This question was submitted as part of the Limeade Summer Reading Club where the group is reading Bring Work to Life! and virtually discussing work-life. Here’s the detail:
As a solopreneur/entrepreneur, how do I maintain work-life integration?
A lot of people launch their own business – whether on their own as a solopreneur or running a business with partners or employees as an entrepreneur – thinking they will have more time and flexibility. However, they often find themselves with less time or flexibility because the business is their own and they are living the dream 24/7. It’s even tougher to get away from work when your work is your own business.
So how to create work-life integration in this situation?
First, find a way to set boundaries that work for your family. All work is relational and solopreneurs and entrepreneurs are unique because they have committed their families to their ventures as well as themselves. Their investment of themselves, their time, and their energies in their own business makes it – by definition – a family commitment as well. Given this, be sure that your boundaries work for both yourself and your family. For some solopreneurs, it works best to set a firm boundary with a clear line between work time and non-work time. One gentleman I know agreed with his wife that he would work late (and frequently miss dinner) Monday through Thursday, but he would be totally available to the family with no work intruding on their time on Friday evening through Sunday. Another entrepreneur agreed with his partner that he would check emails and voice mails from home or from soccer tournaments, but that family outings, events, and vacations would be work-free zones. The point? Establish a boundary that works in terms of both work and family and stick with it.
Next, communicate the boundary to your customers. Remind yourself that if you’re adding value, customers will in turn value you and will be willing to accept your boundaries. Be confident, secure, and firm in your boundaries. The reality is that there will always be another customer need or a hot issue to solve when a business is your own, but keeping perspective and being able to say ‘no’ is a critical capability that you should feel confident to exercise.
Also, be sure to delegate and split responsibilities when you can. Even if you are in business by yourself, ensure you are partnering with experts on things that aren’t your strength. It’s a rare individual who is good at everything, and your ability to feel good about your work and your life will be enhanced when your skills are best leveraged for things that you’re good at…and when you get help for things that aren’t your strengths. For example, use partners for finances if that’s not your strong suit or get support from a strategy guru if that’s where you aren’t as capable. In some cases you may even be able to barter with other solopreneurs for relationships where you each benefit from the others’ strengths. You’ll feel a greater sense of work-life fulfillment, satisfaction, and integration when you’re challenged in areas that you’re good at, and in turn able to delegate or reduce the time you must spend on things that just aren’t the best use of your time and talents.
Finally, feed your own needs. When your business is your own, it can be consuming – in a good way. Afterall, it’s likely a passion for you, or you wouldn’t be investing so much of yourself. The downside of all this time investment and passion is that it can narrow your focus to nothing but work. Be sure to figure out what energizes you outside of work so you can stay at your best for your work. Whether it’s reading, running, learning to play the violin with your daughter, or building marble towers with your son, be sure to take the time to do these kinds of things. If you’re energized, learning, and connected, you’ll be better for it, and so will your business.