Abraham Lincoln has this quote that I believe is getting entrepreneurs in a pickle….
“Good things come to those who wait but only what’s been left by those who hustled.”
While I do love the spirit of this quote, I think it is erroneously causing entrepreneurs to think that “hustling” or being busy is synonymous with building a solid, thriving business.
It’s not. After all, activity is not synonymous with results.
Now, I’m not saying you don’t have to put in work. But I happen to be of the belief that you work smarter, not harder. No one has time for that.
So, if you’re being real and honest with yourself, you’re likely to tell the truth that the majority of the time that you’re “hustling” in your business is NOT spent on activities that are producing profit.
Boom, there it is.
You see, there’s a myth out there that to be an effective entrepreneur you have to work 24/7. Well that’s a lie from the pit.
That’s exactly why when I saw Regina’s question, I had to answer it right away:
“Hi Darnyelle. I am a full time business owner and I have an executive assistant and a few other key 1099’s. I fear that I am trying to do too much. I am struggling to get things done and I also am seeking balance so that I get to enjoy my life as well as build my business. I don’t believe in working 24/7 or always being on my hustle and grinding. What are some things I can do to build my business while also balancing the other areas of my life?”
Check out my response to Regina’s question in this week’s episode of Incredible Factor TV:
So at the end of the day, we all have the same 24 hours. Brian Tracy says we should live in the 8’s. 8 hours to sleep, 8 hours to work and 8 hours for family, friends, and things we enjoy. And you know what, I couldn’t agree with Brian more.
So, how do you do it? How do you get balance? Try these tips on for size and if they fit, ROCK them!
1. Be about more than your work. Don’t get my wrong, I love me some Incredible One Enterprises and Amethyst Consulting Group. I do. BUT I’m not just an entrepreneur. I am a woman, a friend, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, an avid reader, music lover, exercise enthusiast, a child of God, a lover of dancing and shaking my groove thing, and I love to cook. I enjoy museums and laughter. I even enjoy basketball. And I love to volunteer and help children. And someday (soon I hope) I will be a girlfriend and then a wife (please God, please :-)) So I have more in my life than my brands. I have range and depth and things to do besides working like nothing else matters. And when you have more in your life, it will become important to find opportunities for balance.
2. Give your work the same respect you gave your job. Now, I’m talking specifically about the time in your career when you loved your job. When making strides to advance your career was important. You didn’t take an over abundance of personal calls. You minimized your “stop and chats” and most importantly, you got things done. You didn’t take meetings or run errands in the middle of your day unless it was your lunch time. Returning to this space will impact your business during your work hours.
3. Do what you love and delegate the rest. Most entrepreneurs are busy, but not busy doing things they love that will advance their businesses. Start by taking a sheet of paper and making two columns. In the first column, write down EVERYTHING you currently do in your business. Yup, everything. Then in the second column only transfer those things you love to do, that you are amazing at. Everything that is left over, you guessed it. It needs to be delegated.
4. Set an end to your day, every day. This is by far my favorite habit of highly effective people. Stephen Covey was truly on to something. When you set an end to your day, you will prioritize better and spend more time focused on profit producing activities during the time that you work. Setting an end to your day, will also give your business some amount of security. Business building security happens when there is more to do to impact the world.
5. Focus on profit producing activities during your work time. By definition, a PPA is any activity that in so doing leads to bringing more revenue into your business. PPAs include things like scheduling meetings or discovery sessions with prospects, writing a new marketing piece, campaign copy, speaking, networking, cold calling, warm calling, calling low hanging fruit or working directly with a client or customer.
So, what say you? What’s your two cents? How do you achieve balance in your life and business? What tip should be on the list? How have you managed the myth that you have to work 24/7 in your business? What can you share to help Regina?
Be a part of our after-party right now by leaving your comment below. I can’t wait to party with you by reading and responding to your comments!
©2013 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, MBA, The Incredible Factor Speaker, Business Coach and Marketing Mentor, is the founder of Incredible One Enterprises.com, Incredible Factor University® the Leverage Your Incredible Factor System® a proven step-by-step program for more clients, more income and more leverage in your business. For more information and a FREE audio CD “7 Critical Mistakes Entrepreneurs Must Avoid When Unleashing Your Incredible Factor So You Attract More Clients, Make More Money and Gain More Leverage” just fill out the form below.
