Does Running Your Business Still Excite You ?

I find myself in an interesting position as an entrepreneur.

Before my daughter was born, I easily worked 60 hours a week and loved every minute of it.

Love-Love-LOVED it.

In fact, if someone asked me what I did for fun, I’d probably answer, “work!” …and I’d mean it.

In the last few years, I’ve not only been running my 15-year-old business working with actors, but I have a much newer business working with coaches. Most importantly, I’m also a mom to a toddler, and there are days when all I want to do is hang out with my daughter.

I am so clear that I love what I do, so for me, this isn’t a question of passion. But I can’t ride on adrenaline anymore! My bandwidth and priorities have shifted.

So how do I maintain focus, excitement and follow through on everything that I’m passionate about?

Here are three lessons I’ve learned this year:

1. Stop focusing on the to-do list and start focusing on the to-DONE list.

There’s always going to be more to do and I’m crystal clear about that, but I’m never going to get caught up! So, I have to stop playing that game and acknowledge where I’m accomplishing things.

Every Friday I make a giant list of how I kicked ass that week.

It feels awesome.

2. Get your ego out of the way.

My husband and I made the decision that, when I’m at work, he’s at home with the baby.

I have days where that’s really hard for me. I experience jealousy, I try to control things… you get the picture.

Then there are days when I’m with my daughter and I can’t stop thinking about the awesome things I have to do at work and wondering how the hell I’m going to get it all done.

That’s when I realized two things:

Don’t let awesome be the enemy of good; and for goodness sakes, delegate!

This was quite the realization for me.

Not only am I a recovering perfectionist, but in the past, I’ve attached my ego to my business. I would never have considered hiring someone else to help me with my clients. Quite frankly, I felt like I did everything better than anyone else on the planet.

Ha! …ego, much?

To be fair, I also found it easier for me to do things on my own rather than train someone else to do it, which is true to a certain extent, but I put up a glass ceiling as a result.

So, I’ve expanded my team! I delegate wherever I can, including bringing on other coaches to support the actors that I work with.

What’s the result?

I spend more time with my daughter, and have created space to offer an enriching experience for my coaches in Through the Roof.

I was also able to get back into a coaching program which has offered additional support and tremendous value.

3. Find a way to fit in yoga.

Even when it’s inconvenient (which is always!), or eats into time with my husband or my sleep, I always get my butt to yoga!

That way I’m getting exercise, sweating my ass off, I’m out of the house, and am benefitting from yoga’s meditative quality.

I’m telling you, it’s made a world of difference.

What are your favorite tips for maintaining excitement and drive when it comes to running your business? I’d love to read ’em in the comments!