Is Growing Your Business Worth What You Lose?

Last Friday I rang another business as there had a been a problem with my online order going through.

It was 2:30 and the business owner was the only left in his office. I was the only one left in mine.

We laughed and talked about the irony of how we both began a business to be more independent, and ending up being the only two still working on a Friday, out of both our teams. “Why don’t people write about THAT?” he said. I agreed.

And so I am.

My very business is about helping businesses grow by providing strategy and support and coaching to get them thriving. But I’m only too aware myself, that with growth can come loss as well.

I love my team – but there are things I really miss from being a solopreneur without a team.

This is my list.

1.      I miss silence.

I have only recently realised how noisy my mind is now. Interruptions from children at home, interruptions from my team at work. I used to have huge periods of time where my brain just thought. Now it’s learning to grab pockets of moments instead. Especially on a Friday afternoon!

2.      I miss money.

One of the things the other business owner and I laughed about was that everyone’s higher paid than us! In the end paying my team is of far higher priority than paying myself. As it should be! But the pay is definitely lower for me than when I was solopreneur. It won’t always be that way, but it does hurt in the short term!

3.      I miss my ways

I employed a team of people who are far better at many different things tham me. I also went out of my way to hire opinionated, independent thinking people who can solve stuff by themselves. But it means I’ve lost the ability to just do things my way. Sometimes my way doesn’t work for a team. Or it’s not profitable. Doesn’t matter. I still miss it.

4.      I miss flexibility

I know my team doesn’t need me breathing down their neck. But I also know culture stems from the top. Good work ethics means showing up. Plus there are often team meetings I need to attend just to get new work over the line. While it’s exciting because it means new things, and other people to help me get them there, I do miss the days I used to just pop out to a movie instead…

5.      I miss knowing everything.

I am lucky in the fact my team keeps me informed. But I do sometimes miss that feeling of knowing absolutely everything. While there is absolutely no way I could ever know everything now, I do miss that feeling of having my finger on every post, and details running through my mind.

Is it all worth is?

I’m going to say MOST OF THE TIME

I love the drive of my team, but it does often feel like a marathon to get to the finish line (and someone keeps on moving the finish line! I admit that's all too often me :D) Plus, instead of hitting one wall, I find I hit them on a semi-regular basis – and just need to keep on pushing through.

In reflecting these things I’ve made some changes. I’ve started coming in early to get some peace and quiet. I’ve committed to drawing a salary from April 1, I’ve stood up for a few of “my ways” where it counts, and have made a commitment to not feel guilty when I take off the odd afternoon for a pedicure or a massage.

Rachel Klaver is managing director of Identify,  a full service marketing agency for small to medium businesses. We create our clients' strategy, deliver exceptional content, run campaigns ( managing Facebook, LinkedIn and other social platforms, and PR), as well as providing facilitation and training to help businesses do their own marketing.

Our goal for 2017 is to grow 100 NZ businesses - we'll be tracking, measuring and keeping accountable to that goal - let us know if you want to be one of the 100.

Please join her mailing list - it's private business coaching only shared with subscribersor contact her rachel@identifymarketing.co.nz , or via linkedin if you want more people to know about you and your business. Her team will get your business growing.

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