How We Stopped Being Slaves to Our Business — And Building True Freedom Instead
For years, I thought growing a business meant more freedom.
More revenue = more time, right?
Instead, the bigger the business got, the heavier it felt.
More people. More responsibility. More fixed costs.
And worse — the cash flow didn’t always match the workload.
I remember one night vividly.
It was 2:47am. I was lying in bed doing mental math… again.
The invoices were out. The pipeline was healthy. The money was coming.
But my mortgage was due in three days. Office rent was due Friday. People had to get paid.
And when I looked at the account balance… it wasn’t enough.
That feeling? It’s hard to describe.
It’s not just stress — it’s pressure, guilt, anxiety, and the constant sense that you’re one slip away from collapse.
The emotional rollercoaster of fluctuating cash flow was exhausting.
And I realised something that changed everything:
Trading time for money isn’t a business model. It’s a trap.
While I was busy delivering the work, business development slowed down.
Then — a few months later — the pipeline dried up, the bank account thinned out, and the cycle started again.
I didn’t want to hustle harder. I wanted out.
Not to abandon the business — but to rebuild it properly.
The Turning Point: Engineering Freedom
That’s when I connected with two incredible business minds who had walked the same path:
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Alan Short, an engineer that took over his family business with a knack for turning chaos into clarity.
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Anita Schneyder, a leadership strategist who helps build productive, purpose-driven teams.
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And myself, Bram Lagrou, focused on sales and business development that scales — even when you’re not the one driving every deal.
Together, we created The Freedom Engine — a high-impact, group coaching program designed specifically for business owners with a team who feel stuck, stressed, or stretched too thin.
We knew the traditional model wasn’t working. So we built a better one.
What Does Freedom Actually Look Like?
Let me paint a picture.
Today, I pick up my son from school almost every day. Occasionally I do the drop off too.
My family and I take 3 overseas holidays every year.
I don’t sneak in client calls between sightseeing. I disconnect.
Why? Because we’ve built marketing and sales systems that run 24/7.
Our pipeline doesn’t dry up just because I’m not in the office.
With the right automation, leadership, and financial systems in place, I’ve stepped out of the weeds — and the business keeps growing without grinding me into dust.
A Real Success Story: Alan’s Transformation
Want proof?
Let’s rewind to Alan Short — now one of our lead coaches in The Freedom Engine.
Before all this, Alan was running a $600K family business in fire protection.
He was in the thick of it — wearing every hat, managing chaos, and grinding through long hours.
Fast forward to today?
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His business now turns over multiple millions per year
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He has a team of 23 staff
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He spends just a few hours a week on it
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And he earns a healthy 6-figure income from a business that runs virtually without him
No stock. No material costs. Just a smart service model run by the right people and powered by the right systems.
Now? Alan coaches other business owners. He surfs midweek. Takes 4WD trips with mates. Waterskis with his son. Goes boating with his own coach. Travels. Skis. And most importantly — he’s present with his family.
He’s not the exception.
He’s just someone who committed to building the right engine.
The Freedom Engine: How It Works
The Freedom Engine is a group coaching program built for white-collar business owners with a team of 8 to 20 people.
You’re likely feeling:
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Overwhelmed and overworked
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Financially successful… but stuck in a feast-or-famine cycle
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Tired of being the bottleneck
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Ready for a business that runs without leaning entirely on you
Inside the program, we work with you (and your leadership team, if needed) to build:
✅ Sales & Marketing Systems that generate leads and revenue predictably
✅ Operational Systems that run 24/7 and reduce reliance on key people
✅ Leadership & Team Structures that make your business self-managing
✅ Financial Clarity so you stop flying blind and start growing on purpose
We also offer optional private coaching for even deeper support — and you’ll be surrounded by a tight-knit community of like-minded business owners who are building just like you.
October Intake Now Open — Just 5 Spots Available
We’re opening just 5 spots for our next intake in October.
This is an intimate, high-touch program, so space is limited by design.
No mass enrolments. No cookie-cutter advice. Just real strategy, real accountability, and real transformation.
If you’re ready to build a business that works without you — so you can finally live the life you set out to build in the first place — we’d love to talk.
Final Thought
You didn’t start a business to be overworked, overwhelmed, or enslaved to your calendar.
You started it for freedom — time, money, impact, and peace of mind.
And the only way to get that?
Is to build the engine that makes it possible.
Let’s do it together.
Bram Lagrou
Co-Founder, The Freedom Engine
