Treat your business like your family depends on it

There is an imperative to the phrase "Treat your business like your family depends on it" that is easy to miss.

For most solopreneurs and small business owners, there is an element of truth to it – your family may genuinely depend on it. Your mortgage, your bills, your 'lifestyle'... the things you want to be able to provide for those you love... they literally depend on you showing up and delivering... especially in those early few months or years.

And then we achieve a level of success... a handful of reliable retainer clients perhaps, or a guaranteed no. of billable hours each month (at a decent rate) that ensure the most important financial bases are covered.

You're coping.

You have an established business. It is ticking along. The stress feels manageable, as is the workload.

It's working and you are committed to keeping it working. But does that then give you a taste for playing it a little safe?

I heard a great question from Larry Long Jr this weekend which got me thinking:

Are you interested, committed or obsessed with what you do?

I don't mean obsessed in an unhealthy, 'burnout' way. I mean turning up the dial on what you do so that every tiny action creates a maximum return?

Not working harder (necessarily) but working with greater clarity and bravery so that the precious time you set aside from your family to 'do some work' gives more back to them than it might otherwise have done?

Treat your business like your family depends on it

This isn't just about 'paying the bills', this is about your business giving you back energy, excitement, passion and pleasure.

It is about your business providing you the most ruthlessly magical opportunity to become your best possible self. So that when you shut the laptop, the version of you that steps back into your family's space brings so much more than a balanced bank account.

Are your current actions, plans, strategies... blah blah... are they delivering something more than comfort and dependability? If not, could they be?

• What would that look like?

• How would that impact your family?

• How would it impact you?

If the honest answers to these questions sit outside of 'comfort', and a hesitation or fear creeps into your thoughts... that's okay. That's natural.

But if your family 100% depended on you stepping outside of your comfort zone right now, how quickly would you take that brave step?

What if you did it anyway?