Four Ways To Invest In Yourself While Growing Your Business

Forbes

14 hours ago

Todd Villeneuve is managing partner at IFC National Marketing, a leading IMO for independent insurance agents and financial advisors.
You're killing it, right? You meet prospects for breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. You entertain and conduct business at concerts, sporting events and coffee shops. You take calls day and night, manage your marketing, write new contracts, track your sales. Business is booming.
Meanwhile, you're burned out, stressed out and not sleeping well. The constant cadence of activity—while great for business—is beginning to sap your energy, fog your brain and interfere with your social life.
Building a business is thrilling, but it can be all-consuming. Too often, when faced with long hours, perpetual deadlines, never-ending to-do lists and mountains of detail, entrepreneurs lose sight of their most valuable assets: good health, well-being and balance. I've found that this is a classic area where you need to 'put on your own air mask first' if you want your business and your personal life to thrive.
For example, I've spent my career selling insurance and financial products. The pace can be demanding and stressful, and it's not for everyone. In fact, more than 90% of new agents quit the business within the first year. So, what's different about the 10% who succeed and achieve financial success? I've observed three characteristics that stand out among a number of successful agents:
• They pay careful attention to their mental and physical health.
• They prioritize social and professional interactions.
• They understand the importance of balancing work with everyday life.
How are well-being and business success connected?
Neglecting your well-being can negatively impact business performance. For example, burnout can impair concentration, decrease motivation, reduce productivity and inhibit creativity. It can impair relationships—which are critical when you're trying to build a business—as well as increase errors and drive chronic stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia and a number of other health conditions.
My advice for solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, consultants, freelancers—anyone striving to build a business—is to prioritize self-care. Self-care includes everything you do to keep yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually healthy. Put it on your calendar first, because if you don't make time for self-care every day, you may be inviting burnout into your life—and into your business.
Fill your tank.
With all that said, burnout is not a sign of weakness: It's a signal. I invite you, encourage you, implore you to listen to that signal. Better yet, take action to prevent the signal bell from ringing in the first place.
This doesn't require a wholesale shift in your lifestyle. You can slowly adjust your habits and schedule over time to reprioritize your personal health and well-being. Here are four effective ways I have found to prioritize personal wellness without disrupting the flow of your business.
The benefits of physical activity are numerous, and working movement into your busy days is easier than you might think. One way that I've successfully built movement into my day is to schedule 'walk-and-talk' meetings with my team. These 30-minute telephone meetings allow me to ideate with my team (I've found that exercise fuels my creativity), answer questions about work in progress and focus on the needs of that particular employee without being distracted by my email or other activities in the office.
If this isn't realistic for your business model, a five-minute walk outside or even around your building is a good place to start. Take the stairs when you can. Stretch and move your body. Dance (seriously, nobody is watching).
When you're the boss, your to-do list can quickly get out of hand. One way to reduce stress and free up time in your schedule is by delegating responsibilities to your trusted team. Start by ensuring that you have the right people in the right seats. I encourage business owners, especially those looking to grow and scale their businesses, to use a framework like the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to guide them through this process.
I've found that all work and no play not only makes one 'dull' but can also contribute to feelings of isolation and loneliness, exacerbate stress and anxiety, and be detrimental to the personal and professional relationships you've honed over the years. To nurture your social well-being, try blending work with play. Schedule breakfast or lunch with a client at your favorite restaurant, take a group of clients to a local sporting or cultural event or host a client appreciation dinner. You can also build rapport amongst your internal team by hosting social activities for your employees outside of the office.
As often as possible, make healthy choices when it comes to your diet and your sleep habits. Whether it's drinking more water, limiting alcohol intake or eating fewer processed foods, slowly adapt your behaviors over time to incorporate choices that will fuel your body and mind, as well as potentially prevent future illnesses. You might even find that your team or select clients share the same goals as you so that you can surround yourself with support.
Final Thoughts
Without question, building a business is hard. The learning curve is steep, the tasks plentiful, the stress unavoidable. It's a process that demands the best of you, so make sure you're able to bring your best self to work every day by investing in yourself, your health and your well-being. Start small, keep going and don't forget to ask for help along the way.
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