What comes to mind when you think about freedom? The wind in your hair while driving a convertible? Sitting carefree on a beach sipping margaritas and gazing towards the beautiful blue sea? Not being responsible for anyone or anything other than yourself?
Ah, the sweet, intoxicating feeling of freedom.
It can feel tremendous and frightening often at the same time though.
Freedom is something we easily take for granted but is also something we’re constantly striving for.
We are lucky to have the freedom that comes with our democratic society yet often we feel constrained by our jobs, our finances, and our self-limiting beliefs.
While interviewing over 100 women entrepreneurs for my book, the word “freedom” came up more than I expected. I asked each woman why they wanted to venture the risky waters of starting their own business in the hopes of understanding their motivation and drive. Many women talked about how they craved the freedom that comes with calling their own shots. They waxed poetic about the importance of acting swiftly on their creativity without asking for permission. Many women left the comforts of a regular paycheck to have the freedom to design their own schedules around their families. Some chose the freedom to travel and to be location independent – working and living where ever they desired at the moment.
Freedom is an incredible driver for people. If it’s for you, it’s good to know what and why it’s driving you.
However, there may be times when you feel more tethered to your business than you’d like to be. You many be working long hours and weekends, juggling all roles and functions within your business and sadly feeling more like an overworked, under-appreciated employee to your own business.
You may be feeling this way during the start-up or growth stage, but you don’t want to allow this to continue too long otherwise your dreams of freedom will be gone with yesterday’s trashy news.
5 Tips for reengage with your freedom
1. Remind yourself that this is your business. Have you recreated aspects of your past corporate job? Are you working long hours out of habit or because you believe this is necessary for success? Are you using your time wisely? Don’t forget, this is your business and you can essentially run it however you’d like.
2. Put systems in place. In his bestselling book The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It, Michael E. Gerber emphasizes the concept of working on your business not in your business. He stresses the importance of developing systems within your company that can function without your presence. It may take some long hours to get these in place but those hours will pay you back handsomely.
3. Ask for help. Many of the women I interviewed said that they wish they would have asked for help sooner. They’re convinced they would have gotten farther faster had they sought help.
Outsource, offload or completely dump tasks that are outside your zone of genius. Figure out what is truly the best use of time and dump the rest. Bootstrapping is completely acceptable but there are definitely tasks that you can unload for a reasonable cost. Look at Elance, oDesk, HireMyMom or other sites and get the help you need.
4. Fire yourself… every 3 months. Schedule an extended weekend off every 3 months where you completely disconnect and more importantly – keep it! That way you have something amazing to look forward to while recharging your worn-out batteries. It’s amazing the type of creativity that will ignite during the time away.
5. Remember YOU. You may be the CEO of your company but you’re also the CEO of your life. Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Are you holding space and time in your schedule for self-care? In order to maintain a business and your energy, you need to be physically and emotionally fit. Keep to a regular exercise regime, eat well, get plenty of rest, and regularly schedule activities that make your heart sing.
You are the most valuable asset in your business – treat yourself as such!
Happy 4th of July!
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