For the last year or more, most custom home builders have been in the fight of their lives to keep their businesses and livelihoods afloat. You’d have to be living under a rock to have not felt the economic pangs and ensuing business-related difficulties of the global financial meltdown. Amid all this, what sort of beating has your personal life taken?
There are a lot of home builders running themselves into the ground both physically and mentally in the name of business. It may seem a noble cause to some, but it’s not one for which you have to give up a balanced life. Whether you’re struggling to keep things going or struggling to keep up with new growth, the problems are the same. We give up on taking care of ourselves in the name of survival or success. But have you considered how taking care of yourself first could actually give you the energy you need to carry your business through its challenges?
As the leader of your company, you need to have patience, vision, and creativity. You must be a motivator, cheerleader, planner, master communicator, teacher, and builder of outrageous teams. To lead them on to what’s next, you have to be energized and focused. Instead of worrying about what will happen to your business if you take time for yourself, think about what will happen if you don’t! If you’re worn out day in and day out, and you don’t make the time to take care of yourself, how can you possibly be at your best? Here are some simple steps for keeping yourself charged:
Fully commit to taking care of yourself. Recognize that your company’s success depends on your energy, passion, and vision, and then commit to being a well-balanced, happy leader.
Take care of your physical well-being. Exercise is one of life’s great stress relievers; when you combine it with well-balanced, low-fat, low-carb meals, you have the key components for living a long and balanced life. Envision your body as a capsule responsible for all of the energy, focus, and determination you need to meet your challenges head on, to get what you say you want, and to have fun doing it. Now, imagine that same capsule all dented up and slowly running out of fuel. How far do you think that worn-down, stressed-out capsule will take you? To lead your company out of its struggles and into a period of recovery and growth, you have to have a body that will allow you to be all you need to be.
Make time for fun. Create a list of all the things you love to do—and establish dates by which you are going to do them. Plan time for fishing, if that’s your thing. Don’t forget date nights with your spouse, family outings, and, sometimes, simply doing nothing.
Give your plan to a friend or family member. And then ask that person to hold you accountable for doing what it says!
Take care of your mental well-being. Forgive yourself for not being perfect. Give yourself permission to enjoy life, and remember to stop beating yourself up; the world will do that for you for free!
Economic recovery is already under way. To put your company in a position to grow with the market, you have to have enough energy to go the distance. Making yourself a priority is key to creating the energy and clarity of mind you need to move forward successfully. There’s no time like the present.
Former contractor Clay S. Nelson is a radio talk show host, speaker, and business coach to home builders nationwide. He can be reached at clay@claynelsonlifebalance.com.
