Welcome to the first Champion Success Tip from the Small Business Champions Club. 

I’m delighted to bring you more information, ideas and inspiration for your business and life.  This week it’s all about Work Life Balance.

I recently went to the Defence Force Air Show at the RAAF Base Amberley, in Brisbane, Queensland.  For anyone who is interested in all things aeronautical, this is THE calendar event and only comes around every 3-4 years.

My partner, kids and father-in-law (ex RAAF) were very excited about the day, and I was looking forward to a great family outing.  Until we hit the traffic!  What should have been less than a 1 hour drive took 2.5 hours, at snail’s pace. 

By the time we arrived, I was ready to go home.  The kids were agitated, it was stinking hot, and there was no shade and 40,000 people.  What a waste of time!

Then I checked myself.  The planes on show were awesome, the air show was fantastic and I was actually witnessing a small piece of history, with some planes appearing for the last time (F111).   Plus, I wasn’t working.  The day was all about my family and the planes of course!

Finding a work life balance can be a perennial problem for small business owners.  Even taking one day off (and attending an airshow) can sometimes be difficult.  This week’s Champion Success Tip comes from Kristina Noble and Simone Babic and gives some great perspective and tips on how to balance this issue.  So keep reading below.

Samantha

P.S.  If you would like to share your Work Life Balance experiences, please email me at samantha@smallbusinesschampionsclub.com

Today's success tip comes from Kristina Noble and Simone Babic.

Kristina and Simone are two sisters from Melbourne who started Citrus, a web design and online marketing agency, which services the needs of some of Australia's biggest companies.

How do you balance running a business and having a life?

This is probably the single most important thing we have learnt over the years. Being self-confessed workaholics with unlimited passion, enthusiasm, loads of energy and very high standards was our personal cocktail of disaster. We wouldn't undertake anything unless we knew we could throw ourselves into it 100 per cent and give it our best shot. Plus, we had a touch of the 'I work the hardest out of everyone I know' syndrome.

All of this meant that we would sacrifice our personal needs for the sake of getting the job done. This isn't sustainable if you want to live a balanced life, and these are some of our tips for journeying out of this attitude.

Reap the Rewards Along the Way - One of the most important things in business is to put yourself first and reap the rewards as you go. This makes it all worthwhile and motivates you through the tough times. For example, if you choose to be in business because it represents a certain level of freedom for you then it's important to exercise that freedom. You might take a long lunch, book in a massage or take a long weekend.

Or, if you choose to be in business to make money then reward yourself with a payrise, bonus or dividend as soon as the business can afford it. Whatever your reasons for being in business, whether material or otherwise, make sure you get the rewards along the way.

I see so many people in business who don't take annual leave for years, or pay themselves next to nothing and run themselves into the ground. Yes, there are periods when we must do these things, but if it's ongoing then you risk burning yourself out.

The other issue is that often these behaviours and attitudes create the culture of your organisation, which opens up a big can of worms in the long term.

Draw the Line Between Work and Play - Another important factor is living a balanced life. It's really important to have a life outside of your work and to understand that you are not your business, the business is an entity unto itself. Making sure that you spend time with family, friends or doing whatever you like doing is very important.

I remember making a conscious decision to not work on Saturdays (after having worked every Saturday for years). It was a tough decision to make because I was losing the benefit of a full day in the office without interruptions.

And for some reason I also felt guilty about it, but I made the break and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. I now spend time with family and friends on Saturdays which is personally far more rewarding.  

Mind, Body, Spirit - Another part of work/life balance is nourishing your mind, body and spirit. Whether it's in the form of training, yoga, meditation, taking vitamins, camping, reading, going to a dance party, doing self-development courses, playing with your kids, undertaking physical challenges 'Richard Branson-style' - whatever your thing is, make sure you make the time to do it. It nourishes your soul, unclutters your mind and makes you more productive when you are working.

It's a case of understanding that there is always going to be something left on your 'to do' list and that you'll never get everything done. You need to accept it, and trust. Know that rewarding yourself and having a good work/life balance means that both you and the business will be in better shape as a result.


This website contains even more great tips from Kristina Noble and Simone Babic.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE NOW.

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While we're looking at Work Life Balance, there are more great resources for members on this topic.  Here's a few to get you going.

How To Get A Life by Jennifer Jefferies

Jennifer Jefferies is a Life Balancing expert who has taught some of the world's leading corporations on how to help their staff to 'get a life'. With her 7 Steps To Sanity, Jennifer has a prescription for modern living. In this no-nonsense and no-guilt-trip e-book, Jennifer will help you incorporate these powerful strategies into your everyday life.

Balance Boundaries by Kim McGuiness

In this printed interview you will discover:

• Master the art of team building by encouraging motivation from all areas of a business.
• Find out how to build brand credibility and gain respect from the marketplace.
• Know how to create balance between marriage, children and career by being 100% present.
• Discover the power of encouragement and a good word.
• Appreciate the value of a consistent brand - it must underlie everything your business does.
• Learn how boundaries can maximise your productivity, creativity and life.

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