Give Yourself a Break…Cuz You’re the Boss!

I’m the first to say that it’s important to invest in yourself to grow your business. As a solo business owner, I’m always interested in learning new ways to grow my business and help my clients. I know that by learning the latest products and cutting edge information, I have more to offer my clients.

However, recently I noticed I was spending more time outside my office attending workshops than working on my business. I would return from a workshop filled with new ideas. I’d create another long “to do” list to add to my previous “to do” list, not sure when I’d get to all of it. There seemed so much to do and so little time to do it. I realized it was time to put the brakes on, slow down, and take a step back.

I was so busy doing, doing, doing, I wasn’t making the time to absorb and implement everything I’ve learned. Nor was I taking the time “to stop to smell the roses.” Sound familiar to you? You find yourself with all these great ideas, yet pulled in so many different directions that it begins to feel overwhelming.

One of the advantages of being a business owner is that you get to design your business the way you want it. So it’s time to give yourself a break, cuz you’re the boss! Here’s 5 ways to get started.

1. Ask yourself, “Which of these tasks is going to move me closer to my goals?”You’ve got a number of projects you’re trying to finish. You can’t possibly do everything you need to do. Some things are just not going to get done.Then make a list of all the things you have to do. Prioritize all the items, listing the most important on top down to the least important at the bottom.Now you can start working on the most important realizing you probably won’t get to the bottom. And, that’s okay because they can’t be very important or they would have been listed at the top.
2. Take a deep breath, stop what you’re doing and step away. There are times when work can seem so overwhelming. You feel like everything is coming at you at once. You’re not sure what pile to start on first.Even if it’s only for a few minutes, step away from your desk, and do something different. When you return, you’ll feel calmer and more focused.
3. Make your weekends your own private time to take care of yourself.Often on Sunday afternoons, I’ll go up to my office, open up my computer and start working. I’ll tell myself I’m doing this so I can be ahead of my workload except there’s always the next thing to do. This past Sunday, I did things differently. I decided I was not going to work. Instead, I sat out on my terrace and immersed myself in a great fiction book I’ve been dying to read. What a great feeling to read something totally unrelated to work, and I can’t wait to read the next chapter!
4. Block out time on your calendar to nurture your mind and soul.For me it’s working out at the gym 3 times a week. For you, it could be taking a walk, jogging in the neighborhood, practicing yoga, journaling your thoughts each morning, meditating daily, or reading a good juicy book.Even if it’s only for a few minutes, give yourself “special time.” You’ll find yourself more relaxed and focused when you return to your office.
5. As you start to plan next year’s business and personal goals, make sure to block off vacation time and write those dates in your calendar now. Your vacation time with your family is a priority, and sometimes we forget that. Rob and I have already decided where and when we’re taking next year’s vacation. And, we plan on taking more vacations too.

As a solo entrepreneur, you have to consciously make the time to enjoy life and smell the roses. If you don’t do that for yourself, no one else is going to! And, doing that has to be a priority.

By taking my own advice, something pretty amazing happened! I got 2 new sales without being at my computer. Also, the phone started ringing with people interested in working with me. Of course, I had all my systems in place that made this all the more easy.

Now that you know the steps to take to give yourself a break, you may want some help putting it all together. If you’re interested in having a plan that will change your mindset about selling forever, multiply your sales and bring in lots more clients, your first step is to sign up for your 45-Minute Sales Breakthrough Session with me. I will walk you through a step-by-step process that will eliminate any barriers you have to achieving sales success, personally give you one-on-one sales strategies that fit you and your business, and provide valuable and proven sales tips and tools to accelerate your sales.  To learn more, visit http://www.salesbreakthroughs.com/products/strategy_session.htm

© Rochelle Togo-Figa