What do you do to stay sane when running a small business?
Hi there, I am putting together some advice for people running a small business, making suggestions on what they can do to 'stay sane'. I'd be interested in your viewpoints. I've thought of a few things myself, namely:
* Create clear boundaries (Family / Business, Pleasure/Work, Yr own office etc)
* Create a weekly and daily routine (Days of week to do stuff)
* Don’t obsess about stats, analytics, hit counts etc.
* Don’t get lost in all of the advice available, trust your instincts
* Get away from the computer and the business, exercise and look after yourself
* Write things down so you don't forget them
* Cultivate other interests outside the business, nourish your mind
* Remember why you are doing this in the first place (freedom, wealth etc.)
* Do one thing every day to move your business forward in a small way
Does anyone have any other good ones to add please?
Please note that I have now created the first of several guides based on this information: http://www.businessbulletpoints.com/stay-sane-reduce-stress-small-business-boundaries/
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Sep 9, 2014
For genuine and Serious inquiry of any form of banking instrument (BG/SBLC/MTN/DLC/LC) Which can be engage in PPP Trading, Discounting, signature project(s) such as Aviation, Agriculture, Petroleum, Telecommunication,automobile, construction of Dams, Bridges, Real Estate and all kind of projects, we can deliver at affordable price to our customers in other to derive maximum utility.for lease and/or sale from a genuine and reliable source without broker chain / joker broker story or chauffer driven offer while having your required time frame in mind.
We will be glad to share our working procedures with you upon request to help us proceed towards closing deals effectively.
Thank You
Contact : Mr. Mahendra Jain
Email :Draj dot bgbroker(at)gmail dot com
Skype ID: Jaindra dot bglease
Jul 7, 2014
Hi Paul,
Relative to "Cultivate other interests outside the business, nourish your mind," I would recommend the development of a personal growth plan. Growth doesn't just happen. We have to become intentional. I say, "Our input determines our output." As a leader, "Our input determines the output of others too!"
I would recommend one of my favorite books by my mentor John C. Maxwell, "The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth." This material is very popular with our clients.
If you're interested, you can go to the link below and listen to John teach on the first two laws for free. There is about two hours worth of free content there. It takes a few minutes to get going because this was recorded on the actual day that he launched the book in Oct. 2012. If you like, you may want to grab a copy of the book. If you like it, feel free to refer any clients to the link. It's there to help.
Link: http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/mackstory/SpecialOffers
You are providing a great service! Keep up the good work.
May 27, 2014
Hi Paul - great initiative.
Here's one relevant strategy that I didn't see in the excellent responses already here:
While 'sanity' is a Conscious, unproductive label of something else, it has zero significance on its own, once we are guided by our inner truth (UNconscious). That's right.
On that basis, ask your inner truth/UNconscious about the single and only thing that matters ... the answer to this yes/no question:
"Does this serve me best now?"
(where 'this' refers to your list above, the other answers here and all other things)
If your Conscious and UNconscious conflict (isn't that the very source of your 'sanity' question ;-) then go with your gut (UNconscious). Do that 100% of the time.
For 36+ years I empower my clients to achieve that daily. You can too, give me a shout or apply the resources in my book, Ready Aim Soar!
Paul
May 10, 2014
Have a personal day off where you completely disconnect and are not available.
Apr 10, 2014
Remember to sleep and eat. You may love your business and doing the work, but you have to remember to take care of yourself.
Apr 1, 2014
Plan your day the night before
Dont take things personally
Have fun
Go for a swim
Mar 13, 2014
Remind yourself of the reason you decided to start the business. If you are no longer happy or feel as the passion has died, perhaps it's time to do something else for a while and then revisit at a later date. Starting out is very stressful...ITS okay to take breaks. You aren't doing anything wrong! Remember you are great at what you do. Give it time and give yourself time.
Mar 4, 2014
I find that meditation & visualization really help me stay "sane" and focused when running my business (amongst other things of course).
Feb 14, 2014
Keeping organized, and staying on top of the things that need to get done helps. Making use of the tools available to you, that can help you run your business, is also important to do. Taking time for yourself is important as well. It helps you and your business.
Jan 28, 2014
Set short term goals and a few long term goals. Short term goals can be easily accomplished and you should make every attempt to accomplish one or two every day or week. Long term goals should be prioritized by setting many short term goals for its eventual accomplishment. f.e. short term goals: organizing filing systems etc. Long term goals: Obtaining new office space, expanding into a new city or state etc.. Never take your eyes off of your goals.
Jan 8, 2014
I agree with many of the comments in creating a work life balance. There are times when you need down time just to refresh. I also am a strong believer insome form of physical exercise to get the frustrations out. For me it is martial arts. Some like running, swimming or golf.
Jun 18, 2013
You got nice post there.
Well, my answer would be to remain my self trust. I believe that if I will be able to maintain that, everything could go smoothly. Everything will just follow. Thinking about the positive things will keep you going.
Apr 16, 2013
You shouldn't even hope to be sane starting a business, let alone staying that way. take a leaf out of Anita Roddick's book on entrepeneurship. She once said of the difference between a lunatic and an entrepeneur is that while one sees something others cannot, an entrepeneur convinces others to see the same invisible thing.
Mar 2, 2013
Have a daily morning routine that you stick to for the bulk of the week. Whether it is the time you get up, the morning exercise you do, what you read, the time you start "work" and most importantly the time you stop "working" - to give yourself time to recharge.
Feb 3, 2013
1. Keep it simple.
2. Never give up.
3. Willing to listen to criticism.
4. Always have a plan.
5. Enjoy what you are doing.
6. Expand your network.
7.Trust in yourself and others around you.
Dec 25, 2012
Sanity and successful small business are usually mutually exclusive. Once you give in to the insanity, it gets much easier. Most of all, you have to love what you do - otherwise, you have the worst job in the world.
Nov 6, 2012
Have clear and reasonably attainable objectives. Keep working towards them. And play a lot. You always need the mental break in restart refreshed.
For genuine and Serious inquiry of any form of banking instrument (BG/SBLC/MTN/DLC/LC) Which can be engage in PPP Trading, Discounting, signature project(s) such as Aviation, Agriculture, Petroleum, Telecommunication,automobile, construction of Dams, Bridges, Real Estate and all kind of projects, we can deliver at affordable price to our customers in other to derive maximum utility.for lease and/or sale from a genuine and reliable source without broker chain / joker broker story or chauffer driven offer while having your required time frame in mind.
We will be glad to share our working procedures with you upon request to help us proceed towards closing deals effectively.
Thank You
Contact : Mr. Mahendra Jain
Email :Draj dot bgbroker(at)gmail dot com
Skype ID: Jaindra dot bglease