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No 25 June 2004 Balancing Your Business And Your LifeThe greatest challenge in the life of any small business owner is not sales, profits, personnel, or capital acquisition, it's learning how to successfully balance their professional and personal lives. A lot of business owners' levels of success have been all over the board, both with regard to their business and their personal lives. There are those that we admire whether its for their business prowess or for balancing the demands of life with business being but a part. The ones that I admire most are the ones who have managed to be successful in both areas. Without reservation I can say that the characteristic that is consistent among these folk is that they have taken the time and effort to honestly define success for themselves and they have let their families participate in the definition process. Defining Success Webster has two thoughts on success: 1) a favourable outcome or result; 2) gaining wealth, fame, rank, etc. If you want to know how you define success, take a little test. Write down the item from either list below that represents what you consider to be the single best indicator of success. Then write down under that choice the next best indicator of success from either list, and so on, until you've created your own list of 10 success indicators in your order of priority. List A
List B
Let me say that I would never be so presumptuous as to tell you how to define success. But your answers on the test creates what I might be called your Personal Success List, and I think it is a pretty good indicator of how balanced your life is, or could be. Balance Quotient Now let's grade your list against the Balance Quotient (BQ). If more than 3 of the top 6 items on your list are from List A, then your priorities are skewed toward you and things, and result in a low BQ. Not conducive to balance. If at least half of the first six items on your list are from List B, then you have a high BQ. You are, or have the potential to be able to balance life and the business component. This test has no pass/fail, or right or wrong. It's your life, and it's your BQ. The question is, do you know what you really want, and are you willing to take the steps to get there? You Can Have Success In Business Without Losing Everything Else - that Portfolio The key to having it all - business success, family, etc (a complete portfolio). - is balance and communication. Balance begins with where you place your priorities; communication begins by talking with people. Is your daughter's ball game or your son's recital a priority? Then schedule it. If you want to be a balanced life, know what's going on in your family's schedule, and work yours around it. If you have a low BQ and want a higher one, begin by attending all of the family events (including dinner) that you possibly can. And when you can't be there, since it's on your schedule, you can tell your family what's going on in advance. They will understand. While you are telling your family how important they are to you, also include how important the decision to own your own business is, and how you believe the business will ultimately be good for the family. Treat them like partners, because whether you realise it or not, they are in this with you, just like partners. In dialogue with family members, allow them to feel a vested interest in the business, even when they are not directly involved. You're Important, Too The portfolio of balancing life also means that you blend in time for yourself, finding time alone, away from everything, to think. Like attending the family functions, if you don't schedule time alone, it probably won't happen. Remember, you're not the family pack horse. You are one of the human beings in your family with needs just like everybody else. You have the right to maximise your potential professionally, and follow your business ownership dreams. It's important for your family to understand this, too. You might have to say it out loud. Don't Feel Guilty Guilt is a very unproductive emotion. Part of being a Balancer is getting to the place where you don't feel guilty about the extra time you spend in your business. If you want to jettison the guilt, begin the communication. Knowing that your loved ones understand why you work so hard minimizes the guilt, makes you more productive, and consequently, gives you more time for your life outside the business. Balancing Isn't Easy I know what you're thinking: Balancing life (being a portfolio worker is easier said than done. It's not easy - especially if things aren't going well in the business (which is a distinct possibility, particularly in the early stages) or things get out of kilter. Remember, all businesses, young and old, have problems that have to be solved. These problems take time, energy, resources, and emotions. If you have a family, they are involved in the good, the bad, and the ugly. When things get tough, let them help you shoulder the load. It's understandable that you might not want to tell them all the details. It's enough just to say, "Things are a little tough." But remember, communication explains why you are not around part of the time. It's no substitute for you, and isn't worth your breath without your corresponding balancing efforts (priorities, scheduling). Money And Stuff Won't Make You Happy You read it correctly! Are the millionaires all happy? Whether they are happy or not (some are, some aren't) has nothing to do with their money, their status, or their stuff. It may be that if you are unhappy before you acquire money, status, and stuff, you will be unhappy with those things. You will only be happy with them if you were capable of being happy before you had them. Also, if you were happy before you had money, fame, and stuff, these things might actually make you unhappy. Can one win??? I don't think anyone can balance life if they are unhappy. Have a healthy, well-thought-out definition of success, blend professional success with the love of family, the support of friends, plus personal mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being and then & ... If you want to have a high BQ, go back to the test and see if you want to make a new Personal Success List. Then ask your family how they define success. Incorporate that information into your List to create your Family's Success List. Next step: tape that list on your morning mirror. Last step: Live your List. ******************************************** "Nothing is as real as a dream. --- Tom Clancy, Author ******************************************** |
© 2003 The Nework Centre | email neworknz@yahoo.co.nz |
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