Nothing Good Comes From Too Much Of A Good Thing (Like Work)!

Last week, I was a guest speaker at an online conference called Screw the Hustle. (Great title, huh? Sounds like something I'd come up with!) In keeping with the theme, my session was about how NOT to do things, how a conventional approach can sometimes end up doing more harm than good. I got pretty personal about my life and openly shared how a life-changing, traumatic event altered the way I view work. For starters, I no longer see work as therapy. Therapeutic, maybe, but not a place to avoid dealing with life. I talked about how I almost worked myself into the ground as a way of dealing with an upsetting and unexpected breakup. I’m not the first business entrepreneur to deal with a life curve ball by throwing myself into my work. In fact, that’s a pretty common story with us isn’t it?

Why is that I wonder? Maybe it has something to do with the drive and motivation that seem to be built in to most of us. You can’t exactly be lazy and unmotivated AND build a business from the ground up at the same time. That just doesn’t happen! Hard work is basically a requirement for success. But how do you know if you’re taking it too far? Well, I’d say if you find yourself in the hospital, so run down — apparently close-to-death-kind-of-run-down (um, yeah)  — that you’re being told to get your affairs in order and are being given last rites, well you've taken it too far. Might be time to cut back your hours at work and re-evaluate, which is what I did.

The Secret To Avoiding Burnout? Listen To Marley!

You can read more details of my crazy, but true tale here if you'd like a little extra backstory. But to make sure you get the most important takeaways from it, I'm going to share with you my favorite antidotes to stress and anxiety.

• Do something different. If you always drive to work on the same streets, take a different route.
• Only take the projects that inspire you.
• Only work with people who value your time and your gifts.
• Say goodbye to anyone, business or personal, who does not... almost always (hey, nobody's perfect) treat you how you deserve to be treated.
• Take long walks often without your headphones.
• Look at the sky and be glad you can still see it.
• Write in your journal, even if you can't write, if only to purge yourself of those demons we all possess.
• Tend and weed your landscape of friends, family and associates as if you're the head of the most beautiful botanical garden in the world (hint: you are!).
• Tell the truly important people in your life that you love them, appreciate them and will answer the phone in the middle of the night if they call and then make sure to answer it.
• Create a list of things that always make you happy.... a stiff cappuccino, the softest blanket, a fresh stack of your favorite magazines.
• Specifically... state at least five things for which you're grateful every single day even if you're so depressed the only positive thing worth noting is that the color green on the leaves in front of you isn't revolting.
• Tell your friends when you're struggling.
• F*** Facebook and its picket fence perfection.

You get it. Find your purpose. Discover the key points of your existence and surround yourself with the top five people who inspire, love and care for you the most. When you need help... ask.

Be Oh So Quotable This Week!

In addition to valuable life advice, if you're looking for something to help with pricing, keep more money in your pocket and take your business to the next level, we've got it right here! And it's FREE!

I always say running a business means the work never ends! Ain't that the truth? I bet your to-do list is a mile long! Make sure that the items at the top of your list are the things that relate to being more profitable. Everyone is so proud of being so "busy"...But Are You Making Any Money? Don't be too busy to focus!

Check out the summary of last week's business tips and motivational quotes from my Instagram page which you hopefully got to see in real time! If not, let's make sure we're following each other on Instagram!! So...here is this week's roundup of Instagram images of My Top Business Tips and Motivational Quotes.

Business Entrepreneur – Tip #1:

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"Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you." – Walt Whitman

Business Entrepreneur – Tip #2:

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"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." – Albert Einstein

Business Entrepreneur – Tip #3:

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"Being an entrepreneur is following your passion and finding a profit in it. You spend 70% of your life at work, you better love what you do." – Victoria Cairl

Business Entrepreneur – Tip #4:

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"An entrepreneur is someone who sees a need in the market and does something about it, rather than just sitting on the sidelines." – Anne Reilly

Business Entrepreneur – Tip #5:

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"With every experience, you alone are painting your own canvas, thought by thought, choice by choice." – Oprah Winfrey

Let's talk! I'd love to hear your crazy-but-true tales of being a business entrepreneur!

Is every business entrepreneur a workaholic? Is it possible to have balance? I would LOVE to hear from you! Anyhoo...I publish these business tips and motivational quotes to get you fired up for your work week!

Oh by the way, in case you're looking for something to help with time management, we've got this fun little quiz to test your productivity. Are you a Vodka & Red Bull? A Dirty Dirty? Or a plucky Blue Sapphire? Find out which cocktail you are by taking our quiz right now!

And, if you want more business tips, get my book, But Are You Making Any Money? or contact me to really take your business to the next level!

xoxo M