Nothing could be more demanding of a phase in business than the foundation stage. You have so many tasks on your to-do list: draft business plans, talk to accountants and lawyers, find a site for your office or store, etc. You’re also under constant pressure to learn more about the industry, especially your competitors. To top it off, you have this crippling fear that your business may not make it and be a flop, a forgotten brand before it even goes popular.
When starting in the business, it’s almost inevitable to experience burnout. The keyword here is “almost,” precisely because it’s possible to avoid it. Here are some steps you can take to keep yourself from being exhausted too fast or too early on.
Know what to prioritize
One reason starting entrepreneurs suffer burnout easily is they tend to do all things by themselves. They’re so passionate about their new venture that they can’t keep their hands off things. No wonder they’re so tired at the end of the day. It’s good to be enthusiastic about your business, but you also have to be wiser in using that energy. You want to focus on tasks that would yield greater results.
If you’re new to the industry you’re entering in, and you’re still unsure which aspects of the business you should be concentrating on, consider being a franchisee first. Brands offer training programs for franchisees, which you can use in improving management skills. Explore a dessert franchise, for instance, to get started.
Be aware of triggers
People often experience burnout due to stressors that often get unnoticed and unaddressed. Over time, that piles up. Without you knowing, you’re already buried too deep in stress that getting back up seems impossible. The best course of action on stress is always prevention, rather than cure.
So, be familiar to your stressors. Everybody has unique triggers. Some get worked up with lots of paperwork, government registration, business plans and branding guides. Others become anxious when talking to accountants and lawyers. Once you’re able to identify stressors, it would be much clearer to you how you can reduce their impact on you. You can either delegate tasks to a trusted employee or simplify the process.
Kick the guilt
Newbie entrepreneurs hustle hard at the beginning of their venture. They wake up so early, work until the night (sometimes bringing some tasks home) and then do some more work during the weekends. All personal matters, including well-being, sense of enjoyment and family time are neglected. They do this because there’s some guilt when they stop working.
But never stopping at work isn’t healthy for you. It isn’t good for the business. You’d quickly lose interest and motivation in your entrepreneurial endeavor over time, as it becomes the very representation of what you’ve given up. So before that happens, take a break. Schedule time for yourself. Get rid of the guilt.
The start of a business endeavor is riddled with stress, tension and pressure. But strive to make that firm decision in being in control, in staying on top of things, in saying no to burnout.
