Reducing the Stress of Being an Entrepreneur

Starting and running your own business can be exciting and rewarding, but it can also be very stressful. For most of our almost 40 year marriage my husband has been an entrepreneur and I have sometimes worked with him. Having built my own business as a Stress Reduction Coach I have been reflecting on the stresses of being an entrepreneur.

Signs and sources of stress

Some of the signs of stress overload include irritability, anxiety about the sustainability of the business, and/or high business debt. Relationships within the family can suffer if they do not understand the entrepreneurial drive or the time and effort it takes to start and run a business. For women entrepreneurs, the job of running the household and balancing work and home can create enormous stressors. When you work from home, all the household tasks that need to be done can pull you away from your business. People who are drawn to be entrepreneurs are sometimes idea people who don't like detail and repetitive tasks. Having to work on those things can create stress as well. And when you're stressed it's harder to concentrate and focus.

Organize your environment

One of the solutions is to reduce the stress and create an environment that discourages stress. Have a place where you can keep everything together and organized. A written plan of action for the business posted where you can see it along with a daily plan can help you focus the time you have available.

A system that works for me

I am not a person who comes to organization easily and I have struggled to find a way that works. Daytimers and lists help for a short while, but I have never been able to keep up with them. One thing I have found that works is to have a "big picture overview" of what needs to be done where I can see it. I have a poster board size piece of "static cling" presentation sheet that adheres to my door. It can be easily rolled up and removed if needed. I have several categories that I've posted at the top of the sheet, such as "website," "presentation," etc. These are written on standard sized post-it notes so they can be easily removed and changed. I brainstorm everything I need to do on small post-it notes. After I brainstorm, I then organize the notes in the appropriate columns. I also have a category that says TODAY for the urgent and important things. I can glance at the poster while I am working and see what else I might need to do and when I finish what I need to do, I can throw the post-it away. If something comes up that is not posted, I can put it on a post-it note and put it where it needs to be.

This "system" helped me write many graduate papers and I used it when I planned and wrote my dissertation. Now it helps me as I plan and work my business. This is just one technique that helps me reduce the stress of being an entrepreneur.

Lorna Minewiser, Ph.D has been helping people reduce their stress for more than 15 years. She offers individual and group coaching, workshops, CDs, e-books and a Stress Reduction membership site.For more information you can reach me at http://www.thestressreductioncoach.com

---

What Makes An Entrepreneur Tick?

It is only natural that when you start a business,... Read More

Used-Book Case Study

Dwight Payne and Gary Heap reside in Santa Barbara, CA,... Read More

What Makes an Entrepreneur?

Rupert Steiner in his book 'My First Break' attempted to... Read More

Youth Entrepreneurship, A Disappointing Truth

The psychology of entrepreneurship can be very rewarding to one... Read More

The 5 Senses of an Entrepreneur

If you have seen me speak you will know that... Read More

Answering Why You, Why Now Critical in a Winning Business Plan

Business plans continue to be an essential element of the... Read More

The Business and Life You Want to Build

In the early days of my first consulting business, I... Read More

The Six ?F? Words Every Entrepreneur Should Know

Start your own business, and soon enough, you find yourself... Read More

How To Get More Clients and Customers; Dont Sell Be of Service

Whether you are just starting your business or focusing on... Read More

10 Ways Entrepreneurs Shoot Themselves In The Foot

Entrepreneurs and their businesses have a tendency to ambush themselves... Read More

Profile of Women Leaders

Leadership is based on two words, "pressure and support"and that... Read More

Could a Book About Your Company be Worth $1.7 Billion? Building Value Through Publishing

"Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) to purchase Clayton Homes for $12.50... Read More

Is Now the Right Time to Become An Entrepreneur?

A number of economic changes are magnifying the role of... Read More

Is Running a Business for You?

Not everyone is cut out to run a business. Not... Read More

7 Small Business and Self Employed Law of Attraction Principles For Success

It is widely held that one of the most important... Read More

The Power Of Personal Environments

I've got to admit, I'm a big fan of comfort.... Read More

The Business Leader as Ultramarathoner

Have you ever heard of an ultramarathon? A standard marathon... Read More

Rx for Falling Corporate Profits

Once again the squeeze is on as renewed inflation worries... Read More

Realism vs. Optimism in the Business Plan

The most important function of a business plan is to... Read More

The 9 Key Distinctions of Successful Solo-Entrepreneurs!

SUCCESSFUL Solo-Entrepreneurs approach life and business from a perspective that... Read More

Business Ideas

Richard Branson, billionaire founder of Virgin Records and Virgin Atlantic... Read More

Entrepreneurs Ask: As a Novice Entrepreneur, How Can I Feel Less Overwhelmed?

Great question! Overwhelm is very common even among the most... Read More

Lets Not Forget About The Little Guy

Every business has to start somewhere. What truly makes this... Read More

Adding a Service After You Buy a Business

When you buy a business, you should have a plan.... Read More

Beware the Opposition!

Any time you make changes in your life you are... Read More

Do You Have What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur?

Q: I am interested in starting my own business. I... Read More

Entrepreneurship: What does it REALLY mean?

Introduction:In a world where ideas drive economies, it is no... Read More

Entrepreneurs Just Get Better With Age

Q: I'm thinking about starting a business after I retire... Read More

Entrepreneurship as Your Passion

Entrepreneurship has been my passion for as long as I... Read More

Oil Change Guys History; Part III

Studying the history of franchise companies is interesting is watching... Read More

Six Steps to Guarantee Your Business Success

Many of us slave away for years for one uninspiring... Read More

Methods of Generating New Ideas for Entrepreneurs

Summary: Even with a wide variety of sources available, coming... Read More

Angel Investors: 7 Online Business Plan Scams and 1 Real Deal

We've all seen the hype: "We'll put your plan in... Read More