Business owners are forever harried, hurried, and hustling. It’s just a fact. Instead of any semblance of work-life balance, they are constantly tending to a relentless list of responsibilities. While employees and others may enjoy the opportunity of some well-deserved downtime during lulls in business, owners take that opportunity to drum up more business and keep the wheels on the wagon.
There simply is no such thing as balance for business owners. And that’s okay. Because there is perhaps something even more rewarding. Amongst all that noise of running and growing a successful organization, with some effort and intentionality, owners can find true joy, fulfillment and ultimately what I have termed “Biz Life Happiness.”
Biz Life Happiness turns the standard success and contentment concept – you know, the one that says if you aren’t balanced you aren’t doing it right – on its ear. It urges business owners to find contentment in the relentless hustle and bustle of entrepreneurship. If you embrace the fact that your life as a business owner will likely never consist of balance, you reset the scoreboard for something that is both more achievable and incredibly satisfying.
The Illusion of the Super Hero Business Owner
The stereotypical image of an entrepreneur able to juggle a million hats and tasks is nothing more than a myth. The first step towards Biz Life Happiness is shattering this illusion and recognizing that you were never meant to do it all.
Even with the creativity, passion, and grit it takes a business owner to build a thriving company, long-term success requires an entire team of skilled contributors. Do you dream of Biz Life Happiness? Well it starts by acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses, then building a team around you that complements your abilities. It’s not about being a solo act but creating an environment where every member plays a crucial role.
And that requires a group of smart, capable, and aligned forward thinkers.
Building a Leadership Team
The heart of Biz Life Happiness really lies in the creation of a robust leadership team. The success of your business demands a collective effort. A strong and capable leadership team serves as your compass, guiding you through challenges and uncertainty.
Building an effective leadership team is an art. It requires identifying and cultivating skills within the group, then leveraging those assets for the betterment of the system. Biz Life Happiness thrives in an environment in which an owner’s burdens are shared, and everyone on the team is empowered to contribute to the success of the organization. And if you haven’t guessed it by now, this all culminates in not just having a valued braintrust, but also your ability as a business owner to delegate even high-level tasks to others on your team who you deem suited to the challenge.
Understanding the Power of Delegation
Delegation is an essential component in achieving Biz Life Happiness. But it is important to understand that delegation is not merely passing off tasks; it’s an art form that requires insight, trust, and strategy.
Delegating tasks and responsibilities empowers your team and provides them with opportunities to grow. Biz Life Happiness is about doing more of what matters and less of what hinders growth. And make no mistake, your inability to do it all, coupled with a resistance to delegate, will definitely stymie the success of your business and any real shot you have at Biz Life Happiness.
The Joy Is in the Hustle
Business ownership is noisy, demanding, and inherently unbalanced. Biz Life Happiness is not about balance, but rather embracing the crazy ebb and flow of entrepreneurship and leveraging those rare quiet moments to strategically reflect and rejuvenate.
Biz Life Happiness means finding contentment throughout the often chaotic business ownership journey. It’s about thriving in the rhythm of the business, finding satisfaction in the daily grind, and celebrating victories, both big and small.
Blair Koch is the CEO of TAB Denver West, a TAB CEO Advisory Board Facilitator, and a Business Ownership Lifecycle Coach. Blair has spent most of her career helping small business owners achieve their personal and professional goals. She also hosts the Best Businesses in Denver podcast.