The wrong balance will ruin your business, family, or both.
—
As I talk with clients, friends and family members who are business owners, there is one struggle that I often hear. “How do you balance the demands of work, your personal health and relationships?” We all face this. We are passionate about our businesses and we love our friends and family. Both our businesses and our relationships make demands of us. These competing demands often strain our most valuable earthly relationships. There is only so much of “us” to go around.
I have a confession to make, I don’t have this all figured out either.
|
On the Small Business Revival podcast, I ask my guests how they balance business and personal success in their own lives. I often get the, “It’s really hard” response. The only ones who don’t experience this struggle are the ones who don’t really care. For all of the rest of us, there is this tension… a wrestling inside of us… a desire to succeed in all areas of life, not just one area.
I have a confession to make, I don’t have this all figured out either. I am on the journey. I am learning each day how to be a better husband, father, brother, son, friend, consultant, podcaster, and entrepreneur.
This is what I know for sure… You can have all the business success in the world, but if you personal life is falling apart, it will feel very empty.
♦◊♦
So, how do we achieve a healthy balance? How do we grow not only our business, but our personal lives too? I am going to share with you some of the things that have helped me succeed in all areas of life.
- Create a work schedule with your spouse (Or other significant relationships) – Years ago, Victoria and I figured out that most of the struggle about how much I worked came from differing expectations. Therefore, we developed a habit of creating my work schedule together. Then, if I needed to work outside of those hours, I consulted with her before I made any commitments. As my children have grown older, this routine has helped my relationship with them. They know what to expect from me and we work together as a family on our schedule. I now work from home and my schedule is more fluid. We regularly sit down as a family to talk through our schedule, AND, once I make a commitment to them, I keep it.
- Invest time and money in personal growth – You invest lots of time and money to grow your business. Make sure you are doing the same thing for your personal life. Exercise to improve your personal health. Invest in a marriage or parenting conference. Go out to dinner with your friends. Take a vacation. Read books that help you grow in all areas of your life, not just business. As soon as you stop investing in your family, personal health and relationships, they begin to die.
- Communicate with your family and friends about your business – Talk with others about what is happening in your business and how it is affecting you. Your business is a significant area of your life. If you don’t talk about it with your significant relationships, you miss out on living that part of life together. You need the support of your relationships. Those that care about you will celebrate your wins and help you grieve your losses.
- Involve others in your business – The world has changed. We don’t see as many family businesses. However, most businesses could involve our families and friends if we made that choice. When your business is successful, it benefits your family and community. View the business as a team effort. Even if your family and friends do not work for the business, there are many small ways that they can be involved and contribute. Make sure you give them that opportunity.
- Be all in – Practice being fully engaged with whatever you are doing at the moment. When you are working on your business, give it your best. When you are on a date with your wife, give her your best. When you are out with your buddies, have fun! Turn off the cell phone and focus on the moment. Many times we struggle in our personal lives because we are so distracted that we never fully engage.
- Make hard choices – Nothing worth having comes easy. If you want a balanced, successful life, you will have to make sacrifices and learn to say “No.” There are times when you will have to make business sacrifices for the health of your personal life. There will be times you have to make personal sacrifices for the health of your business. Only you can make those choices. When you see things getting “out of whack,” have the courage to make a change and get things back in line.
♦◊♦
REMEMBER – Your business exists to serve your lifestyle, not the other way around
These hard choices will put you well on your way to succeeding in business and your personal life.
|
This is the key. Keep your priorities in line. If your life and family exist to serve your business, then it is time to make a change. Take a step back, examine what is really important and set some boundaries. Your business success can create incredible opportunities for success in all areas of your life, but this won’t happen if the business overtakes your life.
Having a balanced, successful life takes courage, intentional investment and hard work, but the rewards are great. Start by taking a small step. Discuss these keys with your family and friends and see what they have to say. Get their feedback on your life. It may not be easy to hear, but you will learn a lot. These hard choices will put you well on your way to succeeding in business and your personal life.
—
Flickr/ orangebrompton