Having been self-employed since 1992, I have learned a lot about the balancing act of running a business. Entrepreneurs have to make decisions about what is practical and what takes precedence. We have to prioritize and when we choose something, we have to be willing to make the sacrifices to make that new task happen. It isn’t long before new entrepreneurs discover that some activities are very time sensitive. Sometimes it feels like there is pressure and emotional pain and stress arise when we have to let something go to get what needs to be done.
We are constantly balancing business with what we want to accomplish in life events and household chores. We also have to train people to understand that they can’t walk in just because they know you’re home. We may have to make signs and post office hours to get the point home.
I’ve learned that just because there are options and opportunities that others have been successful with doesn’t mean they’re the right choice for you right now. Location, skills, talents, budget, timing, and circle of influence all play a part in what works for the individual.
I had to learn to see opportunities differently. Instead of stressing out about all these things I have to do, I now look at them as future opportunities and write them down in a file. When I go back to that file, I celebrate the fact that I have all these great options to keep track of when my calendar opens. Many business owners pay a lot of money to others to find those opportunities. So instead of regretting having a “to do” list, look at it as a compilation of opportunities that await you.
Because we work from home, it is necessary to make time for housework, meal preparation, gardening, shopping, and all other life and family activities. Working from home can often mean we’re loading and running multiple machines while working on the blog. We might be preparing meals part of the day, doing housekeeping, tackling that to-do list, and also returning business-related calls and emails. We can bake bread while answering questions in an interview or water the lawn while writing an article. Those of us who are self-employed learn to multitask, that’s for sure.
At the same time, we must learn to say “No” when it comes to all the things that your family or friends think you should have time for. With the family, this often means that we must learn to delegate what needs to be done.
Home business owners should also have an “off” button. We have to be willing to schedule time to recharge those energy batteries and refill that bucket of happiness so that when we return to that to-do list, we do it efficiently, with energy, enthusiasm, and fewer mistakes.