Entrepreneurship & Alignment: Building from Flow Instead of Force
For years, I lived and breathed hustle culture. I was part of high-performing sales teams, deep in sales operations, chasing metrics, growth, and the next big milestone. My big claim to fame was being part of the monster that was Divvy - a company that eventually sold for 2.5 billion dollars.
You don’t become part of a beast like that without knowing what late nights and burnout feel like. I learned how to win, how to scale, how to keep pushing. But in all that noise, I slowly lost touch with my own rhythm.
And when the big sale finally happened - when all the late nights and pressure and intensity paid off - there was this quiet moment of, now what?
If not the next big hustle… then what?
It’s a strange kind of emptiness that success can’t fill - when you realize the thing you’be been chasing no longer feels like yours. That question became the catalyst for everything that came next.
The Old Way: Building from Hustle
Entrepreneurship has long been tied to hustle culture. Long hours are worn like armor, exhaustion becomes proof of commitment, and “more” is always the goal.
In sales and operations, there’s a certain rush that comes with living in that rhythm - the competition, the goals, the intensity. But what no one talks about is how easily it can separate you from your intuition. You stop asking, “Does this feel right?” and start asking, “Is this enough?”
Hustle culture teaches that the grind is what earns you worth. But eventually, that constant striving leaves you disconnected from the deeper reason you started in the first place.
I remember thinking: I’ve built something massive - but why does it feel so hollow?
That question cracked something open in me. It wasn’t burnout I was feeling - it was misalignment.
The Moment Everything Shifted
After Divvy’s sale, there was no loud celebration in me - just a deep stillness. For the first time in years, there was no target, no quota, no external goal driving my every move.
At first, it felt uncomfortable. My nervous system was still wired for speed. But beneath that discomfort was clarity: I had mastered the art of success, but not the art of sustainability.
It was the first time I asked myself what it would mean to build a life - and eventually a business - that actually felt good to live in.
I started listening again: to my body, to my energy, to the cues I had been overriding for years. That listening became the foundation for everything I do now.
The Shift: Redefining Success
Alignment for me wasn't some grand spiritual awakening - it was a return. A remembering.
Its the quiet confidence that comes when your actions match your truth. Its saying yes because it feels right, not because it looks right.
When I started rebuilding my business and life from that palace, everything changed. I found that alignment didn’t mean doing less - it meant doing what was right for me. It meant following curiosity instead of comparison. It meant letting my pace be personal.
And thats the thing most people misunderstand about alignment - its not passive. Its intentional. It asks for courage, awareness, and the willingness to trust your own energy more than the noise around you.
The Balance: Strategy with Soul
I still love structure. I still love clarity and a good system. I love the rhythm of building something from the ground up. But now, I lead from presence, not panic.
Before I make decisions, I pause. I notice how my body feels. Is this choice grounded or reactive? Expansive or tight? That's my first layer of strategy now - inner alignment before external action.
I call it strategy with soul. Because data, goals, and plans are powerful - but only when they serve your energy instead of override it.
I used to force launches, decisions, and timelines out of fear that I'd fall behind. Now, I understand that alignment creates momentum naturally.When you're operating in integrity with yourself, the right opportunities align with less effort - not because you’re doing less, but because you're doing what's meant for you.
What Alignment Looks Like in Action
Alignment shows up in the small, quiet decisions more than the big flash;y ones. Its saying no to projects that drain you, even if they pay well. Its restructuring your day to work with your energy instead of against it.
It's trusting that rest is part of the work - not reward for finishing it.
It's realizing that your creativity needs white space as much as it needs deadlines.
In my own work, it means starting mornings with reflection before my inbox. It means pausing before calls to check in with my breath. It means designing offers and containers that feel nourishing to hold, not just impressive to promote.
It's the little things that make the biggest difference - because alignment is lived, not planned.
How to Know You're Out of Alignment
Our bodies always tell us before our minds are willing to admit it. Some signs you might be out of alignment.
You're constantly tired, even after resting.
Your work feels performative instead of purposeful.
You catch yourself saying “yes” when you really mean “no”.
Rest makes you restless.
You feel like you’re doing everything right but something still feels off.
Those moments aren’t failures - they're invitations. They're your system whispering, “you’ve drifted” Come back.”
Realigning in Everyday Life
You don't need to burn everything down to come back into alignment. Its often found in the smallest, most consistent choices.
Morning clarity moments. Before checking notifications, breathe and ask: What actually matters today? Alignment starts with intention, not reaction.
Energy mapping. Pay attention to how different tasks, people, or environments affect you. Your body keeps score - use that data.
Simplify. If something feels complicated, its usually misaligned. The right things feel clear, even if they require effort.
Anchor in nature. Whether its five minutes of sun, grounding your feetin the grass, or a walk without your phone - nature resets your nervous system faster than any productivity hack.
End of day reflection. Ask: Did I move in alignment today? You'll start to see patterns, and with them, self-trust.
Redefining Productivity
For so long, productivity meant output. The more I did, the more valuable I felt. But alignment taught me that real productivity is about effectiveness, not exhaustion.
Now, I measure my days by how present I was, not how busy I was. Was I clear? Was I intentional? Did I honor my energy?
Because here’s the truth - aligned action gets you further than forced action ever will.
When you're aligned, your work carries a frequency people can feel. Its magnetic. It draws in opportunities, partnerships, and clients that resonate with who you are - ot who you're pretending to be.
The Truth: alignment Doesn’t Mean Easy
Let's be real - this path isn't always soft and sparkly. Alignment will ask you to slow down when everything in you wants to rush. It’ll ask you to release what no longer fits, even when it once defined you.
There are still moments of doubt, still long nights, still hard choices. But the difference now is that I'm not running on adrenaline - I’m anchored in truth.
Alignment doesn’t remove the challenges; it changes how you move through them. You stop gripping and start trusting. You lead from clarity, not chaos.
And that, to me, is the most powerful kind of freedom.
The New Definition of Success
Success used to mean growth, metrics, revenue, scale. Now it means peace, purpose, and presence.
It means being proud of not just what I build - but how I build it.
It means waking up energized instead of anxious. It means leading with heart, not fear. It means knowing that I can grow and rest at the same time.
When you’re building from alignment, success stops being a destination - it becomes a way of living.
A Closing Reflection
If you're building something right now, I hope you pause for a moment and ask: Does this feel like me?
Because your business is meant to reflect your energy - not replace it. When you build from alignment, you stop chasing validation and start embodying your truth. You attract what matches your frequency, not what feeds your insecurity.
And that's the evolution of entrepreneurship - from hustle to harmony, from striving to becoming.
About Mer
Mer Nilsen is a holistic coach and entrepreneur guiding others to create from alignment, not hustle. Through her grounded approach to energy, clarity, and intention, she helps clients build lives and businesses that feel true to who they are - without the burnout.
Ready to reconnect with your flow?
Explore coaching or book a 1:1 alignment session at mernilsen.com
