During tough economic times, owners tend to panic and instinctively try to work even harder. They get busy being busy. They try to do more. Run faster. Carry more of the burden. Give more of themselves. Be warned...if this is you, you will become overworked, overwhelmed, exhausted, possibly sick, and a prisoner to your business. Fight the urge to get crazy busy and do more, more, more.
In fact, during these challenging times, it's imperative for business owners to slow down and be selfish. That's right, selfish enough to take care of themselves so that they can be at their best to take proper care of the company, employees, and customers. If you don't make yourself, your sanity, and your health a top priority, no one else will. For your business to be at its best, you must be at your best.
As your business coach, let me make a few simple suggestions to help you be at your best in order to navigate your business through some choppy waters:
1. Maintain your sanity. Schedule time away from your business to re-charge your battery and give your mind, body and soul a much needed break. Get away from the business for at least 3-5 business days each quarter. Don't try and find the time...make the time. Go to a beach, the mountains, on a cruise, to a spa, or on a golfing or fishing trip. Do whatever will excite your heart and re-fill your spirit. Spend time with your spouse, family or friends. Or, maybe you need time alone. Again, do whatever and be with whomever so long as you get a relaxing and/or rejuvenating escape from the daily challenges of running your business. Yes, you deserve a break today...or at least once a quarter.
2. Maintain your confidence and a positive mindset. Keeping your confidence high is one of your chief duties as a business owner. Don't let all the gloom and doom forecasters get you down...stay confident and positive. Do not let weeds overtake your mental garden...pull out those destructive and negative thoughts. Take care to water, fertilize, weed and nurture your mental garden...your confidence and positive mindset are two of your most valuable assets. Turn off the negative news and turn on the inspiration. Feed your mind and soul positive material. For example, I am reading Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill for the 3rd or 4th time in my life. This book helps me to relax and reflect and reminds me about the importance of desire, faith, knowledge, imagination, planning, persistence, and combating fear. Be sure to find your source of inspiration to help increase your faith, confidence, and positive attitude.
3. Maintain your business vision. During these tough times, while you may need to adjust your strategies and tactics, stay true to your vision. While everything around you may seem cloudy and confusing, rely on the clarity of your vision to propel you and sustain you through the challenging times. Let your compelling vision be your GPS system to guide you and your organization even when you seem to be on strange roads in unknown towns. Your vision will help you stay on course or rebound quickly if you get temporarily lost.
4. Maintain your energy level and health. As I get closer to fifty years of age, while my passion for The Growth Coach only intensifies, my energy level decreases. To combat this fact of life and to keep my energy level as high as possible, I make the time to exercise and release my stress. Working out and eating and sleeping better definitely helps to increase my energy level and mental acuity. Amazing how the body and mind are so connected. As your business coach, I urge you to do the same and also learn to pace yourself. There are times to go full speed and times to slow down. You can't always work harder...you must also learn to work smarter and hire help. Take time to think more and work less. After all, without good energy and health, you don't have much and you can't offer much to your company. As your business coach, let me ask you a simple question: Are you investing in the health, vitality, and output of your greatest money-making asset.... YOU? If not, please correct course immediately.
5. Maintain your emotions. The longer I'm a business owner, the more I realize that running a company has a great deal to do with emotional management...keeping your emotions in check and in balance. Learning to stop riding the emotional roller coaster. Reducing the drama. Reducing all the fire-drills. Keeping a proper and healthy perspective. Odds are, you are not curing cancer. Then quit making everything a matter of life and death! If everything is highly important, than nothing is. Maintain a smoother ride with less extreme highs and lows. You also need to face, accept and correct your negative emotions, limiting beliefs, and FUDs (fears, uncertainties, and doubts). A future business coaching blog will address the need to face all your hidden secrets and emotions that sabotage your success.
In the meantime, if you don't start taking better care of yourself, who will? If not now, then when?
Daniel M. Murphy
President, Founder & Business Coach
The Growth Coach
Business Coaching Franchise System