4 Ways to Celebrate Your Small Business Independence
According to a Gallup State of the American Workplace report, just 30 percent of employees are engaged and inspired at work. The majority of employees have a perpetual case of the Mondays. And higher salaries and workplace perks like free lunches won’t always help.
As a small business owner, you may have once been a disenchanted employee. Maybe you were less than thrilled with the generic cubicles, your boss’ way of doing things, or pointless formalities like the TPS cover sheet in Office Space. Then, you got the courage and struck out on your own.
For many, running a business–no matter how small–is a way to gain independence. With your own business, you can take control of the reins, set your schedule, make your own decisions, and chart your own path. It’s grueling work, but it can be an exhilarating ride.
I’m grateful for all the small business owners out there, as well as tomorrow’s entrepreneurs. If you’re a small business owner, here are four tips for celebrating and ensuring your independence for years to come.
1. Take a day off, disconnect, and have fun.
Entrepreneurs and small business owners are used to working long hours. The latest SMB Wellness Index from Manta found that small business owners are working longer hours than they have in the past. Nearly half (49 percent) said they worked more than 50 hours per week in 2012, 14 percent worked up to 70 hours, and 9 percent admitted to working more than 70 hours a week.
Even if you love what you do, you can’t live on work alone. Taking time off is critical to refresh and recharge the batteries. Disconnect from your shop, computer, smartphone, etc. for at least a day and spend time doing what you love with the people you love. You’ll be happier, healthier, and more productive for it.
2. Collaborate with other small businesses.
As the founder of a small business, I enjoy doing as much business as I can with fellow small companies. Small businesses usually share a uniquely genuine culture--there are fewer bureaucratic layers and armies of consultants standing between the owner and customer. Smaller organizations take a vested interest in the needs of their customers, and build strong relationships with their customers and community. If you haven’t done so already, think of creative ways to join up with fellow small business owners to co-promote, cross-network, support, and inspire.
3. Get some help.
Being independent doesn’t mean you need to do everything yourself. It’s not always easy for highly driven entrepreneurs to give up the reigns, but it’s critical to grow your business and avoid burnout. As a business owner, your job should be running the business. Once you realize this and start delegating, your business can grow.
Get help (whether a virtual assistant, part-time, or full-time employee) to help you take care of the busy work or the tasks you hate. Outsource complex issues to specialists, such as an accountant for your bookkeeping and taxes or an expert for handling your legal paperwork like incorporating and annual reports. There’s no reason why you should dedicate significant chunks of your valuable time to become an expert in tax or employee law–stay focused on core strategic, revenue-producing activities instead.
4. Don’t forget to work on your business, not in your business.
E-Myth author Michael Gerber made famous the following saying: “Work on your business, not in your business.” In the early days, most small business owners wear many hats, and keep their noses to the grindstone handling the day to day tasks. However, this means that no one is actually working on building out the business for the long term. That makes it very hard to grow or move from where your business is right now.
In addition to delegating, you need to create dedicated space in your schedule to work ON your business. For example, block out Friday afternoons or Wednesday mornings to work on your long-term vision for the business and how to get there. Focusing on the big picture and long-term strategy is the best way to ensure you can remain independent for years to come.
