In Minor's League: July 2001

ANSWER: Maintaining a balance in life is an incredible challenge for start-up entrepreneurs, or any entrepreneur for that matter. Achieving this balance has to be a priority for the entrepreneur. It is essential that you put this issue at the top of your list, which is certainly easier said than done in many cases. The obvious question the entrepreneur then asks is, "How can I do that at this stage in my business career?" My reply is always the same: "How can you not?"

I suggest that you step back and take a look at what is really important in life. Paint the picture, if you will, of your future. An effective exercise that helps is to close your eyes and picture your funeral, hopefully 30, 40 or even 50 years from now. You are being eulogized. Think about what you hope your loved ones will say. If you are like most people, your hope is that they say you were a good parent, a good spouse, a good child or a good friend. Maybe you hope they’ll recognize that you gave to the community. Somewhere way down the list you would like them to say you were a good businessman or businesswoman.

So think about how you live your life. Are you doing the things needed to be perceived like you want to be? Is work your No. 1 priority or are you involved in your children’s activities? Are you home for dinner on most nights? Do you ever go on vacations and not call the office? If not, your life may be off balance.

If this is the case, try doing the following:

• Add something to do for yourself and/or your family in your daily "to do" list. Commit to accomplishing that item no matter what challenges come up in your day.



• If you have a particularly busy day that requires 12 to 15 hours of work, figure out a way to allot time for your family or for yourself. Come home for dinner, go to the kids’ game, or go work out at the gym. Just do it. You can always go back to the office or sneak some work home and do it when it is not an inconvenience for the family. Many entrepreneurs who make balance a priority sacrifice a little sleep for additional family or personal time.



• When you schedule your appointments for work, schedule them around your personal priorities, not the other way around. Is that meeting with a customer really more important than Susie’s dance recital? Maybe sometimes, but probably not every time.



• When you go on vacation, leave the work at home or, at the very least, save calls for the end of the day. Many vacation days have been ruined by mid-day calls during which "fires" have to be put out. Instead, save them for the end of the day or, better yet, don’t call at all. Your associates or employees eventually have to learn how to handle tough situations and, frankly, when it’s all said and done the "fires" you have to put out usually are not as important as you really think.

Is maintaining balance as an entrepreneur easy to do? No way. Should you do it? Definitely. Can it be done? No doubt about it, but it absolutely, unequivocally has to be at the top of your priority list.