Thursday, May 3, 2012

The Biggest Challenge For Small Business Owners

Balance. You have three main tasks and must balance them all.

1. Working ON your business. This would include your marketing, strategizing and deciding what technologies you want to learn vs. what you feel won't help. Your decision to learn LinkedIN would qualify as working ON your business.

2. Working IN your business. This would include arranging your office, sending/receiving e-mail and doing billable work.

3. Maintaining your personal life. I tell people I have a life, a dream wife and kids, and a dog. That helps me show I have a life and also punch out from work occasionally. It's OK to let clients, customers and prospects know you have a life, spouse, kids, hobbies and/or pets. It may even help you build a stronger connection.

You need a good balance. Too much work and no play will create burnout. Too much play and too little work will leave you broke and your customers looking for someone else. Too much time IN the business and too little ON the business will leave you selling services clients can perform in-house or find unnecessary.