ASK THE COACH
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Finding a Balance Between Responsibility and Relaxation
By Dr. Ray Angelini
The Saratogian
June 7, 2005
Dear Dr. Ray,
With summer almost upon us, I am feeling the usual desire to slow down and kick back, yet, I am also concerned that if I do so, my business will suffer financially. What would you recommend to help me balance these two conflicting desires?
— J.R. in Wilton
Dear J.R.,
Summer is indeed a time when the living should be easier and more relaxed. However, relaxation and productivity do not have to be mutually exclusive. Summertime is the perfect time to work "on" rather than "in" your business. Most business owners believe that if they work hard enough, their business will succeed. However, the key is working smarter rather than harder.
In his groundbreaking book, The E-Myth Revisited, Michael Gerber challenges business owners to look at their businesses in a radically different way. By viewing your business as a "product" rather than a "business," it is possible to both enjoy your summer and meet your financial needs.
The first step is to view your business as something separate and distinct from yourself. You'll need to take a step back in order to think clearly. That's what's so great about summer, it's the perfect time to sit back and reflect on your progress. After all, a business should support your life rather than be your life. So take a deep breath, get into your most comfortable lounge chair by the pool and begin to reflect.
As a small business owner myself, the first thing I did was to identify the specific needs my business was designed to fulfill, both for me and my clients. I wanted my business to support myself and my family, both financially and spiritually. I also wanted to make sure that how I made a living was in keeping with my deepest spiritual values. These include my beliefs in everyone's fundamental interconnectedness, and that it is more important to give rather than receive.
When I began to approach my business with an ethos of service and compassion, I was able to open up new horizons for abundance and prosperity for myself and my clients. Once I did this, I was able to take a crucial step in separating my business from my life. After I completed this process, I was well on my way to giving myself permission to take time for my life and enjoy myself more.
Summertime is the perfect time to contemplating these issues and to begin working "on" rather than "in" your business. Often, a coach or mentor can be extremely helpful in this process and can help you work through it more quickly and easily. The sooner you begin this process, the closer you will be to developing the systems and staff necessary for your business to run without you. So don't resist the desire to slow down and relax. Try to view this yearning as an opportunity to actually grow rather than shrink your business, for that is what it truly is.
Changing the way you think, feel, and work in your business is the best way to resolve the conflict you are currently experiencing. This may sound like a difficult process, but remember, you have already begun doing business in a radically different way by merely asking the question. Here's to a relaxing and productive summer.
