Building an Empire Without Losing Your Mind

As women in this world we are constantly reminded that there is an ideal that we should attempt to meet. There are right and wrong ways to look, speak, and work, and those can change depending on who you are with at the time. It’s easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of perfectionism, but I’m here to tell you that being perfect gets you absolutely no where.

When you’re building your own business, you find that there is a fine line to walk. On one hand, you want to be excellent in everything that you do, but on the other hand, you don’t want to get so caught up with perfectionism that you don’t get anything done at all. So how do we do this?

Set reasonable expectations

Your business simply won’t take off over night. I know it seems to appear that way for some people, however what you may not see is the years and even decades of work that were put in to arrive at success. The process of growing a successful business is a marathon, not a sprint. So don’t try to rush it, put some roots down, settle in, and keep doing good work. To continue propelling yourself forward, set reasonable expectations for the next quarter, or the next year. When you set the bar too high you add unnecessary pressure to yourself and you miss all the small steps that make your business strong.

Set your priorities

When building your business, your priorities ought to be based around all of the important tasks that help you to grow. Often, we get into the habit of focusing too much on easy tasks because we get a sense of satisfaction from checking them off of the list. Creating spreadsheets and ordering office supplies are far easier and less intimidating tasks than the “s” word: sales. But sales and marketing are what make you money in the long run. Make sure your priorities are set based on what is going to move you and your business ahead.

Trust your team

We like to think we can do it all. But ladies, I promise you, it isn’t true. Don’t get me wrong, we can do a lot. Women are great leaders, excellent multi-taskers, and calm in the face of chaos. And fortunately, we’re also great at building community. Instead of overwhelming yourself with work, build a great team around you and empower them to do their jobs well.

Rest your mind

Research shows that after 50 hours of work each week your level of productivity begins to decline. That may be hard to believe since we’re told since a young age to work harder and study longer, but after a certain point those hours worked start to take a toll on your body and your mind. As the leader of your company, it’s critical that you are alert and focused, so make sure you know when it’s time to take a beat and get some rest. If this is hard for you, consider setting boundaries. Make sure your team knows not to call you in the evenings, and leave your phone and laptop out of your bedroom so you can ensure restful sleep without the temptation to check your email again.

You are your business’ greatest asset, but are you bringing your best self to the table? If you want to see your company and your vision grow, start thinking critically about how you can make better use of your time and set reasonable and achievable expectations for your work. And if you need a partner is growing your business, give us a call today. Our firm provides full-service accounting and bookkeeping as well as the trusted advice of a seasoned entrepreneur.

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