Being an entrepreneur can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging. Until you reach a certain level of success, you have to be a one-stop shop for all things in your business. And that can be taxing on you physically, spiritually, and emotionally. November 15th is National Entrepreneurs Day, which honors people who have built an empire from absolutely nothing. But as all entrepreneurs know: it’s not always smooth sailing. Luckily, there are ways to help you keep the same feeling you had when you first started out as an entrepreneur. Whether it’s reaching out to your network for inspiration or turning to technology to alleviate your stress, there are steps you can take to remind yourself of why you chose to be an entrepreneur in the first place. Use the advice below to KEEP GOING and to reignite those warm and fuzzy feelings you first had when you became a beauty or barbering entrepreneur.
Networking
Being around like-minded people that deal with the same things you deal with as an entrepreneur can remind you that you’re not alone in your struggles. It’s a proven fact that networking can help you reach new professional goals. According to Entrepreneur Magazine, connecting and networking with other entrepreneurs can provide new perspectives that spark business growth to new contacts and mentors to bounce ideas off. There are entrepreneur groups for every level of your career that you can join. Aside from networking, these groups can help build company morale, personal branding, and reputation, and of course, it provides the opportunity to gain new insights for professional success.
Informational Interviews
Much like networking, informational interviews are a great way to connect with people in your industry whom you admire. Is there someone that you look up to professionally? Are you mirroring your business after someone else that has successfully done what you want to do? Reach out to them to schedule a one-on-one chat. Regularly meet with experts in your field to learn from and exchange experiences. You’d be surprised by who’s willing to have a conversation with you. While it may be tempting to ask someone to pick their brain, it’s more rewarding to provide them something for taking out the time to chat with you. So be sure to follow up with a token of appreciation – a gift card to their favorite coffee shop maybe? Show them that you appreciate the opportunity to connect with them.
Hire Like-Minded Professionals
Starting out as an entrepreneur means that the majority of the workload is on you. It’s rare that people are able to afford a team in the beginning stages of a business. But once you’ve reached more success (and hopefully a bigger budget) it’s ok to pass off some of your workloads to others. The key is to hire like-minded people you trust. “It is almost impossible to reach your goal without people who share it,” according to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Roman Kumar Vyas. Hiring people should decrease your level of stress, not enhance it. But if proper hiring procedures are not taken, you could wind up adding more work to your plate. Vyas suggests asking certain questions during the hiring process to make sure that the candidate does not only fit in professionally but also culturally with your business. Questions like, “What are your professional goals?” and “How do you deal with challenges?” are good ways to gauge if someone is link-minded and will be a good fit culturally for your business. Knowing how to support yourself means building a good support team around you and asking for help when you need it.
Embrace New Technology
Lifelong entrepreneur Mark Cuban believes that keeping up with, and embracing, the latest technology is key to entrepreneurial success. “I think the biggest challenge that entrepreneurs may have is that there [are] two types of companies right now in the world — those who are great at AI, and everybody else,” he told Forbes. Incorporating artificial intelligence can be daunting for people that don’t consider themselves technologically savvy. However, it can alleviate a lot of the day-to-day challenges that entrepreneurs face. These days there is an app for just about anything business related. It’s worth taking the time to learn a new technology if it makes your business easier to manage in the long run. The ShearShare app takes the burden off of owners and operators to find licensed professionals to rent empty spaces in their shops, salons, or spas. Our app also gives licensed professionals the autonomy to find space to rent when and where they want to work in the palm of their hands. Finding the right technology to automate your business will free up time that you can otherwise spend elsewhere.
Take a Break – Seriously!
We all know the adage, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life.” But let’s be honest, even if you love what you do it will still require some blood, sweat, and tears. The trenches of entrepreneurship can feel like a never-ending carousel that’s impossible to jump off of. But staying on that carousel can lead to burnout – a term we’re all familiar with these days. This is why taking breaks is important, not only to your personal life but also to your professional life. “It is like working with a powerful computer: if you don’t reset it regularly, it will not function effectively after some time,” says Vyas. Don’t feel guilty for taking time off for yourself, because if your cup is not full you can’t pour into any other aspect of your life. Rest, reset, and recharge so that you can come back and continue to give your all to your business. With the holiday season around the corner, this is the perfect time to take a break and spend time with your loved ones. Your business will thank you for it.
