Q: How do I keep cash flow and employee worries from clouding my personal life and even affecting my sleep?
A: The best way to clear your mind of any worry is to write it down. Prioritize the issues that need your attention and determine what you are going to do, by when. Our minds are phenomenal tools, but when we rely on them to store everything, including all our worries and how we are going to address them, how can we expect to have any mental freedom to enjoy our personal lives and sleep well at night?
You also need to consider that it can be difficult to identify what your priorities are if you have no personal life at all. So with this in mind, you also need to put into place tools that will energize your personal life and ultimately help in easing your business worries.
- Create a personal plan that takes care of you. Do things that you love doing. Have fun. Laugh away your worries — even for a little while. Make you a priority.
- Create a written plan for your business. Plan for your cash flow needs, commit to the plan, and follow it. Without a plan that clearly shows you where you are going and how you are going to get there, worries and circumstances are more likely to get in the way of your personal life.
With your mind clear and plans in place, the clouds that dim your personal life will fade, and you'll be sleeping much easier in no time. And if you want to keep this gift, teach others how to do the same.
—Clay Nelson is a business coach to contractors nationwide, www.claynelsonlifebalance.com. E-mail Work+Life questions to worklife@hanleywood.com.