The Balance of RYOB - 2

When you started your business I bet you didn’t get a copy of the manual. No? Me neither. You may have gotten a lot of unsolicited advice from unqualified people, but that’s not really enough to build business systems. The fact is that every business is different and so building it to success will be different for everyone.

Luckily, while the specifics may need some customization, the concepts of how to maintain work/life balance are certainly teachable. While not an exhaustive list, here are a few that you can implement relatively quickly, and are often the first options I present to my clients.

It's Not A Hostile Takeover

I want to repeat an important point from the previous post. Balancing work and life doesn’t necessarily mean working less, it just means working smarter. You still have to put in the time and effort, but you don’t have to work fourteen hour days.

It's important to set boundaries - even if they're with yourself. Choose your work hours and stick to them. You want to work from 7-7? If that's what it takes right now, then I get it. But for the inverse hours, only emergencies are worth the intrusion. It's unfortunate that Mrs. Smith wasn't home when the technician was there today, but taking her phone call to reschedule can wait until tomorrow.

Use the flexibility in your schedule. Sounds like the opposite of what we've been talking about, right? But it's actually there if you want it because you're in control of your workday. Those big life events? It's pretty common to know when they're coming (i.e., graduations, weddings, birthdays) so design your work calendar around them. Don't worry about not being available during the workday. This isn't an everyday occurrence and being able to devote your attention to these events will be worth it. At least most of the time.

Find a way to truly multitask that works for you. I don't mean that you should listen to the radio while you're driving. Delegate tasks when you can. Not only is it okay to give your manager/technician/CSR a new responsibility, but you may find them to excel at it! Need someone else to distribute product or do inventory? Get the help so that task can be done while you're doing another. Much more productive than working all day and then having to stay late to distribute products.

Automation is also your friend. Whenever you can find a tool to do something for you, I recommend looking into it. They won't all work for you, but the ones that do can truly make a difference. Let's look at an automation many businesses already use. A prospective customer fills out your online form and they automatically get an email that summarizes their input and lets them know when to expect a response. Seems like a pretty obvious one, but look a little harder. If that automated response wasn't triggered, that prospect wouldn't even know if you got their submission. Plus, if your phones are ringing off the hook then the last thing you need is that person calling to check why you haven't called them five minutes after they clicked "submit."

Lastly, I won't rehash what was already said here about time off, but we don't want it to get lost in the shuffle either. Schedule yourself a real break. Stepping away helps you recharge and come back stronger.

Remember Your Vision

Entrepreneurship is demanding, but the rewards go beyond financial success. Creating something from the ground up, making an impact, and working on your own terms will bring a sense of fulfillment you just can't find anywhere else. Studies show that entrepreneurs who align their business with their passions are more satisfied and resilient - even when the work gets tough. If you let your business push away the other things you care about, then is it really worth it?

I know it sounds like a lot, but you’ve got this.

-Mark Davidson

Whose desk is ever this neat?!