'Work Life Balance' has been talked about for years, but it
also applies to small home-based business owners. The
biggest difference is that when you are an employee working
for a company that works toward work/life balance, your
boss is (hopefully) looking out for you. When you work for
yourself, you have to look out for yourself!
I have a built-in monitor - my children. They need to be
picked up after school whether I have work to do or not,
and I'm an only parent. They also need to eat - every day!
Since I really enjoy spending time with them and
understand the value of having dinner together, I don't
work with clients nights or weekends.
What stops you at the end of the day? Do you have an 'end
of the day'? You really need one! When you read that, if
you answered in your head with, "Yes, but..." you might be
working too much!
It isn't that simple; I know. If you work in an industry
that requires you to work nights and/or weekends, like a
wedding planner or a psychologist, it is difficult. Also,
there is that period of time when your business really
takes off, but you are not making quite enough profit to
hire an assistant.
You need to maximize your income, so what do you do? The
truth is, I have lost a couple of clients because I don't
work nights. I also built my target market around my work
hours. If I worked with corporate employees, I would need
to work at least a couple of nights per week. For me, it
was well worth it.
My clients also benefit. I accepted a couple of clients in
the evenings, after my children went to sleep, when I first
started my business. I was hungry! After working all day,
taking care of my then 7- and 9-year-old daughters all
evening, I was tired! My clients were not getting my best.
Then I would be exhausted and energized at the same time,
at bedtime, and more tired as the week progressed.
Everyone lost. My clients, my kids and I all got less than
we deserved.
Does this sound familiar? How can you begin to set
stronger boundaries so you are not working all the time?
Do you need an additional day off during the week? Perhaps
you can start by deciding not to work a specific evening
every week, and go from there. If you are in real estate,
perhaps you can take the first half of every Tuesday and
Thursday off. Sleep in - get a mani-pedi - watch a movie.
It boils down to you setting your priorities, and it starts
with a decision. You need to decide that having a life
outside of work is important - that YOU are important. You
are, you know. If you don't think so, ask around. Decide
what is important to you and go after it - don't wait for
permission. In fact, stop waiting in general. Go after
what you want today - life is short.
By having time off of work, you are replenishing yourself
so you will be happier at work! You will be healthier and
have more energy. Your family, friends and clients will
thank you!
----------------------------------------------------
Audrey Burton, Small Business Coach, is "The Tigress". Get
her FREE Special Report, "Closing the Sale is Not
Complicated!" with her FREE monthly email newsletter at
http://www.TigressCoaching.com .
No comments:
Post a Comment