I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
Are You Trying Too Hard?
I don't know about you, but the new year kick-off was a kick in the pants for me.
Let's just say a change in my health insurance meant hours of research online and then on the phone and lots of anxiety and mental fatigue!
I don't really like to moan about this stuff because really what can you do, but it took up so much of my time and brain space that it got me thinking how this kind of stuff can really sabotage us entrepreneurs without our realizing it until it's already too late.
When I worked for other people it wasn't that difficult to make it through a day on some version of autopilot. Not all the time, obviously, but when I just wasn't 100%.
Now that I work for myself, it's a lot harder to phone it in. There's no one else who's going to pick up the slack, cover for me, or fill in when I clock out.
When I take a sick day, my business is shuttered. When I need to care for mom, my business is on the back burner if it's even cooking at all.
Even if you have a team, there's only so much coverage they can provide. You're still the one in charge and who your clients, prospects, and partners still expect to show up day in and day out.
So, what can you do about that?
Here's some advice I got from a veteran solopreneur a long, long time ago—
Don't try so hard. Don't be so ambitious. Lower your expectations.
At the time, I laughed this off thinking this guy is just old and jaded and beyond caring any more.
But the longer I work for myself the more I understand the value and truth in his words.
I know, it's sounds crazy and counter-intuitive, especially if you can't imagine giving less than your all, but here's why he really is right on the money:
- You can't give 100% all the time to everything—that's the fast lane to burn-out, and I think we've all lived through that lesson already to know how true it is. Give your all to the things that really matter the most and will truly suffer from giving less.
- Your life isn't all business so why is your sense of accomplishment? Taking care of yourself and your loved ones is just as important, if not more so. Make space for all the things that give your life meaning and joy and purpose. You'll be the happier for it.
- Allow yourself to be imperfect, to get sick, tired, upset, frustrated. Plan for bad days, slow days, so-so days. Set reasonable goals for what you can accomplish day-by-day, week-by-week. And, stop beating yourself up for failing to do what can't be done—be at the top of your game all day every day.
Need help working out how to make this make sense in your life and business? Schedule some time with me.
Until next time,
PS – If you missed it, last week I shared my New Year's Evolution. (I even made a nifty screensaver out of it!)
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Easily Said & Done
I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
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