Burnout is no joke
How do we balance the constant push for growth without totally burning out? If you are starting your own business or growing an existing one, then the threat of burn out is very real. With the constant flood of information and motivational voices out there, sometimes it is hard to hear your own voice.
Take some advice from someone who has been there; burnout is no joke. I was at a large corporation in Stockholm Sweden as the Head of Accounting for Norway. I was pushing for growth and change in our company and working for a promotion. I was determined to get it all. I was so focused on “winning” and doing it my way that I completely ignored the signs that my body was not keeping up. With a one year old little girl at home who never slept, I remembered being impressed with how much I could handle with so little sleep. I guess, in hindsight, I was just delirious.
Out of the blue, during a walk with my daughter, everything changed. I collapsed. How could this happen? I was actually relaxed that day and enjoying the down time with her. I never fully understood the saying, “hit the wall,” until that day. However, that is exactly what I felt — going 100 mph and running straight into a brick wall. I suffered from life-changing panic attacks.
It took me over 3 weeks to leave the house again and almost 9 months to resume what seemed to be a normal life. The after effects still show-up from time-to-time. However, I now know the warning signs and can adjust my workload and mindset accordingly.
Are you pushing yourself too much? Are you trying to do everything yourself….just because you can do it better?
The key thing I have learned is to find good people to surround yourself with. Sometimes, this includes networking with people that share the same mindset and networking partners that help grow your business. It also includes hiring the right people and outsourcing part of your business to take some of the burden off your shoulders.
If this sounds like you, then read this article from the Harvard Business Review to get some great tips on how to get out of that cycle:
Help Your Team Do More Without Burning Out
And contact Vine Financial Partners to discuss how we can help you lighten your load so you can focus on the joys of running your own business. Vine Financial Partners offers Austin bookkeeping and other financial services. Contact us today.
