What holds you back from achieving financial success in your business? When I ask people this question, a variety of concerns come up.
Some struggle with time management, feeling overwhelmed by tasks but hesitant to outsource. Others worry about their business’s profitability and the best investment strategies.
And while there are numerous responses, one topic often goes unmentioned due to the lack of emotional safety and vulnerability required to discuss it openly, especially (and reasonably) in public settings like local chamber events.
Balancing personal and professional life
Do you ever feel disheartened or resentful towards your business because it infringes on your personal time? This is all too common for small business owners and solopreneurs.
Entrepreneurs may find themselves spinning in their business unable to reach certain expectations they set in the past. This can lead to overwhelming oneself with responsibilities just to do it ‘right’ or feel ‘productive’ for a week, a day, a moment.
And instead of meeting those set expectations and being productive, many end up in what we call ‘burnout’. When in burnout, it’s easy to abdicate all responsibility and blame the business as the source of our stress and problem (I know because I’ve done it!). And then instead of going after the root cause of the burnout, we become counterproductive and attack ourselves, our ideas, and the thing that once inspired us.
Identifying resentment and stress triggers
In order to help you self-identify some possible resentment for your business you can see how you answer the following questions:
- What were my initial expectations for this business, and how do they compare to my current reality?
- Have I felt consistently overwhelmed, underappreciated, or isolated in my role? (you can feel like this towards yourself if you’re a solopreneur!)
- What aspects of my business cause me stress or unhappiness? Are these situations temporary or ongoing?
- Do I find myself envying others who have more free time, different careers, or seem happier?
- Am I sacrificing my health, relationships, or personal values for the sake of my business?
Let me be the first to tell you that you are not alone. But listen, I’m a life coach. So I’m not here to cajole you into a comfortable and warm embrace. I’m here to tell you what’s what and help you get back on track, back to the passion that initially drove you into this business.
So first we need to understand what is going on here. The short answer is that you are having what’s known as a ‘thought error’. And that is the belief that you can’t have both a thriving, profitable business and a vibrant personal life (even one Paris Hilton would be envious of).
Practical steps towards balance
Let me be clear in saying that everything that you have created in your life up until this point, was created by that big, beautiful brain of yours, which means it’s also the tool we’re going to use to craft the work-life balance you so deeply desire.
First things first, let’s check out the time management basics. We have to take inventory. So get out that calendar and let’s have a look-see at what you’ve got going on in there. And if you don’t have a calendar, well this is your personal invitation, my friend. It’s time to assess what’s truly occupying your time.
Secondly, do you respect your own deadlines? Do you adhere to the deadlines that you set for yourself? Why or why not? Understanding that meeting deadlines is a choice can help you see this issue in a new light, free from unnecessary stress. It’s not actually some moral issue or us being ‘lazy’ like we’re led to believe.
Next consider why you attend networking events. Write them down and look at them. Are they beneficial? Do they align with your business goals? If your aim is to generate business, does that typically happen?
Lastly, why do you feel compelled to decline invitations to spend time with family and friends? What emotions arise when you say ‘no’? What reasons relating to your business come up for you? Do they make sense?
Though I can’t coach each of you individually in real-time, these questions are meant to provoke thought and potentially offer insights.
Seeking support and growth
Choosing to start and prioritize a business often means deprioritizing other aspects of life. This is not a bad thing! And we do it all of the time. Just this time you might be assigning that pesky morality to your decisions.
Feeling bad or having feelings of grief or shame accompany these choices is entirely normal.
What’s not normal is the silence around the struggles of business ownership. We are humans and we thrive by being social (in whatever way).
Acknowledging these challenges is the first step toward creating a different experience and
reducing the isolation this type of thinking can cause. Being able to recognize this as a problem will have you at an advantage over the person you were yesterday. So today is for the celebration of that realization.
If you’re facing these issues or issues like these and you want help figuring out a better way, sign up for a complimentary consultation with me.
Mention this article, and let’s tackle it together.
CONTRIBUTOR
Jill Rodowicz
Jill Rodowicz (she/her) is a life coach at Become What You Are Coaching based in Chicopee, Massachusetts. In her business she empowers strong, independent women to master their emotional well-being and build authentic, fulfilling romantic relationships through personalized coaching. She is an advisory board member of 'The Sphere' which is a local non-profit dedicated to uplifting women and non-binary entrepreneurs. In her free time you can find her rock climbing indoor and outdoor with her besties, studying philosophy/self-help, or doting on her fur child, a cat which she lovingly calls 'mama'.
