One of my primary philosophies is that it makes no sense to separate the person from the professional – it’s an artificial distinction and doesn’t work.

Solo or small business owners ARE their business, so anything that is going on in their lives can affect their productivity, and subsequently their business.

The silent partner in your business is your body. I urge you to treat yourself well and prioritize self-care above pretty much everything. You can fix any (OK, most) problems in your business if you are healthy and well rested. If you are exhausted, sick, or worse…it gets a lot more difficult.

I have been coaching small business owners and professionals in career transition full time for 14 years. Here are some things I see them do:

  • Spread themselves too thin
  • Work too many hours
  • Forget to eat because they are too busy
  • Eat junk because it is fast
  • Not block out time to recharge
  • Not schedule time to exercise
  • Not prioritize sleep
  • Get overwhelmed and stressed
  • Not take time away from their business
  • Allow clients to take advantage of them

I fully realize there are times when you have to push yourself, and that is usually fine for a short period. However, if you are running around with your hair on fire all the time, at some point your silent partner will speak up loudly and you will get sick, which will make you rest.

Or, you might get something worse like a health diagnosis or have an accident. I call these times “hard stops.” They hurt.

When a hard stop happens, you will first be furious, and then at some point you will just submit. There will be nothing you can do except rest, nourish yourself, and recharge.

Your silent partner just became the majority shareholder and they are having it their way.

I feel it is my job as a coach to try to intercede with clients so these hard stops don’t happen. The signs can be very obvious to an outsider, but may not be at all obvious to the professional living (or even thriving) on adrenaline. We have all seen people who we know are going to crash. Don’t be that person.

If you recognize yourself in some of the bullets above, I urge you to step back and get hands-on with your to-do list and your calendar. Prioritize and keep the must-do activities and postpone what can be moved. Block out time on your calendar for rest, food, exercise, socializing – or whatever it is that you need. 

Your calendar is your best friend in times like this and can help you keep your silent partner happy and quiet. 

Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash