Wanting to build your own company is chaotic and tough yet still rewarding. I have been living the life of an entrepreneur for over 15 years now and I've learned quite a bit of lessons to really survive. Here are my top 5 lessons.
#1 - Never try to do everything by yourself
You need a team of people to do big things. Find people around you who can see your vision and support you through thick and thin. Also being alone means that investors can't really give you money because there is no company or team to invest in. Build the best team you can, go after a big market, and go through the ups and downs of being a company together.
#2 - Maintain your focus
Focus on tasks that give you the greatest value in return for your time spent. Create a strategy for yourself that can help you get the best outcomes. Sometimes we can be at a desk drifting into lalaland and sometimes if we're not mindful, we start doing what we think is an important task when it's really not. Snap of it, and focus!
#3 - Think!
This world is busy and noisy. We really live in a time where we are being bombarded with email offers, people on the street trying to get your money, advertisements on Facebook, the subway, buses, television, radio, and billboards. We get thousands of ads proposed to us in a single day even if we're not paying attention. On top of that your probably getting texts from your friends or colleagues throughout the day. With this vibrating noise in your work and family life, it can sometimes blow your mind. To manage this, take the time to plug out for a few hours, go for a walk, and just take the time to think. Take 2 hours in the morning and just sit. This can really help you figure out what to do with your day, gives you a chance to dream while your awake, and gives you a chance to just breath and think before your day gets crazy. It also gives you a chance to re-calibrate your sense of purpose and gives you an opportunity to simply think for yourself.
#4 - Put real value back in your relationships
I know we live in a time where we have Facebook, Google +, Twitter, and Instagram. However, while this gives us information quickly, it does not beat spending quality time with people in person without a computer screen in between you, your family, or your colleagues. I believe a distance was created when people started using social media. It is the reason I left Facebook for years before returning and creating a new account. Take the time to go out with your friends, hang out, play a board game. Go for a hike with your friends and play ultimate Frisbee. Nothing beats being in the physical presence of people and being at a concert live. It's an amazing experience. So go out there, value relationships, and spend quality time with colleagues, friends, and family. Put the value back into your relationships.
#5 - Exercise!
Being an entrepreneur is a 24/7 job. You always have to be ready for anything. However, there are down times in your day and I believe it is important to allocate a chunk of your time to exercising. It is important to maintain your physical health so you have the mental and physical energy to put into your most challenging tasks throughout the day. You also feel better when you maintain exercise everyday. I have made the mistake of yoyoing by putting more time into business and less on exercise and when this happens, I feel and look like shit. So, I am going to make the effort to eat the right foods, drink lots of water, and do exercises that I love. I recommend the same for you as building a business is more of a marathon and not a sprint. So remember, make the time to exercise.
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