Ease and joy - Looks Like Work, Season 1, Ep 14
What if your best work doesn’t come from hustle—but from freedom?
In this energizing, deeply validating conversation, Jenny Blake—author of Pivot and Free Time—joins Chedva Ludmir to explore what it really means to work with ease, integrity, and joy. Together, they dismantle the burnout myth, challenge scarcity thinking, and make a bold case for building businesses that actually support you.
From autoimmune flare-ups to team rituals, startup shutdowns to flow states, this conversation is a permission slip and a practical guide. Jenny shares her personal mantra—"earn twice as much in half the time, with ease and joy"—and the systems and mindsets that make it possible.
Spoiler: It’s not about doing less. It’s about doing what matters most—with intention, curiosity, and unshakable clarity.
Key Topics:
Why “working harder” doesn’t guarantee better results
How to protect your “free founder time” (and actually keep it)
Scarcity vs. abundance—especially during downturns or change
Designing team culture around flow, autonomy, and joy
Recognizing burnout before it breaks you
Letting go of misaligned hustle and building with heart
The power of delegation, discernment, and doing your best thinking
Reframing ease as a business strategy—not a luxury
How to build differently after failure or illness
Jenny’s Powerful Question:
“Am I even ready for everything I want?”
A powerful inquiry that moves us beyond goal-setting into alignment. Readiness isn’t just structural—it’s emotional, energetic, and strategic.Key Lessons:
Ease ≠ Laziness: Joyful, values-aligned business building is strategic.
Your Time Is Sacred: “Free time” isn’t a bonus—it’s a business requirement.
Curiosity Is a Strategy: It helps you navigate uncertainty with clarity and compassion.
More ≠ Better: If your systems don’t support your goals, scaling just amplifies the chaos.
Flow > Force: Productivity and purpose thrive where energy leads—not where effort is squeezed.
“We’re five times more productive when we’re in flow. That’s not a luxury—it’s leverage.”
Listen to this episode on Spotify | Apple | Wherever you get your podcasts
Resources & Mentions:
Find Jenny’s book & podcast at itsfreetime.com
Catch up on previous seasons of Looks Like Work wherever you get your podcasts: Spotify | Apple | Podbean
Subscribe to the newsletter: chedva.substack.com
Check out The Curiosity Lab and CuriosityGPT
