THE BEST INVESTMENTS TO MAKE AS AN ENTREPRENEUR

Being an entrepreneur is not a walk in the park. It takes an entrepreneur several hours of hard work, sacrifices and toil in order to mount & elevate the business. Plagued with guilt as you try to don multiple hats in your organization: Marketing, Operations, HR, Sales alongside making time for your family, your annual vacations - can often be exhausting. Entrepreneurship can honestly be extremely stressful and can take an emotional toll on you because of our increased dependency of technology which means we're never truly offline!  

Firstly, take a step back and remember WHY you started this journey? What was that one idea you were so passionate about that made you put your life’s savings into it? Now, immerse in that sense of passion and purpose for a moment. If you want to advance your business and take it to the next level, you have got to invest in it. And as the rule of every investment goes - the sooner you invest, the sooner you can start reaping the rewards of it.

So, entrepreneurs here’s what you should be placing your BIG bets on -

1. All About You: How many times have we heard that it’s not good to think about yourself alone or be selfish? However, as entrepreneurs, the rules have to be defied. Remember, you can’t build a successful business if you’re emotionally and mentally spent. How will you be able to make decisions and strategize if you’re stressed or sleep deprived? That’s impossible, right? And that’s why nurturing yourself is critical to growth. Take time off to unwind at the end of each day. Focus on your mistakes, learnings and expand your skills. As the owner of your business, your team often looks up to you as a mentor, guide and role model. And by investing in yourself you’re setting an example that YOUR team can look up to and emulate. So, on a daily & weekly basis just set aside time guilt-free and do what you need to do: exercise, cook, paint, write, plan your next solo trip. Just pick a creative endeavor and dive in. But do this because YOU are YOUR Best Investment!
2. ‘F’ For Family: Remember when Facebook’s Zuckerberg took two months off of his work so he could spend time with his newly born daughter? Entrepreneurs across the world were talking about it. And Zuckerberg was simply choosing what mattered more to him at that point. True Success can only be experienced when we have enough time for our family & friends. One cannot build a successful business and be a lazy spouse. It simply doesn’t work that way. So, start scheduling family time, plan your vacations with them, be there for your children’s school programs. Watch that movie with your family you’ve been promising to do. Fill your week up with these memories and experiences because that’s how a holistic life is born. One has to mindfully make the time to unwind with their family. This time that you have set aside for your family should be uninterrupted. So do not bring your work stressors at home. Lock them away and just be present with your family. And whoever taught you that entrepreneurs just need to be immersed in their business, sacrificing their family life, is a pathetic role model to have. So please stop following hollow, incomplete advice from such people.
3. Your A-Team: As entrepreneurs, we dream of building businesses that can acquire scale, profit and that too without us. Every business is driven by 7 functions that are critical for it to sustain: Marketing, Sales, Operations, Finance, HR, R&D, Management. Instead of focusing on strategy if you’re only looking at things operationally, you’re only firefighting and stuck in the trap of self-employment. Business requires having a second line of leadership that can help you bring forth new strategies for scale. Having a team to rely on acts as a step-up to expand your game. Your team is your strength and your cushion that offers you strength & support. Train your team, allow them to grow so that you can let go of the reins and watch your business achieve success. Investing in building and training your team will ensure you have time to focus on areas beyond your everyday business. 

Investing in these areas of your life will help you live a life of balance, one that helps you align your values and beliefs across every area of your life: Health, Wealth, Relationships & Recreation. So, are you fully committed to making these investments?

Tell me in the comments below.

Signing Off Until Next Time,

Rajiv