Stay Sane and Still Grow Your Start Up

I attended an Entrepreneur Camp 2010 at the University of Houston 2 weeks ago. It is a gathering of entrepreneurs alike in Houston held for all to gather and share. It was a great place to network, listen to successful local entrepreneurs, speakers and panels. The informal gathering allows any entrepreneur to speak if you have something to share. So I signed up for a time slot and decided to give it a shot. Not because I wanted to speak in front of people but because I wanted to share what I had already been through building a coaching practice. I only had 25 minutes to talk briefly on my slides, engage one another and have time for questions.

As I began talking I realized how completely excited I was to speak to this group of people. I have been grateful to speak in front of groups before but realized that this felt so different. I wanted to jump up on the table in front of them and let them know how excited I was( sort of like Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah's yellow coach professing his love for Katie) to finally be speaking in front of people that made me feel so jazzed about what they were doing as local entrepreneurs. Pam and Michele always talk and teach about finding your people, tribe, target market etc – I found them. Huge thanks to you both.

I began the presentation and things went smoothly then a gentlemen asked the question when prompted by my “What type of lifestyle do you want" slide?. He proceeded to say that “I’ m happy having a start up business, it’s like having a baby you must nurture it and give it so much attention but my personal life is struggling.” There was the famous “ BUT.” Many times we believe that working so many hours will bring us more customers, better business plans and better strategies. It is true in the beginning you need to plant seeds for your business with water and love but not under so much stress. How can anything grow under those conditions? The gentlemen cares a lot about his business and his family but could not balance it all. I let him know through my own experience and much wisdom from many teachers – that we must increase joy and fun even in the most least opportune times.

Have you ever realized how great ideas come from moments of not trying so hard?

My tip to him was to increase activities that are meaningful and creative – all right brain activity. Even when you are trying to grow a business we must still do things that make us happy and not feel like we must be working around the clock. Building a business takes patience and requires different building blocks at different stages of the game. Why jeopardize a relationship, marriage or your valuable time when you know your quality of life is suffering. The journey of building a business can be trying but working around the clock and not spending time doing the things you love will only leave your tank running on empty.

Besides by the time you get your business where you want it –it is time to change and evolve to the next level. Might as well take care of yourself along the journey! Here is my compelling advice to share: If you find your tank running on empty find simple fun ways that increase joy and decrease stress to refuel.

By fueling your tank with smiling, golf, painting with your child, park with kids, flying a kite, reading a chapter from your favorite book you will immediately connect with a less stressful side of you and realize that you will naturally begin to feel happier.

As we all know - running on empty only leaves us left stranded, exhausted and drained. Fuel your life with just a few things that make you happy even when you are under the most intense circumstances.

Is there any other way to get back on the road?