Picture this: Ocean waves are crashing, the sun is beaming, and your children are attempting to construct a sand castle of grand proportions. Now look more closely at the beach blanket in this mental image … are you on it?
For many busy entrepreneurs, this idealistic scenario sounds great, but it just isn’t in the cards. There always seems to be something going on with the business – a problem to handle or a new customer to please – and you just don’t feel you can take a summer vacation, or for that matter, spend any time away from your company. But you must.
No one can immerse himself in work nonstop, without a break, and maintain a healthy sense of perspective. Try it and you will surely start to exhibit bad judgment in your business decisions. You may even eventually burn out, or worse, start experiencing health problems. At that point, your company will certainly feel the effects of your lack of balance.
The good news is, entrepreneurs can balance their “work” and “personal” calendars. It just takes a little strategy and forethought. Here is how to make it happen:
• Factor your family into your life. Hopefully, your family is already one of the main reasons you work as hard as you do, but they still need your attention and affection and you need theirs in return. You don’t necessarily have to work less. All you need to do is integrate your family into your world.
• Make a plan and stick to it. You know that business plan you’ve been following to build a profitable company? Well, now is a great time to create a plan for your personal life. Keep your appointment calendar in front of you, and when dates that involve family events are nearing, organize your schedule in a way that will allow you to attend. Also mark some dates to take in a movie with friends or set aside at least one night each week to spend some time with your spouse.
• Don’t overestimate how well your business is doing. If you have recently started a business and the money is flowing in faster than you ever imagined, spend with caution … whether the “currency” is time or money or both! I have seen it too many times. A person reaches the million-dollar mark and suddenly becomes invincible. But you just can’t run a fledgling company from a cruise ship. A startup usually isn’t mature enough to withstand the protracted absences of its founder, and cash flow may be too shaky to justify big, unnecessary purchases. So take the family on a weekend getaway to a local spot; you can enjoy time with them in a way that won’t endanger your business.
• If you do go on a vacation, make it a real one. A real vacation doesn’t involve having a cell phone attached to your ear, a constant string of e-mails, or a BlackBerry that goes with you everywhere. To avoid these activities, leave detailed instructions about what constitutes an emergency with whomever will be looking after the business while you are gone, and tell them to contact you only if such an emergency happens. You will be surprised at how much you will benefit from the time away. When you return, you will be able to look at the business from a rejuvenated perspective.
• Don’t make every lunch a business lunch. Entrepreneurs tend to “do lunch,” not have lunch. The midday meal is the perfect time to woo new clients, shore up relationships with existing ones, or just sit alone in a pub with a legal pad scribbling down new ideas. But don’t let business take over every daytime hour during the week.
• You don’t have to have a family to take a little break. If you have started a business but have not yet started a family, you may think none of these rules apply to you. Well, you are wrong. Entrepreneurs are known for their inclination to work at breakneck speeds without ever coming up for air. But we all need a break. Even a little time away will help you gain a new perspective on where the business is in your plan and which goals you think it’s time to tackle.
And don’t assume it’s OK to scrap your newfound sense of balance when the mercury begins to drop. Summer is an ideal time to get away from the pressure of work, but it’s not the only time. Establishing a better work-life balance should be a year-round goal.
Just remember to use common sense. Always ask yourself with each decision you make, “How will this affect my business?” and “Can I personally live with this decision?” There is a healthy balance for you, and you can find it.
Ty Freyvogel – author of “It’s Not Your Smarts, It’s Your Schmooze” and “Seize the Century!” – offers advice on his Web site, EntrepreneursLab.com.
