I was in the thick of raising two young toddlers who seemed to both need something from me at all times. Chasing after one little strong-willed 2 year old with a clingy one year old on my hip was pretty much my only hobby. My clothes were covered in whatever those little sticky hands rubbed off on me, and my body just constantly cried out for more coffee to get through the day.
Yet everywhere we went, some older woman would say, “Don’t blink, it goes by so fast. I wish my kids were that age again.” I’d smile politely, thinking they must have totally forgotten how mind numbing sleep deprivation can be.
Just a few years later, I realize how right all of those women were – the time really does go by fast!
As entrepreneurs and business owners, we often spend our time dreaming and planning for growth. It’s easy for our thoughts to become consumed with building a business.
But your life will go by in the blink of an eye. Do you want to spend it building a business, or building a life?
Your Life is More Than Your Business
Ambitious, passionate, hard working – these are just a few words to describe what it takes to build a successful business today. I’d be willing to bet they describe your personality to a T!
It’s easy to get lost in your work when you believe so strongly in what you do. You’re helping people, changing lives and impacting futures. It’s an amazing way to make a lasting mark on the world.
But it’s not your whole life.
In fact, you have a whole life outside of your business. Family, friends, community groups, pets, maybe even a hobby or two!
Who you are is so much more than just what do.
When your business becomes your whole identity, you will live and die by its successes and failures.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my entire life to be based on how my business is doing today.
Every business has natural ebbs and flows to it. There are good days and bad days, busy seasons and dry seasons.
Don’t let those seasons define who you are by making sure your life is filled with more than just your business.
Start with the End
Dream with me for a second. You’re at the end of your life, watching back over the moments that meant the most to you. What are they?
I doubt they’re filled with times that you watched yet another marketing training or wrote another freebie. Your memories aren’t of times when you were up until 2 am, working through your latest and greatest business idea.
And yet so often that’s what we fill our days with in our endless pursuit of success.
If you were to look back at today from the perspective of your older, wiser self, how would you spend the day? Who would get your attention? What would you put aside or stop doing?
Business can be inherently a good thing, but losing ourselves and relationships in the name of business is not.
What Really Matters
Spend just an hour today listening to people talk about how to build a successful business and I can guarantee your to do list will double in size.
- Research hashtags to create a hashtag library
- Reach out to 10 of your ideal clients to have a conversation
- Start a podcast
- Host a challege
- Create a course
The list goes on and on. Every “expert” has their own list of things that you need to do in order to be successful.
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who does all of those things, especially by themselves. Maybe if you have a large team of freelancers, then you can conquer everything on the never ending “must do” list for business success.
But that isn’t you today.
Today you have 24 hours. 24 hours to work on your business, spend with your family and friends, sleep, eat, and enjoy.
What do you really want to fill the 24 hours that you have today?
Your business will survive if you don’t chase after every single marketing trend. In fact, I’d be willing to bet it will actually grow faster if you just concentrate on doing a few things consistently.
By freeing up your time from following the latest shiny objects, you’ll be able to focus on what really matters.
- Talking to and playing with your kids, since they really are only this age once
- Catching up with friends
- Really listening when your spouse talks to you
- Make meals that nourish your body and soul
- Have a hobby again!
Make the goal of your business be one that supports the life you want, and you’ll always have time for the things that matter the most in the long run!
