Ask An Expert; Business Series

Welcome to our Business Series with Misty Lambrecht, the owner of Webfoot Marketing and Design, bringing you valuable insights based on my extensive 15 years of experience in business startups and advising in Lincoln County. A common realization that many business owners, particularly those in the early stages, quickly discover is the

overwhelming nature of their entrepreneurial journey.

They often find themselves immersed in a constant cycle of work, sacrificing precious family time, neglecting personal life, and grappling with heightened stress levels.

If you find yourself constantly busy and sacrificing important aspects of your life, it's

crucial to set boundaries. Over the years, I've had conversations with several business

owners who shared some excellent ideas on establishing boundaries for family and

personal time. Allow me to share a couple of my favorites:

Dinner Time Boundary: One construction worker with a crew had small kids and

wanted to spend quality time with his family. He set a boundary between 6 PM

and 8 PM every night during the week, as well as at least one day over the

weekend. During this time, he would't answer his business phone, and the

running joke was that if it was an emergency, they should call the fire department and reach out to him after 8 PM. This boundary created valuable time with hisfamily that he began to look forward to. He realized that the two hours he

dedicated each day to turning off his business phone, avoiding work-related

activities, and not discussing business matters was not only healthy for him but

also for his family.

No Business Talk in the Bedroom: Another favorite example involved a married

couple who worked together. The wife mentioned that they were constantly

discussing business, even during dinner and drives in the car. They realized they

had lost their identity as a couple and decided to start setting boundaries. One of

the initial boundaries they established was to avoid any business-related

conversations in the bedroom. On one occasion, when the husband began

discussing business, the wife got out of bed, walked out into the hallway, and

said, "If you want to talk about that, I'll be out here, away from the bedroom" By

finding specific boundaries that exclude certain areas or times for business

discussions, they were able to regain their personal connection and enjoy their

relationship outside of work. Consider implementing similar boundaries in your own business. For instance:

Designate specific times when you won't answer business calls or emails,

allowing you to focus on personal or family time.

Take at least one day off each week to spend with your spouse, even if it's just a

walk on the beach or a relaxed dinner at home.

Set aside quiet time every day, perhaps by not immediately engaging with work-

related tasks in the first two hours of your day. Use this time for personal

reflection, relaxation, or engaging in activities that bring you joy and relieve

stress.

By creating boundaries that prioritize personal time and well-being, you'll become abetter business owner, partner, and family member. It can also contribute to reducing stress levels and potentially even lead to a longer and healthier life. Remember, your business will survive if that important call comes in or if urgent matters arise – they can leave a message.