When you take that big step into entrepreneurship, it feels like you’re ready to do whatever it takes to make your vision a reality. And then you figure out that it’s really hard to do that when you don’t even have time to eat lunch.
You decided to start this business, so it’s your responsibility to get the work done. But at what cost?
Overwhelm and Burnout
When you’re running a business, you’re not just doing your craft. You’re also an accountant, a copywriter, a salesperson, a manager, and a website designer. You know how to leverage your talents and skills for revenue, but you just don’t have experience in every aspect of running a business. You’re watching YouTube how-tos, asking your friend who once made their own website for advice, and staying up late taking online quizzes to figure out what type of manager you are.
With a lot of new information to learn, new skills to implement, and a ton of pressure to get it right, it’s no wonder that 62% of small business owners experience burnout.
Limited Resources
Limited resources means limited growth. Growing a business requires just that - growth. Expanding your mindset, skillset, capacity, and vision. But restricting yourself to only your resources will limit your potential personally and professionally. And it will take a lot longer to get where you want to go.
Lack of Accountability and Support
I know how badly you want this business to succeed. You wouldn’t have started it if you didn’t. And at the same time, keeping yourself accountable to an endless to-do list is exhausting. And who is reminding you of the big picture? Of why you’re doing this in the first place?
This isn’t the business or the life that you dreamed of having. So, what can you do instead?
Growth
There’s nothing wrong with you if you don’t know how to do everything in your business. Working with someone who has different skillsets and experience from you means that you get to combine superpowers. It becomes a mutually beneficial partnership that speeds up your growth and reduces your stress levels.
Efficiency
Getting help from a trusted expert means a clear set of eyes on your business. As the owner, you’re often too close to see the strengths and limitations of your current operations. Finding efficiencies, streamlining processes, and learning new skills sets your business up for productivity, increased revenue, and increased satisfaction.
Sustainability
Here’s the truth: we’re just not meant to do everything alone. With access to support, you eliminate isolation and feel understood and energized so that you can actually take action in your business. Being able to share your concerns, brainstorm ideas, and get support from someone who cares about your business as much as you do means that you’ll be able to keep going without falling into burnout.
In my corporate era, partnering with the finance leaders in my organization helped me to boost my career and meet the company’s goals. They taught me how to read the data to find the problem. As an operations leader, I knew which problems we were able to address and how to solve them. Alone, our departments struggled to create change. But together, we made a dynamic duo that enhanced one another’s performance.
How to Hire a Partner
To be clear, by partner I mean someone who you invest in to help you in your business. This might be a coach, a contractor, or an actual legal business partner. The idea here is to find someone who aligns with your values, understands you and your business at a fundamental level, and truly cares about your success. Because no matter the size of your company, we all need partnership. We’re only so successful on our own, and only so happy on our own.
By far, the strongest objection to hiring support is money. Small business owners believe that they should be able to do it all, and that that’s the only way to make money. But if you’re struggling, unhappy, burnt out, and not seeing the revenue you want, something has to change.
We tend to make an investment based on a result that we want. But results are not entirely within our control, ever. So before you invest, here are a few key questions to consider.
Before I invested in my coach, I determined that what I really wanted out of the investment was peace of mind. I wanted a clear plan of action and an accountability partner to ensure my progress. Yes, spending the money was hard. But I knew that if I had these things, I’d be in a better place to achieve the revenue results I wanted for my business.
Once I started working with my coach, I immediately felt like everything was going to get better. I had someone that could help me make decisions, manage my mindset, offer insight and experience where I lacked it, and be there to support me no matter what. My partnership with my coach has reduced my stress and overwhelm and helped me to grow my business on my own terms.
I can confidently say that my investment was worthwhile. It feels so good to be in the fight with someone who cares about your business as much as you do.
Is a high-ticket partnership for everyone? Definitely not, which is why I offer support at different price points in my business.
If you’re looking for help to figure out if I’m the partner you and your business need, I’d love to chat with you.
Michelle Nicole Martin
Leadership Coach & Consultant
Top Small Business Voice on LinkedIn
Resources: Walmart Business Survey on Burnout
A message posted by Jack Appleby triggered a memory of when my boss contacted me while I was on vacation in Mexico!
I accepted an international inner-company transfer in January 2017. At the time, I headed out alone without my family to begin my new journey in the United States. I took nothing but the dog and a suitcase leaving behind my two boys and husband. In March, my boys joined me with my husband following two months later. In December 2016, this all seemed like a solid, logical plan. Still, it was torture, and I would never recommend a family split for an extended period, no matter how rational it seems.
In celebration of our family reuniting, we decided to take a trip to Mexico together. I felt like all I had done was eat - sleep - work since January, so I needed it. Plus I missed my family. My team knew I was heading out, my boss said he would cover, and all seemed perfect. Then on the first business day of my vacation, I got a text.
"Hey, we need you to approve a purchase order in the system."
"How am I supposed to do that? I'm in Mexico."
"Ted (my then boss) says just log into your laptop and approve; it's ok."
Oh, I see. My boss was standing beside my employee, asking her to text me. Of course, he wouldn't dream of asking me directly.
Furious, although my career flashed before my eyes, I continued and shot back a response that said,
"You guys are hilarious; I didn't bring my laptop with me because I'm on vacation." Not my finest moment.
"You can approve from your phone."
Ugh. Defeated.
Sadly it seems my story is not uncommon. For example, in this article by Ashton Jackson on CNBC.com, she reports that 54% of respondents can't disconnect from work on vacation.
54% of people can't disconnect from work on vacation. Here's why (cnbc.com)
However, as infuriating and disheartening as that experience was, I learned exactly what I would never do as a leader. So when I returned, I started a new movement. My team implemented a vacation protocol and supported each other during vacation. We practiced restraint when the "expert" was not accessible. We had to work together, get creative and find alternative solutions. Yes, people first said they liked it until the challenging moments arrived. Thankfully as people returned from vacation, recharged, and were grateful for a disconnected break, the momentum grew and soon enough we were all experiencing team-supported vacation bliss.
"Sorry, I know you're on vacation, but I have something I need your help with."
What you're really saying is that the other person's mental health and boundaries don't matter to you. Smile, but fix my problem.
Why Taking Vacation Time Could Save Your Life (forbes.com)
Employee Tips
Manager Tips
Michelle Nicole Martin
Leadership Coach & Consultant
Top Small Business Voice on LinkedIn