Is Your Business Running You?

Running your own business—being your own boss—is pretty fantastic. When you’re in charge, you get to make the decisions. Want to develop a new product or service??Explore a different marketing tactic? Try that new restaurant down the street for lunch? You get to make the call.

But sometimes, it can feel like running a business isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Take recent data from Founder Reports, for instance, which found that nearly 33% of entrepreneurs experience burnout and nearly 50% deal with consistently high stress levels.

If this sounds all too familiar, it could be time to step back (perhaps literally) and figure out if you’re leading your business, or it’s leading you.?

Let’s explore some warning signs and what you can do to take back control.

Signs Your Business Is Running You

Did you ever play firefighter as a kid? Maybe you had a little plastic helmet and a pretend hose and went around putting out imaginary fires.?

Perhaps you even wanted to be a firefighter when you grew up. While that likely didn’t happen (or if it did, congratulations!), chances are good that you still have to put out metaphorical “fires” regularly.?

If you find yourself reacting more than responding, that’s a pretty good sign your business is running you.

Remember those burnout and stress statistics I mentioned earlier? If you constantly have to reach for the antacids and spend more time in the office than at home, you may be dealing with something greater than self-medicated ambition.

You may have started your business in part to help your family, but if they never see you, what’s the point?

Another thing: What are your delegation skills like?

Your business is your baby, and while it can be tremendously difficult at times to delegate control, it’s a necessity for scalability and, most importantly, your mental health.

If you’ve hired good people, you should be able to trust them to do the things you’ve trusted them to do. If hearing that fills your head with doubt or reminds you of consistent failures, it may be time to take a harder look at your team.

And finally, what’s your decision-making process like? Are you able to trust your business’s processes? Its data? Or do you find yourself making more emotionally impulsive decisions than you’d like to admit?

Are your internal logistics constantly changing because of procedural blind spots or confusion? Do you truly feel like you have enough time to work on your business instead of in it? Are you micromanaging too much?

Tough questions, but answering them honestly is the first step to reclaiming control.

How to Reclaim Control

Now it’s time to get busy building (like what you originally set out to do, remember?)

There are three areas in particular to focus on.?

Here are some simple reminders for each:

Time Management Techniques:

• Identify and prioritize high-impact tasks.
• Allocate specific time slots for different activities.
• Empower team members to handle tasks.

Effective Leadership:

• Set expectations and provide feedback.
• Recognize and reward achievements.
• Address issues promptly and professionally.

Strategic Planning:

• Clearly define the organization's purpose.
• Create SMART goals.
• Assess progress and make adjustments.

Tailored Advice for Nonprofits and For-Profit Businesses

If you run a nonprofit, there are ways to work on your organization without getting lost in the minutia.

These include:

• Utilizing digital tools to streamline operations and increase efficiency.
• Fostering meaningful connections with donors and volunteers.
• Staying updated on the latest marketing strategies and technologies.

If you run a for-profit organization, focus on:

• Aligning brand values with social impact initiatives.
• Tracking and reporting on the positive outcomes of CSR efforts.
• Partnering with organizations to amplify your brand's message.

The passion you once had for your business might be flickering, but I bet it hasn’t gone out completely.?

If you need some help rekindling the flame, contact us.?

Maybe you have some advice for people whose shoes you were once in? Feel free to drop a comment and spur the conversation!?