It’s two o’clock in the morning and you’re sitting at the computer working on an important project that’s going to take your business to the next level. As you sit there for a second, you realize you’ve been working on this particular task for almost 10 hours straight, 7 days in a row.
You scratch your head, stretch a little, and justify your hard work with a pat on the back and self-proclamation that goes something like this: “I’m an entrepreneur, a business owner for heaven’s sake. I’m expected to do this. Expected by me. I’m getting a lot done!”
However, did you ever stop and think what’s the rush for exactly?
I know it sounds silly since I do believe in the hard working entrepreneur, especially in the beginning when you’re trying to gain traction and momentum.
I get it. The more we accomplish today, the further along our business evolves, and that could potentially mean money in our pockets and less work down the line.
Work hard now, reap the benefits later. Let’s think about this for a second though. I’m an optimist at heart and I’m constantly trying to find a perfect balance in my life. According to Small Business Success, you should be finding that balance, too. Before you burn out. Whether you’re working 20, 40, 60, or 80+ hour weeks on your business, it’s also important to not go for the overkill.
I say this because it becomes so easy to dig ourselves in a black hole filled with work, especially if we’re wearing many hats. I’m not saying it’s a bad place to be, especially if you enjoy what you do. Believe me, I’ve been subject to this before as I’m very passionate about my business.
However, I noticed that my passion sometimes gets the best of me and that usually involves my putting in more hours than I’d like to. Of course, I’m also considering other parties involved such as my significant other, my friends, my hobbies, and other happenings that keep my afloat. I need those things, too! Or I will burn myself out. The truth is, if you don’t manage your time well, you’ll miss on all those little intricacies that you love and pass you by.
So what to do?
Pace Yourself with Staggered Starts:
If you’re an entrepreneur and you’re just starting out. Here’s what I’ve learned:
In the beginning, you’re excited and there’s a ton to do to build and start your business. While you’re still an infant in the process, make sure you have a plan and a realistic and feasible timeline to complement that plan. The plan can be a business plan or a general to-do list. I like to go with seasonal to-do plans as they allow me to focus on a few projects at a time instead of an overwhelming year’s worth. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a year-long plan, just make sure you break it off into pieces. As you complete tasks and big projects, go back to the drawing board and pick up where you left off. This may be the next part of your business plan or to-do list. Whatever it is, try not to race to get things done. Take your time and try not to bite off more than you can chew.
Sometimes, I have to force myself to step away from the computer. Because if I don’t, I’ll forget about the other things I could be doing with my time that contribute to my happiness and my overall well-being. I feel like I’m always trying to get everything done:
- Business planning
- Marketing
- Selling
- Self-improvement
- Networking
- Blogging
- Fundraising
- And a whole lot more