Lately I’ve heard several folks saying they have too much going on and need to give something up. Some of them know what they want to give up, but are reticent to do so. They don’t feel the same energy now around a product or service that they once did. But they still feel reluctant to let it go because of the energy and passion they have invested in it and the clients they have associated with it. This can be disconcerting the first time that it happens, but once you recognize that this will happen, it all becomes a little easier to work through.
Over the years of running my own businesses I’ve come to realize that it’s an organic process, and that even the sunshine burns if you get too much. There are ebbs and flows to my energy, my ideas, my creativity, and my passion. These don’t necessarily correlate to what’s happening in my business, but sometimes they do. And being an entrepreneur, or should I say “equipreneur,” is a journey to discovery – about the market, the world, and myself. Through my years of investigation about entrepreneurship I’ve also learned that there are many different kinds of entrepreneurs. There are serial entrepreneurs, who like breathing life into a venture but have no interest in running it over the long-term. They are off and running starting something else before you can blink your eyes. There are high-growth entrepreneurs that start businesses that take off like a rocket and do a lot for job and wealth creation. There are lifestyle entrepreneurs who focus more on the lifestyle they are able to lead rather than making a ton of money. If they can earn a comfortable living, that’s what they are after. Here’s one great article that provides a little more background on this thinking: “The 9 Personality Types of Entrepreneurs” at http://sbinformation.about.com/cs/development/a/personality.htm.
My journey, so far, has been as a lifestyle entrepreneur. And when I’m feeling a little burned out, I understand that this is not the best time for me to make a decision about what to keep and what to let go of in my business. Instead, I take a sabbatical. I don’t leave my clients in the lurch, and I am sure to complete any projects and promises. But I do let them know that I am shifting gears for a little while and that I’ll keep in touch about any changes that may occur. This approach has always worked well for me. I spend some time reflecting on why I began my business and various services. And the realization that it was for a broader life’s journey purpose, I am able to renew. When my sabbatical is over, I return with new ideas and new energy and with even more to offer than before.
Over the years of running my own businesses I’ve come to realize that it’s an organic process, and that even the sunshine burns if you get too much. There are ebbs and flows to my energy, my ideas, my creativity, and my passion. These don’t necessarily correlate to what’s happening in my business, but sometimes they do. And being an entrepreneur, or should I say “equipreneur,” is a journey to discovery – about the market, the world, and myself. Through my years of investigation about entrepreneurship I’ve also learned that there are many different kinds of entrepreneurs. There are serial entrepreneurs, who like breathing life into a venture but have no interest in running it over the long-term. They are off and running starting something else before you can blink your eyes. There are high-growth entrepreneurs that start businesses that take off like a rocket and do a lot for job and wealth creation. There are lifestyle entrepreneurs who focus more on the lifestyle they are able to lead rather than making a ton of money. If they can earn a comfortable living, that’s what they are after. Here’s one great article that provides a little more background on this thinking: “The 9 Personality Types of Entrepreneurs” at http://sbinformation.about.com/cs/development/a/personality.htm.
My journey, so far, has been as a lifestyle entrepreneur. And when I’m feeling a little burned out, I understand that this is not the best time for me to make a decision about what to keep and what to let go of in my business. Instead, I take a sabbatical. I don’t leave my clients in the lurch, and I am sure to complete any projects and promises. But I do let them know that I am shifting gears for a little while and that I’ll keep in touch about any changes that may occur. This approach has always worked well for me. I spend some time reflecting on why I began my business and various services. And the realization that it was for a broader life’s journey purpose, I am able to renew. When my sabbatical is over, I return with new ideas and new energy and with even more to offer than before.
So, what kind of entrepreneur are you? Identifying your entrepreneurial style and rhythm will help to guide you to the trail through the peaks and valleys of your business journey.
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