How Adopting the 3Bs Can Make You Highly Successful and Unstoppable

Every young entrepreneur needs this recipe.

In a fit of madness, I decided to fuck it and went ahead and started a fashion magazine business 13 years ago.

I was a struggling fashion model. I loved fashion, but the industry was tough. I got fed up with kissing up to my agency to get jobs. It was frustrating and sometimes degrading.

I was tired of complaining about being side-lined after I abandoned a contract due to a physical assault and harassment incident with a client.

Modelling felt like I was always waiting for the next gig, depending on someone else to decide my worth, my paycheck, and my future.

I needed something that was mine — something I could build from the ground up, something where I didn’t have to rely on anyone else to make a living. So, I decided to start my own fashion magazine.

Image credit: Freepik

I’ll be honest, I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn’t know the first thing about publishing, marketing, or running a business, but I was driven.

I had this burning desire to create something that reflected my love for fashion but also gave me control over my own destiny.

I jumped in headfirst, doing everything myself. I wrote the content, edited it, published it, promoted it, and spent hours on social media trying to build a following. Every post, every email campaign — everything was on my shoulders.

I even taught myself design, using Photoshop and Coral Draw to make the magazine look professional. I’d stay up late, fixing layouts, tweaking designs, making sure everything was perfect. It was exhausting, but I loved it.

I was finally in control of my career, and I thought that was enough. But after a few months, reality hit. The workload was overwhelming. I was burning the candle at both ends, and it was starting to affect my creativity and energy.

I needed help. I couldn’t keep doing everything alone. The magazine had potential, but I knew it could be so much more if I had someone to share the work with.

That’s when I thought of my best friend.

We’d talked about my business ideas before, and I knew she had the skills I was lacking — especially in design and strategy.

She understood my vision, and, more importantly, she understood the struggles I’d been through in the fashion industry.

So, I asked her if she’d join me on this crazy ride, to help take the magazine to the next level. Without hesitation, she said yes. And from that moment, everything changed.

With my friend on board, I wasn’t alone anymore. She took over the design work and helped refine the visual direction of the magazine. We split responsibilities, each focusing on our strengths — social media, content strategy, email campaigns.

Suddenly, the business didn’t feel so overwhelming. The pressure lifted, and I could focus on the technical side while they handled the creative aspects.

Having a partner didn’t just make the workload easier; it made the business feel real. It was no longer just my dream — it was our dream. And with that shift, we started seeing the magazine grow in ways I never thought possible.

After two years in business together, we began to disagree on which direction to take and how to continue growing.

We didn’t share the same vision either. I wanted to build a niche fashion brand, and she wanted to create a generic magazine brand.

I began to notice that she wasn’t putting in as much time, and it seemed as if she was losing interest in the work. Sure enough, one day she asked for a meeting and told me she wanted out.

It provides emotional support and expertise, giving you someone to share ideas with and lean on during tough times. Without that support, things can feel a little overwhelming.

Deciding whether to keep growing a business or walk away from it is never easy. You might start reflecting on all the effort you’ve put in, the money you’ve spent, and the countless hours you’ve dedicated to building something meaningful.

The truth is, failure can be tough.

It can feel isolating, and unfortunately, society sometimes sees setbacks as something to be ashamed of. People may judge or place blame, adding an emotional weight that lingers even when progress is being made.

But financial failure doesn’t have to be the end of your dreams. When approached with the right mindset, setbacks can become valuable lessons — stepping stones that lead to future success.

Every entrepreneur faces challenges, but those challenges can shape a stronger, wiser, and more resilient path forward.

It certainly was for me.

It was a learning experience that taught me what not to do the next time I built a business. Though it was definitely disappointing, I’m still around to tell the tale. Living proof that failure is often just the beginning.

Ultimately, I learned the importance of having the 3 Bs (Balance, Breaks and Boundaries) in business right from the planning stage.

I realized that my intense work ethic had actually been my biggest obstacle. I had burned myself out, and that nearly cost me everything.

Starting and growing my fashion magazine taught me the crucial importance of the 3 Bs — Balance, Breaks, and Boundaries — when starting a new business.

Balance was something I quickly realized I needed.

In the beginning, I was doing everything myself — writing, editing, designing, promoting. I was passionate, but the workload was overwhelming, and I couldn’t keep up with it all.

Once I brought my best friend on board, I was able to balance the responsibilities more effectively.

We split tasks, and I could focus on the technical side while she handled the design aspects. That balance made the business more sustainable and allowed both of us to thrive.

Breaks were something I didn’t initially prioritize.

But I learned the hard way how important they are. I was constantly working, pushing myself to my limits.

I thought I could just power through, but that only led to burnout.

Taking breaks — whether stepping away for a day or even just taking short moments to recharge — became essential for maintaining creativity and avoiding mental fatigue.

When I finally gave myself permission to rest, my energy and ideas flowed much more freely.

Boundaries were crucial too.

At first, I didn’t have clear lines between work and personal life. I was constantly working late nights and sacrificing my own well-being.

But when I set boundaries — like specific working hours and not checking emails after a certain time — I found I was more productive and less stressed.

Having those boundaries allowed me to focus better during work hours and recharge outside of them, which helped the business grow in a healthier, more sustainable way.

When I launched my third business, I made a conscious decision to approach it differently. I knew that balance would be the key.

I set clear boundaries between my work and personal life, recognizing that I couldn’t pour from an empty cup.

I gave myself permission to take breaks without guilt, knowing that rest and rejuvenation weren’t just necessary — they were crucial for my success.

It wasn’t easy at first.

I had years of ingrained hustle culture to unlearn. But slowly, I started seeing the results. With balance, I was able to make more strategic decisions instead of impulsive ones.

With breaks, I was more focused and creative when I returned to work. And with boundaries, I learned to say no to the things that didn’t align with my vision, freeing up my time and energy for what truly mattered.

By the time I started my fourth business, adopting these three principles had become second nature.

The pressure didn’t feel as suffocating.

I was more confident, more grounded, and more successful. My businesses flourished, not because I worked harder, but because I worked smarter — taking the time to nurture both my professional and personal life.

The 3 Bs weren’t just a strategy; they became a lifestyle, one that allowed me to thrive in ways I never thought possible.

Fear is a normal human instinct, but it shouldn’t stop you from achieving your dreams.

In fact, experts now argue that failure is not a bad thing. We should embrace failure, and fail often, because in most cases success comes from failure.

So, when starting any business, remember the 3 Bs: Balance, Breaks, and Boundaries. They help you avoid burnout, stay focused, and create a business that works not just for the success of the brand, but for your own well-being, too.

Have you ever had any big failures in life? What were your lessons? Join the conversation in the comments and subscribe for more.