Setting Boundaries as an Entrepreneur

When you own a business, you try to take every possible step that contributes to its success. You would dedicate 24*7 of your time to strategizing for the next best thing in your business, try to be available to sort out all possible business needs, implement different ways for lead generation, and many more. But isn’t it essential to think set boundaries at some point?

Think of setting boundaries like stepping into an invisible bubble. Nothing would enter your bubble until you say so. When you protect your bubble, then you save your energy. Establishing boundaries gives you a healthy work-life balance, stays motivated, and helps you set priorities.

Why do you need to Set Boundaries?

Boundaries in business are life-changing, game-changing, and life-giving. The reasons why setting boundaries are essential are as follows:

·       Lack of Boundaries is Equal to Lack of Respect

When you set boundaries, it gives you the ability to communicate expectations with your clients and customers. You set rules for your friends and family, so they respect you and your business. Hence, it effectively gives you the ability to communicate your business needs.

·       Form of Self-Care

When you set boundaries, you clearly define your life's negotiable and non-negotiable elements. This way, you agree to do the right things more instead of saying yes to everything.

·       Create Boundaries to Get your Life Back 

Setting boundaries help you in achieving your version of work-life balance. This means there is less risk of you experiencing major burnout. It doesn’t matter if you have newly started your business or have been doing it for a long time; setting boundaries gives you your life back.

Ways to Set Boundaries as an Entrepreneur

When you think about setting boundaries for your business, it must suit your personal and professional life. Poor boundaries could lead to stress, burnout, and lower motivation. Here are things that you could do to create healthy boundaries as an entrepreneur.

·       Set Priorities

As an entrepreneur, you could prioritize what matters most to you. It could be family time, giving back to your community, financial security, or a combination of all three. You should spend some time figuring out what is important to you. Like how you could set boundaries to live a life that aligns with your priorities? Once you figure out your preferences, it becomes the backbone of your business and the time you have to devote to it.

·       Focus on One Task at a Time

Work smarter and not harder. Being a new entrepreneur, you are working all the hats. Everything is controlled by you, from marketing and financing to sales and admin. Set your boundaries around the time you would like to spend on each task.

Here multitasking seems to be a great way to complete the work, but it may lead to stress. With multitasking, you may not be giving more focus to essential things. Thus, try focusing on one thing at a time. Avoid distractions like your phone, so you are not tempted to scroll.

·       Take Control of your Calendar

You might have heard the phrase “time is money.” It might work for some that working harder gives you more money, but this is not always the case. As an entrepreneur, you need to use your time wisely. To achieve success, align your priorities with your time. This way, you can easily plan your calendar around business and personal time.

You could always include rest time in your calendar to find time for something that you enjoy. It could be anything from spending time with your family, reading a book, or taking a bath to going for a walk. Do what you love to do in your free time, and the rest will work out.

·       Learn to Say No

Do you often say yes to client work and feel anxious and stressed when you cannot meet the deadline? Sometimes when you feel like saying no but yes to people, you are not being true to yourself.

Start making decisions on how you want to spend your time. That doesn’t mean you would be rejected or disliked when you say no; it means you have your priorities in order. Get comfortable with the idea of saying no.

·       Manage Expectations

Work out what your ideal working week should feel like, and find what makes you comfortable. If you specialize in offering a particular service, establish what your client should and should not expect. For instance, if you work between 10 AM to 5 PM, then make this clear to your clients.

Try communicating with your customers during this time. Once you have established your boundaries, share them with your clients through writing or on your website or contract.

Setting boundaries as an entrepreneur is essential. By doing so, you manage your time and energy by increasing your productivity. It is a crucial part of your inner work to grow a sustainable business. Thus, business boundaries are guidelines you put in place to offer your best work and still feel energized.