“You are in business for yourself, but not by yourself…” You may find yourself wondering if you can maintain a work-life balance when owning your own business. Being your own boss typically gets a bad rep and becomes a synonym for longer hours and less time with your family and loved ones. But, what if we told you that the right franchise model will empower you to seek out the perfect work-life balance?
Here are a few ways you can strike the perfect balance between work and play.
1. Make sure that your biggest supporters are on board with your new business venture.
This should go without saying, but it’s much easier to own your own business when you have people who are supporting and encouraging you, rather than people who are undermining you and secretly hoping you fail. Whether it’s your business partner, parents, family or friends, ensure that they are on board with you and understand that you are taking on a new chapter in your life; one that may cause some (temporary) adjustments. This will ensure that, even if you do have to postpone that brunch or game night, you have people in your life that understand and want you to succeed in the end.
2. Hire the right people to work with you, not just for you.
When you hire the proper staff, something just clicks. Instead of you being the person that has to stay late to lock up or make sure that everything is clean and orderly, you will have people that you trust to carry out those tasks. The right staff will give you the confidence you need to get out of the menial daily tasks that can be time-consuming, and bring you to the point where you can oversee the daily operations of your business. This can also mean that you can get out of work at a reasonable hour because you trust that your employees can handle the business operations in your absence. Feeling unsure of your hiring skills? Click here to learn how to hire the best team for your business.
3. Understand that timing is everything!
Before taking the plunge to own your own business, you likely wondered if it was the right time to do it. You should be doing the same thing for your work-life balance. Ask yourself every day if you are doing everything in your power to be a great business owner, husband or wife, father or mother, sister or brother, friend, etc. Are you giving yourself enough time to carry out your daily tasks and get home for your child’s bedtime? Could you rearrange your work schedule to make time for the things that bring your heart joy? Reflecting inward on your time management skills, even for five minutes, can allow you to assess the way you are using your time and make any adjustments you feel may benefit you and your work-life balance.
4. Trust your franchisor’s business model to help you when you need it.
Most franchise models are built with the franchisee in mind, meaning they will have resources for you to learn how to perfect time management, hire the right people to assist you, and offer a business model that allows you to succeed or expand your business without having to live at the office. The right franchisor will give you the tools you need to build your success, but will not ask you to sacrifice your personal life in order to make it happen. If you are finding yourself stretched too thin and have exhausted all of your franchisee resources, consider asking yourself if this is the right franchisor for you to be working with. Your business model should allow you to succeed in all aspects of your life, not just in business.
We hope that these tips will help you navigate the challenge that is striking a balance between work life and home life. Whether you have to lean on a talented team, learn how to manage your time more efficiently, or follow your franchisors business model to ensure you’re following the model as it was built, you can find harmony between franchising and family.
And who knows—if you are lucky enough, the community you build within your franchise may just end up becoming a part of your extended family.
BackThis could be a life changing opportunity.
