Though this post is geared toward small business owners, the points listed also pertain to the rest of us, whether business owners, employed or unemployed.

With the average small business owner spending 70 – 80 hours per week on their business, it’s no small wonder that they either are unable or don’t know how to take time off and both scenarios can lead to a downfall, either of your business or your health and many times, both. Though most of us can’t say no to extra hours or opportunities, due to financial constraints, at some point, the decisions will be made for us, usually through failing health.

Though all work and no play can make you a dull boy – or girl – there are worse things in the world than being boring and one of those is being ill. Taking time off is a necessity and one that should be made a habit, not something that just happens at vacation time, for how many of us out there spend some time also working on the weekends? Signs of needing a break include low tolerance for things that normally wouldn’t bother you; fuzzy thinking where you were once on the ball. You no longer enjoy what you are doing and make more mistakes, are twice as exhausted, yet you can’t sleep.

For those of us with our own businesses or who work remotely the percentage working more than 5 days a week is astronomical. Unlike our friends, who may work the typical nine to five job, we are working a variety of hours around the clock, 7 days a week and though we may not always work straight 8 hour shifts, the ongoing schedule of working every day of the week leads to more stress and worsening health.

When a break is what you need you have to figure out how you are going to make it happen and not just this week, but every week so your body has time to relax and not think about work or other worries. If you are in charge of a business, it’s time to call in that virtual team. Though you may not think you can afford it, can you really afford not to? If you also have employees that work for you, this will involve more planning as they need to know who is in charge and what their extra duties may entail while you are away – calling you is out of the question.

Explain to your employees and your customers if you must, that you are more effective when you’re rested and that you will be back, better than ever. Once everyone gets used to your taking regular time off from your business, the easier they will accept it and the smoother the transition will be each time. Once you are back, start moving forward at a pace that is more comfortable for you. Not all steps have to be large steps. Understand what it is about yourself that makes you push forward when it’s actually to your detriment. Knowledge may not be everything but it’s a huge help.

And be easy on yourself. Everyone needs a break, even you. You don’t have to wear a flag that says you are a martyr to your business. With regular breaks, everyone will know better. They’ll realize you are a successful business person and a smart one, who knows when to take time off.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2014

image courtesy of angelinthenorth

  As your business grows, do you find yourself paying more attention to others in your niche and following their patterns? Do your products tend to be similar to theirs and your services a different version of what is already available?

While many businesses these days tend to fit a certain mold, the one size fits all business can actually be damaging, not only to you, the business owner, but also to your customers. Thinking that you are supposed to do things a certain way, just because everyone else does, is one way not to stand out in the marketplace.

Conformity is even more common in these days of social media. Most business owners tend to have a presence on the more popular sites and while this can work well if done properly, there is nothing about their interaction with their customers that stands out above any other business. Most use social media to attract business, not realizing that not every customer is what they want or need.

While conforming may be the norm in society, (it tends to make most people feel comfortable), getting too comfortable in your business is completely different. Once you reach that point, you are most likely quite successful and feel you can relax. You’ve probably reached an income level where you are secure but haven’t yet realized that there is such a thing as being too stable, too normal – possibly too bland and boring? This is what conforming to the rules of business can do if you let it. Conformity allows no time or space for growth, for branching out into something that interests you.

Conformity means following a pattern, day after day; always watching what everyone else is doing, never offering yourself a challenge. Is this really what you want for your business? Do you want to close your eyes to the possibilities in order to not rock the boat? Your uniqueness transfers itself to your business and this is what customers are looking for and what they talk about to others. They love to tell everyone about something they have purchased is just that little bit different or better than what everyone else has.

People who succeed in the long term don’t conform, don’t necessarily play by every business rule and certainly don’t push to have their businesses look just like all of the rest. Though they connect with others and believe in marketing, their idea of a growing business means taking a little of this and a little of that and then making it their own. Their businesses are a different and better version of what is already available.

In America, through pressure of conformity, there is freedom of choice, but nothing to choose from. ~ Peter Ustinov

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2014

Crowded schedules, stressed out lives, a to-do list a mile long and no end in sight. For many business owners, this is a familiar lifestyle.

Though it may be your present lifestyle, it isn’t one that you have to continue with or should even put up with now. Your business is something that belongs to you and as such, you are the one making the decisions and if your decisions are causing all of the above, then you have far too many commitments and they are usually business based.

How do you change? Which commitments do you give up?

First, start with your goals. As mentioned in a previous post, goals are not always your friends. Quite often, they can rule your life, instead of your being in charge of them. Besides your own personal goals, you probably have goals that involve other business owners or associates. Though you might have promised them certain things or have deadlines and are committed to reaching them, leaving yourself more leeway and even saying no, will reduce your stress. Very rarely will you find that you accomplish less because of not reaching a certain goal at a certain time.

Unwanted commitments. These are commitments that you were usually talked into against your better judgement. Classes, talks, meetings – take your pick. Backing out of an unwanted commitment, though you may feel you are letting others down, will, quite soon afterward, make you feel much better. There is no need to give a reason, just state that unfortunately, you are no longer available for such and such a thing and then change the subject. If anyone should ask why not, you can simply tell them that it is personal.

Self induced commitments. While you may not think these exist, most of us force commitments on ourselves. We absolutely have to do this, that or the other thing. Not to be confused with goals, self inducted commitments tend to be time wasters and we put them in place to justify doing certain things. These could be anything from spending too much time on the computer to over cleaning our homes and we can all fill in our own blanks here for what would be considered a time waster in our lives that we still feel we have to do.

How to you stop committing yourself to things you really don’t want to do or don’t have the time for?

Besides just saying no, you can always soften the blow a little by adding that at this time, you can’t commit to anything but will have to get back to this person or that (or yourself!) at a later date as your schedule will not allow for further commitments at the present. Remind yourself of your convictions, that you will no longer commit to anything just to please others or to make yourself look busy.

Remember, the dictionary defines a commitment as “an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.” Once you start to think of it that way, you will find a way to cut down on anything that complicates your business and life and makes work more of a chore, instead of something you should be enjoying.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2014

image courtesy of http://bit.ly/1mAVdCG

Though most business owners start out with the intentions of running their business far into the future, they should always keep in mind that circumstances change. At some point, they may want to sell their business or they could also possibly realize that the services and products that were once needed and popular, are no longer relevant to the economy of that time.

If you feel that there will come a point where you will want to sell your business, plan far in advance. Always have in mind the type of person who would most benefit from your type of business and what they would be likely to pay for it. This means that your products will have to be items that are current to any economy and necessary, not “like to haves”.

Besides having your customer’s needs in the back of your mind, always keep in mind that potential future buyer and what they would most want if they were looking to buy your business. Look after your present clients as they will be the ones your buyer will see when looking at your company’s worth. Realize that innovation is healthy for your business but don’t change things just for the sake of change. Keeping yourself aware of changes in the market place and adapting your business to them is your best way of staying relevant. Small changes are always best and keeping your options open will help you when making larger business decisions.

If, at this point, you don’t see the selling of your business as an option in the future, think about how you will deal with certain aspects of the business as you age. What you may find challenging and enjoyable now, may at some point become just tiring and routine. There are virtual teams available to help you when you get to this point or even earlier if you’d like them to be familiar with your business when you decide to take things a little easier.

Structure your business around the possibility of change. When you do decide something isn’t working for you now, remember, there may come a time when it will work much better. Communicate with your customers as much as possible so they can give you a heads up on what they will be looking for in the near future. One interesting point is that the marketplace tends to run in circles. Many things that were popular 30 years ago are once again re-emerging as younger buyers look for items that their parents and grandparents once had access to.

Look into different options and if diversifying is not for you, then become the best at just one or two services or products. Make yourself a brand name for them and your future business, with the right innovations, will be ensured. Eliminate extras, keep it simple and keep your eye on other markets. Having a long lasting, successful business is possible if you don’t let all of the extras take your mind off the real prize – a business that is relevant to any economy.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2014

image courtesy of http://bit.ly/1qavT6n