TheMiddleShelf.com

Sometimes, when you look back over your day, you’ll find yourself focusing on what you didn’t get done.  That’s not helpful.  There is rarely enough time in a day to get everything done.  The best thing to do is to prioritize and pace yourself.  Even a marathon runner has to rest and refresh to keep going.

The early days in business are the toughest.  Every health professional says we need to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night.  But in the early days, while you are working your job and your business, a full night’s sleep will be a luxury.  Owning a business is great, but in the beginning it might own you.  You have to fight the tendency of the business to take over your life.

In a way, owning a business is like being in a marriage.  In business and in marriage, you can get lax about the fundamentals, whether it’s remembering to send flowers to your spouse or using monthly financial statements in your business.

Your business and your family will compete for your time and attention. Whenever you are, be present there.  Do not be the parent on the ball field looking at your BlackBerry.  The ups and down of balancing your life and your work will sometimes have you turning yourself into a pretzel.  But when you get that first sale, when you make enough profit to pay yourself, sharing that moment with your family will be priceless.