9 Things Entrepreneurs Should Not Feel Guilty About
By Heike Young
It’s that time of year when small-business owners reflect on the challenges and opportunities in the months ahead. Entrepreneurs craft new resolutions and strategies to reach their goals, feeling confident they can finally reach them.
But when high spirits wane and everyday reality sets in, it’s easy to feel discouraged and wonder if you’re making the wrong choices — especially if you’re leading a business for the first time. You might second-guess your financial investments, how you’re spending your time, and your overall vision for success.
Growing a business is hard enough without excessive guilt and self-blame when hit a road bump. Here are nine things entrepreneurs can stop feeling guilty about as they plan to take over the world in 2016.
1. Investing in yourself.
You need to invest in your business; you also need to invest in you, so you can better lead. Relevant education, technical training, and leadership courses all fall in this category.
2. Investing in your growing company’s culture.
Culture separates average companies from the great. Spending money (within reason) on employee events, team-building, and even occasional swag can help your culture mature and soar.
3. Getting enough sleep.
Sleeping even one extra hour each day can reap huge benefits. If you head for bed early or set the alarm later than usual, don’t beat yourself up for a perceived lack of work during those hours. Consider this fuel for better performance when you’re clocked in (which, let’s be real, is almost constantly for entrepreneurs).
4. Taking breaks of different lengths and types.
Just like Snickers says: you’re not you when you’re hungry, and you’re not you when you’re overworked and overstressed, either. Take a 20-minute walk to clear your head after a stressful meeting; take a 10-day break to reconnect with family; hell, take a nap. You’re probably already working more than you give yourself credit for, so afford yourself a break.
5. Saying “no” to some business opportunities.
Fully weigh action items and potential outcomes before jumping on a new business opportunity or partnership. If something doesn’t fit in your overall strategy or you’re simply not confident in the ROI, say no.
6. Saying “no” to some personal invitations.
No, I’m not condoning abandonment of your family and friends until you’re a billionaire. But sometimes, a #1 work priority will overlap with a #7 personal priority, and you’ll probably pick work. That’s OK as long as you understand when personal matters should supersede any and all work.
7. Spending money on an away-from-home office.
Many entrepreneurs start out working from home. Free is great, but an occasional change of scenery can increase creativity and energy. Whether you simply work out of a coffeeshop one day a week or decide to rent office space, don’t feel bad about investing in the space where you work best.
8. Doing or experiencing something creative.
Attend a concert with your good camera to shoot photos; buy a new cookbook and make three dishes from it; you can even take one of those wine and painting classes. The key is to plan something you’ll enjoy and hopefully buy tickets for it, so you’ll actually step away from your inbox and do it. Feeling more creative can unlock all sorts of possibilities.
9. Buying top-notch equipment.
No matter what line of business you’re in—tech, retail, travel, medical, financial, or something else—you can’t make a great employee or customer experience out of thin air. In the long run, spending extra money on equipment and materials that will last long-term is a better move.
Want more advice on making 2016 your year? Download our new e-book Top 25 Tips for Growing Your Business in 2016.
