Finding Your True North

It’s no easy task explaining to someone what it means to be a business. To anyone who’s grown up with the mentality that they have to work hard in order to find a job at a company, meeting someone who is a company can be a perplexing idea that they just have trouble wrapping their head around. For example, there are a number of concepts inherent in the established paradigm that just don’t apply to the self-employed:

·         Setting one’s own work schedule and hours.

·         Determining one’s own rate of pay.

·         Working wherever they please instead of a set space, or office.

For anyone who has been successful at being their own business it often leaves others wondering whether they do any work at all. Answers to the questions, “What do you do?” and “How much do you make?” are purposely vague unlike those of their counterparts who might prefer the lofty title next to the reputable company name that commands a predetermined pay scale with benefits. But anyone who has ever set out to become self-employed knows that there is something that working for a company can not offer – the freedom to determine one’s own sense of vocational happiness.

It’s understood that working for a company brings with it certain sacrifices. In exchange for financial security we are often bound to working on someone else’s terms (hours, corporate structure, defined tasks, vacation and sick days). As much as being self-employed might represent a departure from this framework, it is not without sacrifice. In fact, leaving the corporate world behind to strike off on one’s own is often one of the greatest sacrifices anyone can make because it is automatically associated with uncertainty.

Self-employment is not for the faint of heart. The early days of starting a new business are often so filled with ups and downs (mostly downs) that it can often leave people despondent, regretting their decision, and scouring the want ads to get them back in the rat race. And, while taking temporary employment to stay afloat isn’t out of the question, throwing in the towel should be only be considered as an absolute last resort.

We have a long established history of measuring success in dollars and cents, but there is a sea change occurring right now. People are beginning to realize that happiness is becoming a more accurate barometer of success and that living every aspect of life on one’s own terms is a critical factor in one’s perception of their own happiness. To this day there exists a misconception that people that are self-employed don’t work as hard as people who work a set number of hours per week, but the greater truth is that there now exists a culture of people who don’t define success by the established set of terms.

If happiness and success, therefore, are so nebulous, what does it actually take to drive a new, passion driven, business forward and allow it to achieve remuneration along with fulfillment? Only you can decide that. But, locking on to the values that you aim to hold as a business, understanding why you are doing what you’re doing, and demonstrating your resolve will reflect upon others that your business offers value. Passion is infectious, and if you love what you are doing, then the people you serve will love how you do it. It takes time and the determination to suffer through hard times, but if you know where you are headed then you will get there.

How to Manage a Business and a Marriage

The goal of becoming a small business owner is to build your business to a level so that you can provide financial security for yourself and your family. That is one of the reasons as to why you enter into business. In many ways, you work hard now so that you have you can have fun later. Unfortunately, that message often gets lost - especially with new start-ups as more time is devoted to the management of the company and fighting fires. Most importantly, your relationships, especially your marriage, often get neglected.

In many cases, marriages break down because one of the partners spends too much time at work. It doesn’t always have to be that way. Just as you have spent time in writing your business plan, you should also spend an equal (if not more!) amount of attention to your marriage. Here are some tips to help you maintain a successful business and marriage.

1.      Make A Plan

Scheduling out every moment of your life sounds a bit obsessive. But if you can find a way to schedule most of your waking time and stick to that schedule it could pay off in the long run. What you should do is to schedule in the times during a day where you would spend working, and the time where you would relax with your family. For example – highlight in your calendar:

·         The hours 9 am to 5pm for your business

·         And the hours 6pm to 10pm is to be spent with the family

If you can stick to your schedule then you’re ahead of the game. However, to be more productive you need to be ruthless in cutting out non-essential activities that cut into your schedule. During your work hours you want to be completely focused on the tasks at hand. If you schedule time for a special dinner date with your wife/husband or coaching soccer practice with the kids then you should be equally focused on that time – and that means not taking work related calls! It all comes down to matter of good time management. So, be obsessive with your scheduling your day.  

2.      Create Quality Time

Just because you set aside time for “date night” or “family fun” doesn’t mean the work is over. You need to put some effort into creating quality time for those special events. Yes, you’ve spent all week up to your eyes in meetings, conferences and reports. The last thing you want to do is figure out where to go to dinner! Well, going that extra step to take charge will show you really do care about your relationship. It’s simple. Let’s say you have a date with your wife, here’s what you do:

1.      Pick your top three restaurants.

2.      Send an email or text message to your significant other asking them to make a top pick and you’ll handle the rest.

Don’t stop at just dinner. Plan ahead for a romantic weekend getaway, a night at the theatre, or a beach day. If you are really busy, you can hire a virtual assistant to help you make reservations or organize your week. It takes zero effort but holds the promise of great rewards.

3.      Keep the Lines of Communication Open

This is crucial for a marriage whether you own a small business or not. The old adage of “don’t go to bed angry” makes a lot of sense but hopefully you’ll find a way to work out your problems before you make it to the bedroom. Most issues with communication have less to do with what you’re saying as opposed to what you’re hearing. Genuinely listening to your partner’s concerns and applying empathy is crucial to keeping those lines of communication open. When you can put good listening skills into practice, you should get the same in return. That’s going to mean all the “channels” will be open and clear for a success marriage and business.