Ah, yes, you are self-employed. What a bold move! You’re an army of one, and most days, you feel like it! Even with help from a few trusted partners, you still feel that the weight of the world—cleverly disguised as your business—on your shoulders.
But wait…wasn’t the freedom of setting your own schedule and the chance to shatter your current income limitations a big part of choosing to work for yourself? So, how come you still haven’t balanced the delicate dance that takes place when entrepreneurship meets day-to-day life?
“A constant state of flux”: That’s how one entrepreneur described his work/life dance when asked how his life had changed since making the shift from corporate employee to self-employed. There certainly are rapid shifts in the tide for those of us who dare to beat out our own paths instead of treading along one existing en route to someone else’s dream, but most of us are tough cookies, so we're in it for the ride, and we look forward to the rest stops!
Ultimately, we know we’ll get to the point where we can truly enjoy the benefits of being self-employed. But what tools can we employ while heading to the “Promised Land," while things aren’t exactly panning out at warp speed, yet daily living continues to tap us on the shoulder saying, “Hey, remember me?”
Four Considerations When Doing the Entrepreneurial Work/Life Balance Dance
Entertain a shift in perspective. Sometimes we need a little reminder of why the self-employed route rocks! I took a few notes from this list, and perhaps you’ll find it useful too.
Consider that your work IS a part of your life, and perhaps the Work-Life Balance model may not be for us. Dominic Orr of Aruba Networks advocates the need to focus on mind share and time management versus work/life balance. What do you think? Check out a snippet from his lecture here.
Many entrepreneurs have to hold on to their “day jobs” while working to raise their own businesses from the ranks of obscurity. In these cases, time becomes an even more elusive resource, and feeling overwhelmed can be viewed as part and parcel of the process. Here are a few tips on how to handle the Moonlighting Entrepreneur scenario.
Learn to manage your time around your priorities. This means, instead of being pulled in a variety of directions based on clients’ needs, children’s needs, and staying abreast of information relevant to your industry, you must prioritize. What elements matter most? Make it a point to create a schedule of sorts, and keep your priorities at the top of your To-do list! Here are some tips along those lines.
Your takeaway: Consider embracing the imbalance of self-employment, and replacing your need to feel balanced, with a track record of prioritized accomplishments.
Know somebody who's struggling with work, life and priorities? Tweet this post!
What do you think?
Are entrepreneurs doomed to never find work/life balance?
When you're building your own dream, is there are clear delineation between "work" and "life"?
1
Yes, I physically contain my work in a studio. So the line is the door to the studio. Everything outside is life.
Posted Feb 9, 2010 10:27:05 AM by: Studio Stitches
1
I am a social worker who does outreach mental health therapy. That means that I drive to my client's homes. I don't have any overhead costs and I get reimbursed mileage from agencies that contract my services. I also use a cell phone just for my business so that after a specified hour, I can refer all callers to a 24 hour crisis center if they need assistance and the crisis center will give me messages the next day when I call in.
Posted Feb 10, 2010 5:32:32 AM by: Dawn Schaible, LMSW
1
The lines of demarcation between work and life are the ones you draw. Unfortunately, for some who may even read this, drawing those lines might come much too late. Many entrepreneurs find balance only after a divorce, business failure or that child you thought was your little baby is looking down on you and asking for the keys to the car.
If you can't manage the separation, then there are options such as putting a lock on the office door (to make it more difficult to enter on a whim), getting an office phone to separate business from family calls (use skype if you have to keep the bills low), or even renting a small office around the corner so you can simply leave work "at work." Everyone is different and you must learn what works best for YOU!
I have at least 4 jobs and separating them can be extremely difficult. So, in order to keep the life "clutter" low I don't have a voice mail set up, I check email only periodically throughout the day, I require written messages from everyone as opposed to verbal ones, I have a short memory for foolishness and I have no problem saying NO. That's just me though. LOL!
From the Professor
Posted Mar 3, 2010 4:45:10 PM by: johngirton.me
1
I would WANT to think that we entrepreneurs who take the RISK to start our own businesses WILL enjoy the rewards commensurate with this risk!
That includes work life balance.
Personally my lack of work life balance is self-imposed / self-induced. I make ambitious goals, goals that require me to invest significant amount of concentrated time - and I no longer have this type of time as a parent to a young child.
However, BEFORE I became a mom, I was working a ton of hours per day simply because I loved what I was doing. That is good and bad - good that I loved what I was doing - bad that I was burning myself out too quickly by not taking the necessary mental emotional and physical (even spiritual) breaks.
When I mentored new entrepreneurs, one of the areas we get into is prioritization, and getting a really clear picture of needs versus wants, and the time available to meet each.
Posted Mar 4, 2010 11:58:07 AM by: Jane Chin, Ph.D.
1
In my humble opinion I would say "Yes". In the words of Michael Gerber, author of E-Myth Revisited. If we do not find the balance between being an employee, manager & entrepreneur, we as small business owners will remain out of balance and our businesses are doomed to fail. In his words the goal should be to find a way to think and become the entrepreneur. Once we achieve that personally and professionally, balance will follow.
Now that is my personal summary of Michael Gerber's book.
Posted Mar 4, 2010 1:53:12 PM by: Hewitt Business Consultants
Responded Mar 4, 2010 6:00:34 PM by: Paul O'Brien