It wasn't until I got cancer that I realized that a balanced life was going to be critical to my recovery. Most entrepreneurs that I know are scrambling all the time. Scrambling for more business, more money, more resources, more trustworthy people, more advice, more prospects and the life goes on. I knew I had to stop doing that.

You will know you are scrambling if you aren't sleeping that well, you'd love to be knocked out just to get some rest for your mind and you are anxious all the time. I have asked myself a thousand times why I am doing this. Why not just get a job like a sane person? I conclude that the entrepreneur is a unique person with a spirit that needs to explore, test the boundaries of what we are able to accomplish and work with autonomy. After all my years in business, and all the worries, I have never seriously considered quitting.

Being an entrepreneur is not so much a walk in the park as it is a day at the zoo.

Balance for us is like walking a fine line because we can wander off so easily. But there are a few things that I have learned over the years.

1. Protect your time. With only 24 hours in a day and much of that spent on or in my business, I make sure that I have time for me. All of us have different interests and family requirements. But what I am talking about is this. Every once in a while I take a fully day off and read a book. Reading is one of my favourite things and it is like a screen saver for my brain. That is my rejuvenation day.

Wasting time is often a part of the entrepreneurs' life because there is too much to do and confusion rules our lives. All it takes is the phone to ring and someone is demanding something from you and you find you are off course. Sometimes it is down right procrastination. However another time waster for me has been shuffling paper. Some years ago I instigated a rule for myself that I would never handle the same piece of paper more than two times. I frequently break my own rule but find I handle paper less than I did and save a lot of time and mental energy. In addition, I don't give out my cell phone number to just anybody. When I go home from work I will not answer business calls unless the building is burning down.

2. How many hats are you wearing? I tried to do it all and found that I just made a mess of the things. So I found an affordable bookkeeper, an affordable techie to take care of my computer systems, staff that I trusted, resources that I could trade services with so that I could get on with doing what generates revenue. I met a guy who ran his own business but he spent so much time doing his books that he didn't have time to get out there and meet prospective buyers. I clued in to automation and decided that if I could automate certain tasks such as marketing, then I would free up some time. So I look for ways to automate my business and put processes into place. My business no longer consumes me even though I love what I do.

3. Do what others won't do. The successful entrepreneur is one who is willing to get out there and meet people. When we are selling our product or service, we can't expect people to come to us because we have a great website. Getting the word out takes being face to face or mouth to ear with those who have the means and motivation to purchase what we are selling. So get on the phone, even if you have to assign yourself 5 outbound calls a day to viable prospects. And, don't forget to nurture your existing clients. People remember people who remember them, so making a client feel special returns dividends to the entrepreneur because it fuels our own emotional well being.

4. Protect yourself - from pessimists and other well intentioned people who discourage you. I figured out pretty quickly that if I did not distance myself from discouragement, nobody else would. Hang around idea people and those who have the ability and intelligence to move you forward. Call someone you admire and ask for some time to pick their brain. I have always found that the mose successful people are the ones that are generous with their time and willing to share their experience with the independent business person.

5. Keep track of what you spend. Money worries can haunt us. But knowing what you spend and on what, will allow you to assess your spending habits and decide if you need to re-think what you are doing. For years I did not know what I spent annually on different business expenses. Mistake! I feel better now, knowing what I spend and how I can budget for the things the business needs to move ahead. I watch the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves. For instance, I do not take people out to lunch, never have. And besides, eating while trying to do business can be distracting.

Okay so it isn't always easy. Nobody said it was - but what a trip! I happen to believe we were made to create things. And creating a business that helps others by providing a service or product with integrity or one that provides employment is one of the finest things we can do for ourselves and others. And make sure you laugh often. I was told it was good for the immune system. So with my best wishes - go get 'em.


Frances Scott
Nurture Services Inc. , Nurture Software Inc.
www.nurtureservices.com
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