Finding Balance: How Health, Family, and Business Can Win Together

What does it really look like to run a fast-growing company, stay connected to your health, invest in your family, and still build something that matters? In the first episode of The Balanced CEO, I sat down with Kaleda Connell, CEO and co-founder of Kilo, to unpack the real journey behind growing a business without burning out.

Kaleda is the kind of leader who builds with purpose. She’s grown a successful software company that now supports over 1,000 gyms across the globe, and she’s done it while protecting what matters most. In this episode, we talk about leadership, boundaries, and how doing less with more focus can actually help you grow faster.

From Garage Gym to Global Software

Kaleda grew up in a town with fewer than 3,000 people. After the loss of her father, she turned to CrossFit as a way to heal. That personal journey turned into something bigger. What began with garage training sessions became a thriving gym business she ran for five years before selling.

She then teamed up with co-founders to create Kilo, a software company built specifically for gym owners. They launched in 2019 and focused on offering websites, lead generation tools, and management software. Kilo grew quickly because they understood what gym owners actually needed. They didn’t overcomplicate it. They made it simple.

“In our first year, we planned to build one website a week. But we ended up selling five a day.”

Why Simplicity Works

Simplicity is not just part of Kilo’s branding. It is a core business strategy. Kaleda shared how their rapid growth pushed them to remove distractions and focus only on what moves the needle. Clean design. Fast delivery. Straightforward tools.

“Your website doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to speak to your audience.”

At one point, Kilo even paused all sales consults. The demand was so high that the best way forward was to protect their time and energy. Kaleda made peace with the fact that not everyone would understand. That clarity helped them grow.

Protecting Health and Time

Kaleda also opened up about what it cost to build at that pace. Her health took a hit. Work consumed everything. But she made a choice to reset. She started setting boundaries, blocking off time for recovery, and rethinking what success really looked like.

Her fiancé, who works a regular job, helped ground her. Watching him unplug after work was a reminder that rest is part of the process. Now, she encourages her team to take “duvet days” and enjoy fresh air, especially those in Canada who spend months without sunshine.

Build Like You Will Sell

Even if you never plan to sell your business, Kaleda believes you should build as if you will. That mindset forces better systems, smarter hiring, and a healthier work culture.

“When you leave your job to be your own boss, you often become a worse boss to yourself.”

She recommends the book Built to Sell for every entrepreneur who wants to create a business that runs smoothly and grows with intention.

One Final Takeaway

Kaleda closed the episode with this quote from Coco Chanel: “Before you leave the house, take one accessory off.”

In business, that means remove what is not essential. Clear is powerful. Simple sells.

Listen to the full episode now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

If this episode resonated with you and you're looking for something to help you reflect and realign, you might enjoy my book Labels to Legacy. It’s a practical and personal guide for anyone ready to build with intention.

If you’re in a season where you’re growing something and want a bit more clarity or support, feel free to reach out. I work with leaders who want to keep things simple and meaningful.

Keep digging in 😤