I’ve spoken to so many business owners & leaders in the last few months who are frankly exhausted, overwhelmed and done in. They may or may not have had a difficult time in their business - but the outcome has too often been stress, burnout, illness or even wanting to give up on business all together.
It gets me wondering why & what can we actually do about it.
Has the world simply become more hectic? Are business trading conditions just worse? Are we less resilient or is there still some kind of pandemic hangover even 5 years on?
I don’t have a definitive answer of course, but there is a need for some change. As micro business owners, we have the agency to make that change - no bosses, no corporate work ethic, no loss of control. But - we do often work alone, do carry all the responsibility & we do have less security.
So where does that leave us?
Here are some thoughts and ideas on where we could look to and what we could potentially address to create a business we love that also delivers a life we love.
Accept change. Although this might seem nuts to say, it’s actually the hard bit. If we don’t want to keep feeling the same, then we have to do something different - and actively. If we need more sleep, if we need to ask for help or if we need to learn new skills, then that requires pause, consideration, a plan, new habits and often uncomfortable feelings. Are you ready?
Consider your role. What role/s do you play on your life and business? List them. You might be horrified to see how long the list actually is. Firstly, it’s important to remember that you simply can’t do it all and you can’t do everything in life that you might want to (read Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman). So, what are the most important things? What is going to make the difference between a life and a great life? What can you let go of or delegate. Be ruthless.
Revisit your dreams & visions. Life changes, priorities shift. Are you on autopilot and stuck in a pattern that you feel you can’t change? Are you still working towards what is most important to you. These are big questions but it could be fun to do a mind map and check in.
Know yourself well. We all have a nemisis or two. We all have our weak spots & vulnerabilities. Are we workaholics? Do we invest too much time people pleasing? Are we too worried about image over substance? What are our limiting beliefs? You may have come a long way, but these challenges can keep showing up in our lives unless we properly address them (see point 1!). I’ve found journaling as a great way to ramble on about my day while noticing what my own patterns are.
Make radical choices. I find that there’s so much assumption in the modern world, the biggest one being that we must all adopt all things to make our businesses successful. Not true. We can all unlock the key things that work for us & do more of that. It’s too easy to be distracted by ‘busy’ or new tech or ‘social media madness’. What can you drop or leave for later?
Make strategy your friend. A big word that can feel overwhelming but the more you build a strategy, the simpler it all becomes. Not because you have to be rigid or complex, but because it gives you focus & a framework. You’ll know the goals, the ways to get there, the habits required and much more. Everything else is secondary.
Be your own coach. If you were your best friend, what would you notice about your life? How would you advise & how kind would you be? Would you provide a bit of perspective and speak positively? Would you take time out to chat, have a brew and to give your thinking some proper time and attention? As the leader of your business & life, it is essential to take care of you.
As always, let’s use this guide as a springboard for more chat in the forum. What are your thoughts? Is business life a struggle? Can you share your best tips?
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