Work = Fun?

Remember the day you decided to go to work "for yourself"? We need to sit down for a cup of jo'.

In the early 90s I was considerably down the road of self-employment. Here are some of the funny [insert emoticon here] statements I had made about being self-employed:

• Someone would say, "Wow, it must be nice to be your own boss." I answered, "Yeah. Now instead of reporting to one guy, I have to report to 500."
• Someone bragged about getting three weeks paid vacation. "How much vacation time do you get?" I would smile and say, "All the vacation time I can afford." Of course only I knew that while money was not an issue, I was so entrenched in my business that I could never leave it for an extended vacation.
• Someone would ask me with wonder in their voice, "I wish I had the courage to start my own business." I would answer, "Let me give you the number of my therapist."
• Someone commented on the marketing strategy their company implemented. "You're successful. How do you market a creative service like yours?" "Dumb luck," I responded laughing. If they only knew.
• This one I still laugh at: One day a salesperson walked in my office -- the office door that had a prominent sign on it stating, "No Solicitors." She was trying to sell business coaching services. I hadn't a clue what she was talking about. After her elevator speech she showed me a list of services that started at several thousands of dollars. Inside I was thinking the entire time, "Honey, you have got to be kidding. I don't have time for this nonsense." Then my mouth -- not my smartest piece of equipment -- opened up and I said, "You've got to be kidding. I don't have time for this nonsense." And I added, "Didn't you read the sign on the door?" I did need her services; I just didn't know it. Today, several years later, I am a business coach working alongside business owners to address crucial concerns so they can achieve greater success and find balance in life. Now that is a twist of fate.

As the proud recipient of a BS Degree from the time honored S of HK, I do have some battle scars. Here's one of the lessons every business owner needs to pass: Business should be fun. And as my sister in the backseat would say on our family trip to visit the relatives, "Are we having fun yet?"

The School of Hard Knocks has a curriculum that is based on "dumb luck" and "the scenic route to success." Think of all the benefits of learning the shortcuts to get to the desired destination of outrageous success and balance in life!

Yes, I am a business coach working alongside business owners to address crucial concerns so they can achieve greater success and find balance in life.

We need to sit down for a cup of jo'.
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Why did you go into business for yourself?
What are the crucial concerns in your business today?
How will you address these concerns efficiently and effectively?
When do you have time for a cup of jo'?

Workshops scheduled: www.strategicmindsetworkshop.blogspot.com
Email: A.Furst@theGrowthCoach.com

What was I thinking?

Standing backwards on the edge of a cliff deep in the Mexican jungle I could feel my chest rise and fall in anticipation of what waited behind me. Breath blew across my lips and I wondered if it were possible to mount a little wind turbine under my nose to generate electricity. What a great idea for people with sleep apnea. Instead of having to plug in a machine, I could invent the world’s first self-powered breathing aid.

“Tres . . .”

Sweat normally reserved for my forehead, underarms and neck sprouted from the palms holding nylon rope. I wondered how fast a body my size would fall. I mentally calculated which bones I could break and still get back home to work. Legs were expendable. I needed arms and fingers for the keyboard.

“Dos . . .”

Jaime’s voice interrupted my processing. I know what comes after dos. My heart reminded me with an extra large push of blood through the chambers somewhere deep inside. What do they tell you? Don’t look down? I looked up. The sky was blue with a smattering of white clouds. I wonder what it’s like to fly?

“Uno.”

Before Jaime’s tongue touched the roof of his mouth to pronounce the n, his calloused hand forcefully pushed me on the sternum and my feet suddenly had no ground underneath them. I was airborne with a limp rope technically wrapped around me. Still looking up I saw Jaime walk away without a second glance. I was on my own. What did he tell me to do next?

Day Two of starting your own business feels like rappelling. Each day’s activities come so fast and you have react quickly to stay in control. The phone rings—could be money waiting for you. An order comes in—prove yourself and deliver. The first invoice goes out—just how do you use Quickbooks? The phone doesn’t ring—time to get the word out. The first hire interviews—I-9s, background checks, tax withholding.

Two years later your business is now your job. It’s not quite as comfortable as the ratty flannel shirt you’ve worn since college, but it’s not stiff like a new pair of leather shoes either. You report to you. You make it happen and if you don’t make it happen, it doesn’t happen. The feeling of exhilaration you experienced over 700 days ago has long since metastasized into daily activity.

Your accountant gives you the news about what you owe in taxes. On the drive home your mental calculator starts tabulating the information. You worked how hard for how much money? You need to get away for a break. The mental calculator quickly adds up how much money you won’t be able to bill if you don’t show up at work. You decide to rent a DVD instead. The Bahamas will just have to wait.

Rappelling down the side of owning a small business quickly loses the initial exhilaration and fast becomes daily. Stop. Look where you came from. Look where you need to get to. You have to finish well if you don’t want to break your bones. Assess. Move forward with a clear goal in mind and an intentional technique to ensure desired results. Start having more fun in your business.

_______________________

Why did you go into business?

If going into business did not achieve your dreams, what happened?

What are you going to do to get back on track?