Of course there is no definitive answer to the secret of happiness. It’s all rather subjective. But if you’re venturing into a new entrepreneurial plan, or you’re already in one, there are ways you can maintain your happiness (and sanity) whilst you are self-employed. If you take on the following you may find yourself happier in your work and self.
-
Do Work You Enjoy:
it seems simple enough, but there are so many people out there that start a business because they think they will be able to get rich quick. So they start the business they think will make them money the fastest. But what they soon realise is that a) just because you start your own business it doesn’t mean you will instantly be living in luxury and b) spending half your day doing something you don’t love will get old really fast. So, if you’ve not started yet, use your passions and find a way to incorporate them somehow in your business. If you’re already up and running and it’s not quite what you’d call your passion, see if you can find a way to morph your business to include more of your passions.
-
Discover The Path You Want to Take:
Unfortunately, it’s not enough to just have a good idea. You need a plan to go with that idea. Consider the market, consider the trends and consider the future. Strategic planning is essential so you have an idea of where you are going. Plan your goals and the steps you believe you need to get there to feel slightly more in control of your entrepreneurial dream.
-
Looks Count:
before you go there, we’re talking about your business assets. You’re more likely feel better about what you do and attract better clients when you’ve got your website looking right, some great looking business cards in your pocket and workspace that is comfortable to work in. Even if you start by working from home, creating a space in your home that looks nice and will keep you productive will help keep you happy. And if your home/workspace also deals with children during work time, you might want to consider outsourcing the answering of your phone. Then you can feel a little calmer returning important calls when the surroundings are calm and quiet.
-
You Don’t Have To Do It Alone:
just because you’re self-employed doesn’t mean you have to always be by yourself. Whether you get help from an expert or consultant on something you’re not too sure about or you get help from your sibling that knows how to do all that fancy computer stuff, it all goes toward you being a happy entrepreneur. Likewise, outsourcing your least favourite admin tasks can help to reduce your stress by reducing your workload and let you focus on the things that truly matter in your business.
-
Find The Work Hours That Work Best For You:
not everyone can be productive in a day that starts at 5am and ends at 9pm. Just because someone is working more, doesn’t mean they’re working If you feel you can get the most focused, productive work done from 11am-4pm (or 11pm-4am for that matter) with a couple of small breaks in between, then do it! You’ll find yourself a lot happier when you find the schedule that enables you to be least overwhelmed and most productive at the same time. If your best time is ‘out of regular working hours’, you might want to have someone cover the phones, etc.
-
Find The Opportunity In Your Mistakes:
if your customers don’t like your product and your sales aren’t heading in the direction you’d like, learn from it. Commit to some research and find out why. Feedback from customers can be extremely helpful. Think of it as a huge opportunity for you to grow your business in a way that really matters.
-
Don’t Underestimate The Value Of Your Values:
Define your business culture according to your personal values, beliefs and attitudes. Don’t just organise your culture according to what other people or your competitors do, or what you ‘think’ will be successful. Creating your business according to your own values is likely to not only keep you happy, it also lets other people know the type of business you run. Whether your values include ‘Don’t Be Evil’ like Google or to ‘Think Different’ like Apple, incorporating it into your way of business life can truly keep you happy and positive, and may even help your business differentiate itself from all the others out there.
And as secret number 4 suggested you don’t have to do this alone, you can get help. So if you need assistance with your business we can help you by answering your phone, doing your admin work or by providing you with the right space for your office. We’d be delighted to help you on 9994 8000 or you can drop us a note.
