burnout in a small business

[Nick Griffin]

Short & Sweet:
IMHO, the primary cause of burn-out, whether it be small, mid-sized or even big business, is un-realized expectations and un-met goals. And the rah-rah business cheerleader in me says that the most likely cause of not meeting goals is not setting them in the first place.

[Grinner Hester]

I could not have said it better. We all get bored. That inspires some to create new opportunity. I’ve seen it feed depression for others. They begin to do nothing than will mention how bored they are. Sit stagnant and this will happen in any industry in a company of any size. There is no room for bordom in challenge. Failure doesn’t hurt. Not succeeding does.

[Steve Kownacki]

Uri: why do you think an owner of business can get into an overload or burnout situation?

Been there numerous times. Because the hardest thing in business it to “lead” and have others instinctively have/share our drive, passion & determination. We strive to succeed; we are our own worst critics. We want to exceed client expectations. Sometimes the client is ourselves. Setting a goal of 5% increase in net profit – we are hard on ourselves. This is stressful, others go home at the end of the day. I hate the phrase “put in 8 and hit the gate.” When those around us “are not part of the solution” brains go into overdrive. Why am I writing this on a Sunday morning at 11:45? I agree with the lack of goal-setting. One also has to realize the need for coaching. Business is tough.

Now I’m re-thinking your question and are you talking about an owner OR owner-operator? What functions does the owner you ask about do in the business? Are you targeting any specific size organization? The last guy I worked for 19 years knew absolutely nothing about video, but was an amazing salesman. I don’t think he ran a good business necessarily. The e-myth is a must-read and one must understand the importance of working “on” the business not just “in” the business.

Steve

[Bob Zelin]

Hi Uri –
this is my typical psychotic answer.

Burnout is for the weak. “oh, I can’t take it anymore”. I have been thru it all – zero business, lack of knowlege, death in the family while you are in the middle of a big job, marital problems that distract from your business, cash flow, and not getting paid all together, getting screwed financially, etc, etc, etc.

GET OVER IT, get your ass into gear, be a man (even if you are a woman), get back to work, hit the streets, pound the pavement, succeed, even if you die in the process, succeed, even if you have to take drugs, or take alcohol. Learn that new equipment, even if you hate reading new manuals. Collect that money even if you are too shy to be aggressive. Win at all costs, no matter who dies in the process (including you).

It’s all attitude. I am currently doing a job for a client that I am completely not qualified to do. I have been in this situation many times. No matter what, I will do it, I will succeed, I will ask all the stupid “newbie” questions, and get insulted along the way, and make mistakes, but I will succeed, I will do the job correctly (ultimately), and I will look like I know what I am doing, even thought I don’t. There is no excuse for losers (“oh, I can’t learn that stuff anymore”). Am I stressed – YOU BET I am stressed – all the readers of Creative Cow (and other forums) know I am stressed, and abusive, but I WILL SUCCEED, even if I die in the process ( and everyone else around me dies in the process). All that matters is that you win – you succeed, you accomplish your job, you accomplish your mission, you get paid, you accomplish your goal.

Of course, many people don’t feel this way. This is why there are opportunities for some, and “bad luck” for others. My personal hero’s are those that “died in battle”, and Charles McConathy (ProMax) and Bob Turner (prolific writer in our industry) continued on, in spite of their terminal cancer. These are my role models, these are men, that keep going in the face of death, that strived for excellence, that DID NOT KNOW THE MEANING of “burnout”.

Bob Zelin

[Mike Cohen]

Things to watch out for in any business:

Not delegating enough. It’s your business, you do it better than anyone. But you need to grow the business, and teach others in your shop to do as good a job as you do, of good enough to get the job done to the client’s satisfaction.

Becoming stagnant. I’m not talking about seeing a drop off in new work. I mean you need to keep expanding your business. What new services can you offer your clients?

Thinking you know everything. You may know everything about your business, or at least about the way you do business. But sometimes you need to hire someone who knows more than you, or at least ask questions of someone in the know to make sure you are on the right track. Sometimes as a business owner, you can’t see the forest for the trees – you need an outsider’s perspective.

Resting on your laurels – google it.

As Mr Zelin said – you need to get out there and get business. Selling is an everyday activity. You need a lot of prospects. Do some market research and get on with it. Being busy should keep you motivated, unless the business you are bringing in is $250 local car dealership spots! Bring in the business you want. In the interim, learn new skills or techniques. Develop a process for getting stuff done, so when you get a lot of new stuff that needs to get done you will be ready.

Happy New Year.

Mike Cohen

[Nick Griffin]

[Bob Zelin] “I WILL SUCCEED, even if I die in the process ( and everyone else around me dies in the process).”

Bob-
Here’s a tip: the coffee pot with the green handle is usually decaf. You should try it sometime.

[Todd Terry]

[Nick Griffin] “Bob-
Here’s a tip: the coffee pot with the green handle is usually decaf.”

Congrats to Nick… the first person to genuinely make me laugh out loud in 2010.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Ron Lindeboom]

[Nick Griffin] “Bob- Here’s a tip: the coffee pot with the green handle is usually decaf. You should try it sometime.”

Here in California, the black handle is regular coffee and decaf is the orange handle. But that said, I’d hate to see Bob reach for the orange (or green) handle as we’d likely miss all these wonderful Zelinesque quips, quotes and posturings.

Ron Lindeboom

[Ron Lindeboom]

It never ceases to amaze me the number of “artists” that think that talent and craft will win out in the end. It ALMOST never does. Oh there are exceptions to every rule — but maybe there is an exception to that, too! — and I wouldn’t want to bank my future or the future of my family on the Rule of Exception.

There is a reason that people talk about “starving artists.”

;o)

Too many artists are “above” selling themselves, to them, that would be tantamount to “selling out” — and so by not selling themselves, they sell themselves right out of the market.

Ron Lindeboom

[Bill Davis]

A few months ago, after a long period of inner struggles, my son came out and announced formally what his mom and I had suspected for a long time – he’s gay.

What a relief for him and everyone else around him. Including both his mom and I who had been telling him for literally years that we didn’t care one whit either way.

I’m reminded that no amount of thinking, rationalizing, hoping, training or planning can change certain innate human realities and that until they are accepted, the path of life is very, very rough.

I honestly believe that being an entrepreneur -or not – has a LOT in common with that.

You are or you aren’t. You either wake up one day and realize that you’ll NEVER be happy unless you’re given the opportunity to sink or swim on your own effort and wit.

Like gay or straight, right handed or left handed, tall or short, if you’re wired to be an entrepreneur you’re an entrepreneur. And you’ll never be truly happy being anything else.

That’s how it was for me anyway.

So the answer is simple, really. If you pretend you ARE and you’re unhappy – you’re not. And if you pretend you’re NOT – and you’re unhappy – you ARE.

And if you’re unhappy either way – you’re simply not grown-up enough to make a grown-up decision.

So let up on yourself and give yourself more time. In the end you’ll figure it out.

“Burnout” is transitory if you’re actually doing what you’re meant to be doing. And after the pressure diminishes you’ll be right back. If not, than that will be self-evident as well.

FWIW.