There is a tendency for small business owners to fill the hours people would typically spend with family and friends with additional hours to run their business. A small business owner usually has fewer resources and manpower to work with than those that run a large corporation. The danger in this is that the business owner will sacrifice his or her personal life to keep their business running smoothly. If you feel that this describes your situation, consider the following quotes on the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
- “We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” – Carlos Castenada
Always remember that there is a reason you are working and running a company. You’re working to make a living. Even as the boss, you are working to make a living, and that involves making your company prosper. No one else can accomplish this for you. But as you work for your living, remember that you do not have to sacrifice everything else in your life to do so. Your personal time – you living – is also incredibly important.
- “You will never feel truly satisfied by work until you are satisfied by life.” – Heather Schuck, The Working Mom Manifesto
If you find yourself questioning what you’re doing, take a step back and remind yourself what that initial motivation was behind starting your business. You didn’t just start it to start it; you had a purpose and a mission. More than likely, part of this purpose was to support everything else you enjoy in your life. However, it should never become your entire life. When this happens, you will find yourself in a very depressing place. Work will become the replacement for all of those things in your life that you previously enjoyed. To avoid this, find satisfaction in your life first before seeking it in your work.
- “Don’t work harder, work happier.” – Alexander Kjerulf, Happy Hour is 9 to 5
Many small business owners make the mistake of wearing themselves out by chasing after every bit of work they can get their hands on. All this accomplishes is stress, poor health and depression. Not to mention the negative affect it has on your personal relationships. In the end, you will end up making wrong decisions and mistakes. Always focus on being happy with your work and with your life. Quality over quantity.
If accelerating your business is one of your goals, how you choose to go about it can be a very big decision. Having a team of specialists to help you goes along with the work smarter, not harder mentality. Securing a small business loan, for example, with an alternative provider – like FAM – can provide you with the flexibility you need to accomplish that healthy work-life balance. To learn more about what a small business loan can do for you and your business, contact First American Merchant.