From Precious | Business Advice
May, 2008
Do you need help in staying focused and achieving the best results for your business?
Are you unclear on how to set practical goals?
Is something holding you back?
Yes?! Then head for the Precious Couch, together we can work it out!!
Precious has invited leading business coaching expert Rasheed Ogunlaru to help your business achieve its full potential. This is a rare opportunity to get some free top quality business support. Rasheed is a leading UK-based life coach, business coach and motivational speaker, and all round great guy (we at Precious know so!). Each month Rasheed will answer a dilemma on your business issues.
To put forward your question to Rasheed, email him at: rasheed@preciousonline.co.uk Let us know, we can change your name if you prefer discretion!
Have a look at this month's letter from Shirley and Rasheed's answer just below::
Dear Rasheed,
I hope you can help. I have been in business for just over four years, things are going well, turnover is good and I now employ 3 members of staff.
My issue is that I cannot seem to switch off from business at weekends and my home/family life is suffering. I switch on my laptop on a Saturday morning to attend to just one thing and the next thing I know its dinner time and I am faced with a unhappy family who feel that my business has become more important to me than them!
Could you give me some advice on managing my time or switching o,ff so I don't feel under any pressure (from myself) to work at weekends. This is becoming a real issue for me.
Shirley, London
Rasheed replies:
Dear Shirley,
First of all you need to congratulate yourself: four years in business, three members of staff, good turnover and clearly you are clearly the common denominator in all that success. Give yourself credit for all youve achieved. When were busy building a business we often overlook our accomplishments.
This brings us on to the point of your letter. Now is the time to round off that success with a good work life balance. The simple answer is to switch off your computer on Friday and not switch it on until Monday. The irony is that you will be more effective in your business by doing this. If need be set your alarm at the end of Friday and book in family things on Saturday so that you dont get on the computer. An athlete knows that rest and nourishment is essential to success. Muscles actually build when we are at rest. Its the same in business.
You have an opportunity to turn an unhappy family into a very happy, proud one. Its simply a case of re-programming yourself for this change. Visualise yourself enjoying family time and you time over the weekend. Then list all the benefits that this will bring to you and your family: more energy, more you time, more family time, a better life balance. Now also think about and list all the benefits for your business. More energised come Monday, more space to think, more productive.
Shirley your dilemma is a sign of your success and it is a reminder to put yourself and your family first. Once you start to do this it will become a habit that will serve you for a long time. The benefits will pour into your life and your business.
With every best wish,
Rasheed
Read the letter archives starting here.