The one and only reason that businesses fail is this: QUITTING!
That’s right, not lack of resources or passion or capital or market share. Nope, the plain and simple fact is that for a business to go down, someone has to give up on it. And honestly, it just breaks my heart when we see someone with incredible gifts and talents give up on their business and their dream.
Though there are many reasons for quitting and some of them seem quite legitimate, one of the major reasons people give up on their business is because they just get exhausted! They get to a place where they are just not having “fun” any more and they begin to resent their business.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Yes, there are things in every business that you have to do that are not “fun”. And, there will be times when you are tired, when you are doing a big push and you are putting in some long hours.
One of the major keys to making sure that you don’t get exhausted and give up as you are working on finding that “sweet spot” in your business (where things are really rockin’ and you’re helping people consistently and having the cash flow to show for it) is making YOURSELF a priority.
We see way too many business owners, particularly service-based entrepreneurs, giving so much out – without nourishing themselves and finding the support and joy they need to sustain themselves in their business (let alone their personal lives!)
If you are not putting yourself FIRST, making sure you are filled up to the top with support, love and joy – you simply cannot give the best of your best! And that’s not only cheating you, but also cheating the world from benefiting from ALL you have to offer. So here are a few things for you to start moving yourself to the forefront, so you can come to your business and your life with the very best you have to offer!
1—Get clear about what YOU want. Take away all the needs and desires of others, at least for this exercise, so you can be really truthful with yourself about what you desire your days to be like, your environment to look like and your relationships to be like.
2—Create a plan. How can you start bringing more of what you truly desire into your daily life? Write out some definite, specific things you can do to start filling the voids you may be feeling, whether it is for more private time, more fun or more time to dedicate to your business. Again, be brutally honest with yourself and then you can start figuring out how to start bringing these elements into your life on a daily basis.
3—Get a calendar! One of the biggest reasons that most people aren’t making time for themselves is because they don’t schedule it in and it gets down to the bottom of the “priority” list. It is IMPOSSIBLE for you to build the kind of business and life you truly desire if you are constantly moving your desires out of the picture. So, calendar it in. And be specific. Don’t just write in “downtime” or “me” time. Write out specifically what you intend to do with that time (like go see a specific movie, go to the masseuse, take a bike ride) so that you will be renewed and refreshed when you come back to work.
4—Identify those time leaks. Time leaks come in all shapes and sizes and can be signs of avoidance, resistance or even fear of moving forward. Pay attention to excessive time spent watching TV, surfing the Internet or keeping up with social media updates. These distractions, in excess, can suck time right out from under you and leave you feeling depleted. Once you identify your time leaks, make a plan to limit the time you spend on them, or even cut them out if appropriate.
*A special note: Sometimes (often times) time leaks are related to relationships that are not coming from a high functioning place. Partnerships that don’t support you and are not honest and forthright can be incredible time drainers, not to mention energy drainers. In order for you to start putting yourself first so you can build your business and your life to the heights that you desire, it may be time to take a good hard look at the relationship(s) that may not be serving you.
So, my question to you is, are you making yourself a priority in you business and your life? Are you having fun, feeling fulfilled and feeling in control of your own time?
If not, I encourage you to take a look at what you truly desire and start getting that into your life (and calendar) ASAP.
When you are feeling fulfilled and complete, you can come to your business and your relationships with more depth, more excitement and more of who you truly are.
Brian Stark, Vice President
