Why does my business take all my time?
You want the business to grow. Do you also have time for the life you wanted it to give you?
A short read for your day
The call comes as you are about to leave. A new client wants to talk. It could lead to work you need.
You take the call, even though you had planned to have dinner with your family.
Some days call for that choice. Bills are real. People count on you. A business needs care, and building it can bring great joy.
But when the same choice fills each day, it is worth a closer look.
Why did you start the business? Was it to do work you enjoy, provide for your family, or have more control of your time?
Is the way you run it helping you do those things?
Before you agree to more work, think about what it will take. Does the client need you tonight, or can the call wait until tomorrow? Can someone else help? What have you already promised your family?
You might say, “I can give you my full attention at ten tomorrow. Would that work?” They may need a different time. Now you have a choice to discuss.
There is no rule that fits every day. There may be a busy stretch you have to get through. It still helps to notice when a short stretch has become the way you live.
The business is part of your life. What else do you want to have time for?
A question for your day
If you take on this work, what will you have less time to do?
The book behind these questions
Sanjog Aul wrote The Tricycle Way after a hard look at his own life. Read a short scene from the book, meet the author, or find an edition that suits you.