Tag: balancing work and family

Loved Ones Of Business Builders Should Understand

These next two months
are extremely busy
for many business builders.

For some of us,
Holiday sales
make the difference
between having
a profitable year
and losing money.

I remind all my loved ones
of this fact.

I tell them
they likely won’t see me much
during November and December
and part of January.

I give them ways
to help me
during this time.

If they want to see me,
they know
they’ll be helping
with the business
while they’re doing that.

And I schedule time with them,
fun time,
relaxing time
at the end of January
or early February.

This is our busy time.
Ensure our loved ones
know that.
And ensure they also know
they ARE our loved ones.

Have An End Date To Working Hard

When I graduated,
I warned my Mom and siblings
and friends
I planned to work
REALLY hard for about 20 years.

Then I planned
to semi-retire
(i.e. for business builders,
this usually means
building businesses
that might not pay back…ever).

Whenever they worried
I was burning myself out
(I did burn out…a bit),
I would remind them,
“I have X years left.”
And they would relax,
satisfied,
knowing I had an end date.

When I hit 20 years of working,
I had also hit my financial goals
and I stopped working
(that hard)
for a bit.

Right now, during the holiday rush,
you’re likely working
REALLY hard.
Your loved ones might be worried
about you.
They are likely missing your company.

Give them an end date.
Tell them on January 5th,
for example,
your work schedule will slow down.
Do that countdown with them.

Then SLOW DOWN on that date.
Deliver on your promise.

We can tolerate many challenges
in the short run.

Give your loved ones a date
when they can expect to spend time
with you again.