Life as an entrepreneur is filled with rewards. Seeing your dreams come to fruition being the most fulfilling of them all.
However, it is rarely ever easy. Ongoing sacrifices, late nights and mounting responsibilities is often the price business owners pay for their success.
Yet, balance is key and The HHW Mastermind Group know this all too well. Comprised of 13 high achieving entrepreneurs, this group have banded together to share their actionable tips for real life business success, in a new insightful book for business leaders titled, ‘Happy Healthy Wealthy Entrepreneurs’.
Curated by the likes of James Ker-Reid, Andrew Priestley, George Hughes, Shafiq Meghani and Serena Sabala, readers can not only gain insight into the lessons learnt on their journey but will also understand first-hand what to actively avoid through individual, candid accounts of business ownership.
That said, here are five key takeaways from the book to benefit every aspiring entrepreneur:
Don’t Work Too Hard and Forget to Have Lots of Fun
George Hughes is the founder of Small Films, a London-based video production company. After learning his trade working unsociable hours for some of the most reputable television networks in the world, he decided to open his own business. Since then, he has learnt the importance of having fun along the way.
George argues that if you aren’t having fun at work, what is the point? Although he recognises stressful periods and late nights are part of life as a founder, this shouldn’t be all consuming. Every once in a while, you must take that long lunch break, take the team away for the day and log off at 3pm when the sun is shining.
Being an entrepreneur is a wasted opportunity if you aren’t having fun because it is one of the only jobs where you can take charge of your destiny and define what works for you. Running a business isn’t about being chained to a desk, he says. It is about learning, improving, and becoming a better, happier human being.
Recognise the Influence of Relationships on the Founder Journey
As Owen Williams, co-founder and managing director of creative agency sixredsquares notes, building relationships is key to shaping your journey as a business owner. Developing his award-winning company was an experience shared with his five friends and fellow founders; each with their own skillsets and attributes that would create the formula for growth and longevity.
While Owen recognises that many entrepreneurs go it alone, he expresses the importance of shielding yourself from isolation and burn out by leaning on others. In many scenarios business owners tend to take a ‘do-it-yourself’ attitude but having the right team behind you is vital. This could be in the form of employees you trust implicitly, mentors who can offer unbiased advice, and even in networking groups and referral partners who can introduce you to the right clients.
Nurturing good relationships with people who share your values and believe in what you do is paramount, as is understanding the impact of sharing burdens when entrepreneurship feels like a lonely place.
Set Your Business Up for Growth with Automation and Outsourcing
When you take your first step into entrepreneurship the realisation that you are now responsible for everything can be overwhelming, as Adam Lacey, co-founder of Assemble You, a podcast-style learning business, can vouch for. His advice is to automate and outsource all the tasks you can, so you are able to focus on high-value duties.
Take advantage of emerging tech, with affordable monthly plans, and invest in software that can complete small but important jobs. Bill payments, reminders, emails, tasks, publishing, diary management, even customer support can be automated to a degree. The time this can grant you is tremendously valuable.
In addition, outsourcing needn’t come at the cost of hiring employees that you can’t offer consistency in the early stages. Editing, proof-reading, data entry, book-keeping and admin can all be outsourced to ensure things keep moving during ultra-busy periods. All of this is key to working on your business, rather than in it.
Find Time for Health and Wellness Activities
If anyone knows the benefits of prioritising health and wellbeing it is Serena Sabala, certified nutrition consultant, yoga teacher and fitness trainer. She runs WholeShiftWellness, which specialises in bespoke programs for time-pressed professionals.
She notes that the first step to a healthier lifestyle is in re-evaluating your values. We get to set them at any point and a realignment can be life changing. Create an upgraded list of things you want to dedicate time to. You’ll find that the ones you already have listed may have been inherited in line with the expectations of others. This is crucial to putting your wellbeing first.
From here, pick small actionable goals, made of fun activities you are excited to embark on. You run the risk of falling at the first hurdle should you assign yourself intangible challenges. Micro improvements will be easier to stick to and much more sustainable for those with busy lifestyles. Nevertheless, they will result in compounding results over time.
Remember… It’s Not All About You
Ross Summer, founder of Keepers, an in-house recruitment subscription service, knows the value of hiring in the right places. He discusses how a business thrives when the focus isn’t solely on you or your product, but on its people too.
It’s inevitable that as your business grows you will require some new talent to keep the momentum going. It is crucial to think long and hard about what you need from them and how you will attract them in a competitive landscape. The reality is, a plan is essential for onboarding new members of the team; it can be the difference between your business’ success and failure!
Create a detailed interview process and ensure each interviewer has a fresh set of questions for the prospective employer. Understand their motivations. What do they want from you? And why should they choose you over other offers? Once you’ve found the perfect candidate, be ready to act fast and provide a strong offer. Investing in the right people to help you carry your business forward should be a thorough and detailed process for everyone’s sake.
These are just a few takeaways from the ‘Happy Healthy Wealthy Entrepreneurs’ book. There is lots to be learnt from The HHW Mastermind Group, who all have their own stories of success to tell. Find out how they got to where they are today by putting health and happiness first.
