand and make a meaningful impact on the world around you. This level of enthusiasm and passion can help keep you inspired and energized, even during the toughest of times.
Additionally, when you find your business exciting, it becomes easier to network and build relationships with other people in your industry, as your enthusiasm is likely to be contagious.
FAQ: How to Know You’re Building the Right Business
Q1: How do I know if my business is the right one for me?
If your work energizes you, aligns with your values, and still leaves space for rest and hobbies, you’ve likely found a sustainable fit.
Q2: What’s the biggest sign of burnout vs. passion?
Burnout drains your motivation and creativity, while harmonious passion inspires you without consuming every part of your life.
Q3: Can freelancers be “too passionate” about their work?
Yes. Obsessive passion — when you can’t switch off or rest — leads to stress and burnout. Aim for balance instead.
Q4: What is a “flow state,” and why does it matter?
Flow is a state of deep focus where work feels enjoyable and time passes quickly. Frequent flow moments are a key sign of fulfillment.
How to Know You’ve Found Your Dream Business
No business is perfect — but the right one feels right more often than not. If you find yourself entering flow, protecting time for hobbies, and feeling excited to work most days, you’re likely building your dream business.
Stay harmoniously passionate — not obsessively driven — and give yourself permission to evolve. Success isn’t about working nonstop; it’s about creating a life you genuinely enjoy.
Building your dream business is about alignment — not exhaustion. Discover how Xolo helps solopreneurs simplify business management
About Mark
Mark Travers, Ph.D., is an American Psychologist with degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. Xolo helps him run his online therapy practice, www.awake-therapy.me, from whatever part of the world he is currently living in.