To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to absorb a constant flow of information. But you also need to know when to turn it off and just listen to your inner voice. The above-average, highly disciplined planner model just doesn’t work when technology means “24/7 access to you and your energy.”
Sure, sometimes it takes long, exhausting hours to be successful. But if you don’t take a break, you wear yourself down with the constant stress, which doesn’t help anyone.To invest in yourself as a leader, focus on balance rather than a busy, stressful lifestyle. Some of these tips may seem counterintuitive, but they increase your chances of success in the long run.
1. Treat your body to
First: Take. Enough. Sleep. The notion that successful entrepreneurs never rest is a myth whose perpetuation in the business world must end for the good of all.
According to KillerStartups magazine, researcher and author Thomas Corley found that 89 percent of self-made millionaires sleep at least seven hours a night. Without enough rest, your brain can’t make the critical decisions that successful leaders face every day.
And if you want to improve the quality of your sleep and virtually other indicators of your health and happiness, exercise. Successful leaders are used to doing at least 30 minutes of cardio every day. Like sleep, exercise improves cognitive function so you can make the best decisions for your business.
Diet also has a major impact on your leadership skills and affects the rest of your life. Your diet can improve or impair your mental performance. If you want your business to be successful, good nutrition is important.
2. Set Happy Goals
After you’ve met Maslow’s needs, it’s time to think of something bigger. What are your long-term personal and financial goals and what does success mean to you?
According to Corley, you have to make sure that all your goals really belong to you. Yes, you need to focus on growing your business and saving for the future.But don’t fall into the trap of competing with others or, worse, trying to please your parents.
In his research, Corley has found that achieving your dreams and goals leads to maximum long-term happiness and wealth accumulation. In other words, being happy – both at work and outside of it – can actually make you more money.
Look for what brings you joy and motivates you to take action. It can be an incentive to gain more market share or gain the flexibility to spend more time with loved ones.It doesn’t matter what your goal is. You get even further in business when you pursue goals that enlighten you.
3. Make time for other passions
Note that, if what makes you happiest doesn’t always pay off, that’s okay. Make time for hobbies, passion projects, travel, and whatever is intuitive and overall good for you.
You can tell yourself that you don’t have time between exercising, eating healthy, and spending a lot of time at work. But don’t convince yourself that every minute of your time has to be “productive”.“You will just burn out, which will hurt you and your business.
On the other hand, devoting yourself to your hobby will make you a better entrepreneur. A hobby can be the inspiration for a new product or an innovative way of doing business. It can also help you connect with other successful and highly motivated people.
As an entrepreneur, you know your lifestyle has a certain charm that not everyone has.The types of people who prioritize an interesting and creative life tend to be the most successful. Be one of them, and in doing so, you’ll meet people who can help you learn, grow, and network.
4. Save time
There really is only one way to ensure you can handle some or all of the above problems. You have to be very protective of your time. That doesn’t necessarily mean adopting strict time management methods, but if they work for you, you can still use them.
It definitely means being clear about your priorities and saying a resounding “no” to anything and everyone that gets in your way.Plan your day not by the number of hours you work, but by activities that give you maximum functionality and efficiency.
Many successful leaders suffer from neurodiscrepancies such as ADHD that render traditional time blocks ineffective. Instead of working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., some people use periods of hyper-focus until late at night or early in the morning to get creative work done. As a result, they use traditional working hours for lower-priority tasks or for personal attention.
Protecting your time can take a million different forms.Maybe that means being “busy” with your schedule, turning off your phone and wearing noise-cancelling headphones. Or maybe delegate tasks to junior staff, then close the office door and meditate for 20 minutes. It doesn’t depend on the method; It’s about finding the way that works best for you.
Reference by forbes.com
