I want to share a story that resonates deeply with those of us navigating the wild ride of entrepreneurship while trying to hold on to what's truly important—our families and our peace of mind.
One of my clients, a devoted mother of twins, mastered something we all dream about: after years of juggling her business with the chaos of summer camps and kids at home, she’s planning to take the entire month of August off next year to just be with her family. Amazing, right?
Starting out, she was deep in founder’s mode—her business was her world, and everything else, including family, took a backseat. It’s an intense phase where boundaries are often nonexistent, which activated her itty-bitty-shitty-comittee of never feeling like a good enough mother or wife as she prioritized meetings over being present in everyday moments like bedtime.
As her business grew, so did her team, and with that, the structure began to change. She moved from doing it all to trusting her team leaders to handle their responsibilities. Building that trust and tweaking the system took time, but it paid off—giving her something we all chase: time. Time to breathe, time for herself, time for a vacation.
But do you find yourself having that time? If not, why?
I’ve been coaching executives for over eight years, and even though my set-up as a solopreneur is a bit different, the challenge of non-stop work is the same. I’ve learned to carve out non-negotiable time for my wife, 15 year old daughter, and 33 year old son because if I don’t, the work never stops.
How do I manage it? Boundaries and forecasting.
Boundaries, for me, tie into my definition of Success, which is - I do what I want, when I want, with whom I want, as much as I want to. I want so spend time with my family and my clients, often seven days per week.
I recently read the book The Power of the Positive NO by William Ury. The premise is simple; when I say, “No” to something, I am honoring a deeper yes. The model is Yes-No-Yes. Each weekend I decide if I am going to work. If I decide I will not work on a Saturday, that ties into my deepest Yes (family time), so No I will not work on Saturday, but Yes I will be available for emergency calls and client emails on Sunday.
Forecasting is all about communication. If I plan to disrupt my usual schedule, I inform my clients well in advance. For example, my wedding—two weeks off for a significant life event, communicated early to ensure everything ran smoothly without me.
Taking time off isn’t just a perk; it’s essential. It took me a while to embrace that, but now I see it as vital to not just my well-being but to sustaining the energy and passion needed to support my clients and family effectively.
If stepping away feels impossible right now, ask yourself why. What needs to change? Sometimes, setting up the right team or system can free you to take that much-needed break.
Here’s to making your well-being a priority—because if you’re not at your best, how can you expect to lead effectively?
Until next time,
Todd
