By: Elle Wilson-Founder and CEO of TrueBrow™
One thing I’ve learned over the years as a business owner is how much harder it is to run a business than it is to work for one. In fact, many of my fellow entrepreneurs describe business ownership as a job that means working from morning till night, seven days a week. A friend of mine who owns a beauty salon recently admitted to me that she hasn’t taken a single vacation in the 7 years since she opened. All of this sounds like a surefire recipe for serious “business owner burnout.”
Fortunately, I learned early on how to cope with those moments when I feel overwhelmed by the constant pressure, the lack of time off, and the worries that come with being in business for yourself. I’ve listed below some of the tactics I use to re-energize myself and reinvigorate my passion for my business. If you’re feeling similarly stressed out, hopefully my learnings can help.
- Make a list.
Sometimes, self-employment can become monotonous, especially when you try to do as much work as possible by yourself. One way I deal with this is by researching new ideas for growth and creating new goals and milestones, which gives me the energy kick I need to push through to get the work done. I absolutely love creating to-do lists for this, and get great satisfaction crossing a task off the list when it’s completed.
- Get connected.
When I’m feeling down about progress in a specific area of the business, I connect with other entrepreneurs and talk about it. Knowing you’re not alone and that other business owners have been in your shoes—and being able to help them in areas they need—is a guaranteed way to reignite passion for the work you do.
- Take a break.
Like any entrepreneur, there are days when everything can feel overwhelming. Sometimes it’s analysis paralysis; other times it’s just having too much to do. And I’ll even admit there are times I’d love to play hooky, go to the beach, and swim all day.
No matter how passionate you are, it’s easy to get burnt out when you’re running a business. There are always a million things to do, and a million new ideas to pursue. But one area most of us neglect is ourselves. The truth is, you can’t be successful if you’re running on an empty tank. I’ve been there a few times over the last 30-plus years in the beauty industry, and I had to force myself to take a step back and remind myself that my business can’t be successful if I’m not in tip-top shape.
For me, I’ve found that the best way to re-energize and reconnect with my passion for the business is to get away. I’ll typically take a long weekend and entrust my team in the office to hold down the fort while I’m out. During this time away, I’ll focus on re-strategizing my plans for the business but also take time to just relax and unplug. Putting aside just those few days makes a world of a difference in keeping up my energy and passion to ensure the business is a success.
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- Make plans.
I go through a period about once a year where I think, “What’s next?” I take the time to evaluate what I should do next—for me personally and for my business. It almost always involves changing something up: new skills, new services, new initiatives.
To help determine what I should do next, I find it valuable to talk to clients and get answers to questions such as, “How do clients see us?” “What are we doing well?” “What can we improve?” and “What do they need that we’re not providing?” This helps narrow my focus on what specifically needs to change. And, as a side benefit, there is nothing more invigorating than hearing how much your clients love your service.
- Get help.
In my opinion, the main reason entrepreneurs suffer from “business owner burnout” is because they want to do everything themselves. Here at Satellite Office, we have clients who made the same mistake in their first few years. But when they finally realized that they couldn’t afford to not outsource and delegate, that’s when things started to change for the better for their business.
About the Author
Elle Wilson is the Founder and CEO of TrueBrow™, an Australian-owned company empowering thousands of women entrepreneurs to build their own brow businesses. She is also pioneering a revolutionary new way of restoring, transforming and designing a woman’s brow naturally. No gimmicks, no risks, no scarring, no skin staining—just perfect, all natural brows.
Website: https://truebrow.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truebrowofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truebrow/
Wanda Rich has been the Editor-in-Chief of Global Banking & Finance Review since 2011, playing a pivotal role in shaping the publication’s content and direction. Under her leadership, the magazine has expanded its global reach and established itself as a trusted source of information and analysis across various financial sectors. She is known for conducting exclusive interviews with industry leaders and oversees the Global Banking & Finance Awards, which recognize innovation and leadership in finance. In addition to Global Banking & Finance Review, Wanda also serves as editor for numerous other platforms, including Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.
