3 Keys to Unlocking Business Owner Freedom
When in the throes of running a business, particularly a new one, it’s difficult to imagine a time when life can begin to revolve around something other than getting your business to the next level. But that’s the dream, right? To be successful and enjoy all the freedoms you’d imagined for yourself as a business owner are the ultimate goals.
You know the freedom I’m talking about: It’s freedom of lifestyle, but it’s so much more than that. As your own boss, you should be afforded everything from the freedom to set your own rhythm and work/life balance to the freedom to create your own path and your own team. Freedom to make a positive change and choose how you give back to the community along with creative freedom and financial freedom — these should be yours for the taking. These are the advantages, yet why do they seem so unattainable?
The answer to that question can be summed up with one word: responsibility. As your own boss, the mental toll falls on you, not to mention the physical toll. You probably have a hand in every aspect of the operation. It’s a struggle to get home in time for dinner and a good night’s sleep is but a memory because you never really clock out.
This kind of lifestyle is not freedom, and it’s not sustainable.
The real problem? Business owners have a hard time figuring out how to be successful while enjoying all the freedoms that being your own boss promises. But you don’t have to do it all yourself. Being a business owner is the ultimate freedom, and true independence should be yours. If it’s not, it's time to start working toward that goal.
The solution? Systemization, which is the act of creating a new system. By examining your current process and making improvements, you stand to create orderliness, relieve some of the weight on your shoulders, and make way for the dream of freedom.
With systemization in place, you can focus on:
● Working ON versus IN the business to achieve your desired future state. Working on your business allows you to get out of the weeds and into the clearer, big picture. While working in the business means progress, it’s easy to lose sight of what your true vision, goals, and strategy are. With systemization in place, you can refocus on your ‘why’ by stepping into the working-ON side of your business. Only then can you achieve your desired future state.
● Prioritize your role: spend time on what adds the most value. Rather than running every aspect of the business, hone in on the role that will add the most value to the company. Prioritize the role that best benefits your business and grow with it.
● Build the business to run without you. Let go, delegate, and elevate. As much as you love being involved in every facet of the organization, in order to grow you have to let go. The business won’t scale with you at the helm of every single thing. Again, prioritize your role, grow with it, and delegate the rest.
The key to reaching true freedom lies in outsourcing and delegating responsibilities. Remember when I asked why the freedoms you dream of seem so unattainable? Responsibility. By alleviating some responsibility that rests heavily on your shoulders, you’ll get closer to your desired future state, which is to own and not operate your business! Only then will you enjoy the freedom of a flexible schedule, elevate your business, and go on to live your very best life!
Don’t procrastinate in getting your life in balance. Talk to Future State now to find out how we can help you have a life before it’s too late!