How many hours are you working?

One of the things that you learn when you go into business for yourself is that it is not a 9 to 5 situation especially at the start. You have to put in long hours to get your business up and running.

But have you slowed down at all? I know it is hard when you are the boss and everything is riding on you, but at some point you need to take time for yourself. If you hire the right people then you should feel confident to take a vacation. In fact, if you are watching the store too much even though you have good people hired, then you are going to turn them off.

In my last "real job" I had a boss that would work 75 to 80 hours a week. However, even though she was putting in all those hours she still would drive by the business a few times a night, shop at the grocery store that was two doors down from us, and find convenient excuses to show up. It in turn demoralized the staff because they felt like she didn't trust them to do their jobs. In reality the woman just needed a life, but the damage was done.

According to the Start Up Spark blog 38% of small business owners cannot remember the last time they took a vacation. Are you part of that percentage? If you are one of those people you need to take time for yourself.

I know it is not easy but believe me you need it. Just remember to go someplace relaxing, or take some long drives, turn off the cell phone (take it for an emergency but don't answer it!!), don't be on the laptop all day or the phone, just go out and have fun.