In a traditional job, you have a boss—a human boss—who tells you what to do, when to do it, and sometimes even how to do it. But when you step away from the traditional 9-to-5, you’re told you’re the boss now. Sounds empowering, right?
Here’s the catch: oftentimes all the benefits of having a human boss disappear, while all the downsides remain. The criticism, the lack of work-life boundaries, the inability to take guilt-free time off—it’s all still there, except now you’re the one dishing it out to yourself. For most of us, the boss we become is the worst we’ve ever had.
A New Mental Framework for Solopreneurs
When I was in grad school, I experienced all of this first-hand. I knew something had to change, so I came up with a quirky yet effective mental framework:
I’m not the boss. The big idea is.
I once heard someone describe ideas as viruses that “infect” people. I like to imagine good ideas kind of flying in the air carefully choosing which person to infect (or employ in my case).
I started seeing ideas as employers, choosing people to “hire” that will bring these ideas into reality with their brains and hands. It’s not as crazy as it sounds. Think about how scientific breakthroughs or cultural shifts often happen simultaneously in different places. Ideas seem to gather a critical mass of people working toward the same goal, even if they’ve never met. Ideas want to become a reality and they employ different people with different skills to make it happen.
My Experience: Working for the Idea
In grad school, my “boss” was the idea of a circular economy, specifically the concept of returnable packaging, which was the topic of my dissertation. I started treating it like a 9-to-5 job.
I knew I wasn’t alone—this idea employed countless people around the world, each contributing from their own expertise. Some worked on policies, others on manufacturing. My role was in behavior change: figuring out how to get people to participate.
Once I embraced this mindset, everything changed:
- I established fixed working hours and honored my evenings and weekends.
- I took guilt-free vacations and sick days.
- I was fully present with my family and friends when not working.
- I felt less overwhelmed.
The consistency this framework brought to my work and all the mental drama it had removed allowed me to finish my grad school a semester earlier. The biggest advice I always give to grad students is to treat it as a full-time job. The more vividly you can imagine it being a real job, the better you’ll be. I remember even choosing the same couple of cafes for my writing sessions and sticking with them and treating them as “going to an office”.
In short, I gained all the benefits of a traditional job without actually having one.
The idea will find a better replacement if you are not performing well
This framework also taught me accountability. Over the years, I’ve had many business ideas I couldn’t act on at the time due to my residency restrictions in Canada. Without fail, those ideas found someone else—someone who turned them into products I now see on store shelves.
Every time I see one, it’s a reminder: if you don’t fulfil your part of the “contract” with an idea, it will find someone else who will. In a way, it acts as external accountability.
A Framework for the Unpaved Path
This approach carried me through grad school—I even finished a semester early—and it continues to guide me today. Whether it’s running my camping business or sharing the principles of Agile with a broader audience through the Monthly Method School, I treat these ideas as my employers.
In my camping business, my “boss” is the broader idea of the sharing economy. I’m one of thousands working to make it more mainstream. My role is specific: introducing a sharing economy option to consumers in the camping industry in Ontario. In the Monthly Method, I work for the idea of cultivating a life of calm ambition. This big idea has other “employees,” like Cal Newport and Oliver Burkeman with their books, Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson, Yvon Chouinard, and Justin Jackson with their examples of building calm companies, and even parents and teachers teaching the next generation the right attitudes to work.
I contribute by sharing my story, creating practical frameworks, and creating an environment where a life of calm ambition is the norm. My share of the bigger pie is small which makes it manageable and enjoyable.
A different example of a non-human boss
My favourite people to observe working have always been the ones with strong faith. There were not a lot of them in my life path but they always stood out by being hardworking without falling into the hustle culture hysteria. They were always calm, respectful, and thorough without all that exhausting pushing for more. If you ever have a chance, I recommend going to a monastery and observing monks or nuns working. It’s delightful.
One of the verses from the Bible that explains their attitude to work is:
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
Colossians 3:23
They aren’t working for a human boss; they’re working for something greater, which gives their work purpose and peace.
Takeaway
If you’re walking an unpaved path—whether it’s grad school, running a business, or starting a community movement—consider this framework:
- Identify the big idea you’re working for.
- Treat it as your employer.
- Set sustainable boundaries and routines.
- Trust that the idea will employ others—it’s not all on your shoulders.
- Sign a contract if you want! Why not make it official? 🙂
This was a deeper dive into one of my quick notes on cultivating a life of calm ambition. To see the full list of these ideas, click here.
