Learn to take a break from your business

As an entrepreneur, there is temptation to always be active in the running of your business. You want to be ever present and be part of crucial decisions on a daily basis. While this is generally a good thing, you can overwork yourself in the process.

Mahatma Gandhi once said there is more to life than increasing its speed. Racing through life will create unnecessary stress and anxiety. In the haste, you can miss some of the very crucial things in life. An entrepreneur who feels like not getting his eye off the ball will eventually damage his business.

Taking time off and doing other things on the side can mean the entrepreneur is always rejuvenated and firing from all cylinders.

Here are some ways through which an entrepreneur can unwind and let his business take a successful route without much interference.

Prioritise and invest in personal growth

When life gets busy, it is often hard for entrepreneurs to put themselves in a position where they think of their own well-being ahead of their business.

Investing in yourself intellectually, emotionally and spiritually however puts you in a better position to serve, impact and inspire others.

Always consider yourself a special cog in the business that requires constant oiling for the business to keep running.

Spend time-off seeking inspiration

Scheduling time for creativity, in which you can explore things you are passionate about relaxes the mind and creates space for creativity.

Try to solve puzzles, take some time in sport. Watch shows that are inspirational and give the mind space to explore new worlds. When you are inspired, new ideas spark and innovation takes over.

Learn and practise a new skill

Ease the focus on work and try and learn a new skill. Learn a new language, learn to play an instrument or simply take your time to explore your personal interests that you have neglected through and through.

Being challenged by learning new and exciting things will help you progress in business, perhaps opening your eyes to new possibilities even in your entrepreneurial venture.

Spend your time with like-minded, positive people

Take time off to be with the people who matter most to you. People who are like-minded and positive. Spend time with family and friends.

Reconnect with those whose contacts you have lost. Meet up with people who can give you peace of mind and relaxation while at the same time making you dream about a future of success for both yourself and your business.

Celebrate small wins

If you want to keep motivated, you have to recognise the small successes of every day. Keep pedalling without losing sight of your ultimate goal, but appreciate every effort you make along the way.

Take stock and recognise every little achievement even as you gun for greater things. Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist, lecturer and poet said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.”

Break down your goal into daily bite-sized chunks

If the goal that you have set is lofty, as it should be for every big-dreaming entrepreneur, it can seem either overwhelming and obtainable, or manageable in a matter of time, all depending on how you looks at it and plan.

But imagine how easy it would be if you were able to break down a big goal into smaller goals in which you can take account and whose achievements you can mark against every day.

That way, even the biggest of tasks seems possible to achieve. Breaking down big goals into smaller parts is very beneficial for any business. It reduces the pressure you have while ensuring you remain on track towards achieving the ultimate goal.

Establish a clear distinction between on and off

As an entrepreneur, you should drop the mentality that you need to be available for work 100 per cent of the time. After some time, exhaustion kicks in and you cannot deliver. Do not wait until you are too exhausted that you cannot perform to finally call it a day.

Take time away and delegate duties. When you should be off, let it be an off which cannot be compromised. Have the discipline to give yourself ample time off the business when time comes.

Look after your employees and know how they are faring

Always take time to focus on your staff. Check if they are happy with the workplace and how they are treated. Check whether their competencies make them excited, or if you could do anything to improve their efficiency, such as training.

Schedule team meetings and ask staff how they are feeling in your business and whether they have ideas about where the business should be heading. Appreciate what they are doing. Show them they are part of the business and that you value their contribution. Happy workers perform better.

Study your competition

When free, analyse the competition. Check what they are doing differently. See what they are beating your company at and what you can do to offer a bigger challenge.

Be a customer to one of them and sample the quality of their goods or service.

Always make sure that you know exactly what direction they are headed and what difference they might bring into the market now that you have free time to do such an analysis.

Study your market

Take your time on the fringes to interact with the market leaders. Get their views on the products you are offering. See how you can improve on what you offer. Also, see what you have been doing different from the competitors that the customers would appreciate to see in your company.

By all means, have an interactive period with the people who are the reason your business exists: the customers. By the time you are back to work again, you know exactly what needs a fix and what does not.  

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