If you’re like most business owners, you got into business to be your own boss and have more control over your time.
But usually what happens is you end up working harder than ever, spinning faster and faster on a hamster wheel of never-ending to-do’s.
And your legs have gotten very tired.
Sound familiar?
If that’s your experience of business ownership, I have good news for you: it doesn’t have to be that way!
Do these three things to change your experience of owning a business so you work less, enjoy more freedom and flexibility, and feel confident your business is on track for continued growth.
1. Make Your Business Independent
One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is trying to do everything themselves. They think that if they delegate or outsource any part of their business, they’ll lose control and things will start falling apart.
But the truth is, the only way to have true freedom and flexibility in your business is to make it independent of you.
That means having systems and processes in place so that it can run without you needing to be there every step of the way.
When you have a team of people who are all working together towards the same goals, and everyone knows their role and how their work fits into the bigger picture, that’s when you can start taking some time away from the day-to-day grind without things falling apart.
If you want to take a week off (or even a month!), you can do that without worrying that your business will come crashing down around you.
2. Spend Your Time Wisely
One of the biggest benefits of making your business independent is that it gives you back time—time that you can use however you want!
Whether that means taking more time for yourself and your family, pursuing hobbies or other interests outside of work, or using your newfound free time to work ON your business instead of IN it, it’s up to you.
The key is to be intentional about how you spend your time.
Just because you have more free time doesn’t mean it will magically get filled with things that are meaningful or productive. You need to be deliberate about how you want to spend your time, and then make sure you’re actually doing that.
3. Focus on What Matters Most
If you are not bogged down by all the little tasks and details of running a business, it frees you mentally to focus on the big things that will drive your business forward.
To take your business to the next level, be clear about your goals and what steps to take to get there.
A lot of times, business owners know they should be working on strategic tasks like this, but they don’t make it a priority because they’re too busy putting out fires and dealing with urgent issues.
But if you want to transform your experience of owning a business, strategic thinking and planning must become a non-negotiable part of how you operate on a day-to-day basis.
Set aside time each week—even if it’s just an hour or two—to … Drum Roll Cliché Please
… “work ON your business instead of IN it”, and watch as things start falling into place.
Owning a business doesn’t have to be super stressful and all-consuming.
If you make your business independent, spend your time wisely, and focus on what matters most, you can transform your experience of being a business owner from a constant grind into something you enjoy.
Which of these three tips are you going to put into practice first?