Is small business owner work life balance possible?
It’s often suggested that for the small business owner work life balance is a myth. The entrepreneur’s lifestyle is often big on hustle and low on founder’s downtime. Wearing every hat and working extreme hours is normal when launching a venture. It’s a necessary sprint. But if that sprint becomes permanent the wheels can start to wobble. Business owner burnout is common due to the mounting pressure of running a business. Achieving a sustainable work life balance is the only way to prevent this.
“When the wheels come off” describes something successful that breaks down completely. This escalating chaos occurs when you focus too much on certain aspects of your life. Often at the expense of other important areas. For many, this is the moment they realise that small business owner work life balance isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity if you want to stay in business and keep your sanity and health.
The high-performance trap
How often have you read about well-known musicians cancelling gigs due to exhaustion? Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Rita Ora and Rihanna. They’ve all reportedly burnt-out in a way that’s affected their schedules. Their struggle demonstrates that work life balance is a universal challenge for high-performers. These musicians’ exhaustion is a warning about sustainability for any founder.
Mike Tyson made hundreds of millions during his boxing career. He chose to focus only a few of aspects of his life. His career and his fitness. And famously, on his leisure activities. He spent outrageous amounts of cash living a lavish lifestyle. A few years later, he faced insolvency. Tyson’s story illustrates the danger of trading sustainable success for short-term gratification. He had neglected the broader dimensions of his life. Including long-term financial independence. To find professional harmony, one must look beyond the immediate hustle.
Root cause of business owner burnout
Many business owners find their personal freedom doesn’t scale with their revenue. Business owner burnout isn’t just caused by “working too hard.” It’s a complex, chronic state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion. It comes from an extended period of unmanaged stress. This lack of small business owner work life balance is what creates the ‘gilded cage’ effect. Only a few founders completely spiral out of control. What’s much more likely is that over a period of time you’ll lose your sparkle.
Without work-life integration, the business becomes a burden rather than an asset. You might feel dejected as you find yourself trapped in a life that you’re not enjoying. And what sort of life is that for you? If you want to reclaim your personal freedom, it’s time to change the strategy.
Live life on your own terms
You do know that none of us are getting out of here alive, don’t you? If you’re lucky you’ll have around 4000 weeks to live. We all face this finite time.
When you were growing up, I bet you felt time went r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w-l-y. You were desperate to grow up and have the personal freedom to be, do and have all the life goals you ever dreamt of. If your life hasn’t turned out quite the way you imagined then you’re not alone. It’s oh-so-easy to get stuck in a cycle of running a business and paying the bills. This state of going through the motions is what often leads to business owner burnout.
You likely started your business to be able to live life on your own terms. You wanted a specific small business owner work life balance. One that allowed for your financial independence, genuine enjoyment and personal ambitions.
Yet, without a plan, things can spiral out of control. Many entrepreneurs face burnout when the dream of independence becomes a daily grind. This is why small business owner work life balance is so vital to your long-term success. It turns a stressful role into a thriving, enjoyable business. One that enables you to live life on your own terms.
The wheel of life is a simple tool is designed to stop this slide into life unravelling. Using this life balance audit, you can map your current reality against your life goals. It helps you look at different parts of your life, from health and relationships to finance and fun. This process shows you where to make changes so you can reclaim your 4000 weeks.
Using the wheel of life assessment
This life audit tool covers 12 vital areas. These range from health and relationships to your social life and other life goals.
- Marriage / Life Partner
- Family
- Social
- Personal Development
- Career
- Attitude
- Health
- Financial
- Home
- Tangibles
- Leisure / Recreation
- Spiritual / Giving Back
You don’t need software or an app to begin reclaiming your headspace. Many of my clients find that the most profound realisations happen with a simple piece of paper and a pen. Draw a large circle and divide it into 12 segments, much like a clock face. Label each with the categories above. Everything from physical health and family to your professional ambitions. You may even want to use some of your own segments for areas that are important to you personally.
Then rate yourself in each area on a scale of one to 10. A 10 means that part of your life is superb right now. A score of one shows a problem that needs your attention. By physically scoring each area, you move the ‘mental load’ of your business out of your head and onto paper.
How the wheel of life assessment changes your perspective
The wheel of life gives you instant clarity. You can see where you lack small business owner work life balance. Most founders find it easy to spot the areas that need to change. Often, it’s a matter of prioritising an entrepreneur’s downtime.
You should look at your lowest scores first. Decide which ones matter most for your personal freedom. Then, set clear life goals and map out a plan.
For the most important areas, ask yourself what a perfect 10 looks like. When you consider your 4000 weeks on earth, what long-term aspirations do you have? This wheel of life assessment is the best way to achieve true balance and set meaningful life goals. It stops you from letting things spiral out of control.
Ultimately, you can use these insights to shape your business. You can build a company that supports you living your best 4000 weeks. Rather than diminishing them. This is the path to personal freedom and a life lived on your own terms. It’s the best defence against business owner burnout. Don’t let your small business owner work life balance happen by accident. Take control of your 4000 weeks today.