Business

Growing a business means making hard decisions. It takes a great deal of thought and consideration to balance life, family and income growth when you are a business owner. Even if you don't own a business, your performance at work determines bonuses, salary increases and job satisfaction.

How we choose to engage in our work is critical to how we live our life. Jobs and businesses can take over every waking moment. Yes, our jobs and business are important, but losing the connection to family, friends and people can be detrimental.

Deciding when your business or job needs your undivided attention can sometimes mean the difference between advancement or increased business and failure. Getting those who support you to understand and provide you the space to accomplish the necessary tasks required is critical. Unfortunately, our jobs or business ventures don't always announce the need for our undivided attention. I wish we could plan that project or that sudden business networking that has paid off in increased sales. We can't. They arrive suddenly sometimes with no warning. It is apparent that if action isn't taken the opportunity will not exist.

What to do?? The best thing to do is communicate. Tell your partner, loved ones, and family that for the next X amount of weeks or days, your attention needs to be focused on the project at work or tending to your business. Couple this communication with a projected time frame where you can devote your full attention to your family, friends and loved ones will help maintain perspective. Keeping the line of communication open will serve you. Preserving your social and family life during these times of career building is necessary if you want to be more than your job or your business.

I know it is difficult sometimes to see our selves as more than our jobs, but we are. Placing the focus fully on spending time with family and friends will pay off more than you can ever measure. So, the next time you have a much needed business opportunity or a project at your job that will increase your bonus or salary, couple this with negotiating time in the future with family and friends. You will be glad you did. Balance is a wonderful thing and we all need to be reminded not to lose ourselves in what we do to earn money.

So, please share you ways of staying connected to your family and friends despite your busy work schedule or branching out to cultivate your own business.

Until tomorrow,

Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach