Three Things You Can do to be a Happier Entrepreneur

​One of the things I hear time after time from entrepreneurs, including myself, is that it’s lonely. This is especially true for solo-preneurs. You started your business to do the work you love. You quickly learned there is a lot more to it than just that. As I’ve referenced before, you are accountant, sales, marketing, and everything else.
What happens, is your business starts to own you, rather than you owning it. And what follows is that you spend far too much time working ‘on’ the business and less and less on working ‘in’ the business doing what you love. You also tend to pull away from social activities because there is always something that needs your attention. You may even pull back from your family. More than one entrepreneur mother has told me she felt she’d been neglecting her children. For me, it was my family and friends.
I’ve learned three things that have been immensely helpful.

1. Set limits on the hours you will work in/on your business. I’ve recently learned this lesson. First, I invested in a scheduling system where I limit the hours clients can book time with me. That leaves set times each week where I know I will work on accounting, marketing, and other aspects of things I must do. It also ensures I leave weekends and evenings for friends and family.
2. Get out and socialize. Even if it’s a work networking event, you’ll be talking to people, possibly even friends, or new friends. You’ll feel alive, connected and engaged. I choose these events carefully. They must either present an opportunity that is good for me and/or my business or they must be something that I will learn from. I have yet to go to an event and not walk away with something valuable, even if it’s a new friend that I made a connection with.
3. Find like-minded people, or colleagues in a complimentary line of work that you can collaborate with. The whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. This is true in collaborations. Not only do you join forces in thought, but you combine networks, time, and effort. It’s highly rewarding and you may even walk away learning something new!

Like many entrepreneurs, I got caught up in the trap of working all the time. I was exhausted, sick of my work and sick of running my own business. Making these three simple changes and sticking to them has made a huge difference. I have quasi-teammates and weekends again!
So, here is my challenge. Take tonight off from work. Sit down with these three simple items, and map out how you’re going to make these changes. Let me know what you’ve done and how it’s worked out for you. I’d love to hear!