Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Did you work more than 40 hours this week? What’s wrong with this picture?

* Since when did it become a crime to work less and enjoy life more?

* Why does it seem that work life balance is only a pipe dream in this country?

* As business owners why do we proudly say “I’m swamped with work” or “I worked 12 hours yesterday”?

I was at a networking event and I overheard a popular entrepreneur say that she was up until midnight taking care of business matters. She said it proudly as if it proved that working long hours means she is successful. Everyone nodded agreement and provided their own horror stories.

A client mentioned to me today that last week she took Monday and Wednesday off to get needed rest. Upon returning to her practice she was asked by her office mate how she could do it - take time off during the week when she could be seeing patients. She replied that she enjoyed her time off by going hiking, going out to lunch, and getting errands done. She was able to schedule clients for other days without a problem. Her office mate replied that he should do that sometime. But will he?

Owning your business means that you are in control of your life. You have FREEDOM. You can make your own hours. Take breaks when you want to. Go to your child’s soccer game in the middle of the day. Why must we be locked into the traditional business model of “work too much” with no work life balance?

Having a business should afford the business owner a certain amount of benefits not available to salaried employees. In my opinion, a business exists to work for the business owner. You, the entrepreneur, are taking risks just by being in business. It follows that your business should give you tax breaks, flexibility, and FREEDOM.

If you are working more than forty hours a week, you may be working inefficiently. What are you doing that can be delegated to an hourly employee so that you can concentrate on being the face of your business?

How would it improve your life if you could take Friday afternoons off? How about if you only worked 4 days a week? This is all possible with time management, delegation, and work life balance.

Grow Your Business and Prosper!
Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors

http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz

No comments: