I have recently concluded that there are two types of small business owner who are seeking business growth:
Type 1: Those who want to make lots of money, so enjoy working really hard so they can make it
Type 2: Those who want to make lots of money so that they don’t have to work really hard and can enjoy time freedom.
Which one are you?
I am definitely type 2. I have no desire to work really hard for the rest of my life to make money. I am working really hard right now, to ensure the right systems are in place, to generate passive income. I want to make money whilst doing nothing.
I am not lazy. Far from it. I am an incredibly hard worker. But, I enjoy choosing when I want to work, rather than being forced to do it. I also enjoy rest, family time, travelling and relaxation. In fact, it is more than enjoyment, I need them, to feel happy. Working hard all the time doesn’t afford for those things regularly. It also doesn’t make me happy.
I will always work because I love what I do. I am not one of those people trying to retire by 40/50. I don’t think I will ever truly retire. However, I want to be able to work by choice not by force.
I spoke to someone recently who was definitely a Type 1. He works incredibly hard, ALL THE TIME! He works 7 days a week constantly and he enjoys it. He is married and has two small children who he doesn’t get to spend that much time with, as he is always working.
I asked him when he planned on taking his foot off the accelerator. He said NEVER. He said he enjoys working at that level. When I asked him about the time he was missing with his kids, he told me that they would benefit from the money and his grandchildren would benefit from his time. He told me that he doesn’t believe in balance and if you want to be successful, you have to commit your life to it.
I was shocked. I was more than shocked, I was offended. I can’t understand that mindset. But that is because my value system is very different. I place value in time, freedom and relationships. Not money. Money for me is simply a conduit for the things that I want to do. I see no value in money if I don’t have strong relationships with my family and friends who I can spend the money on.
I have built my business in a way that facilitates my desire for freedom. Yet this person I was speaking to, has built his in the total opposite way. He has built his business to be reliant on him, because he values hustling and money above all.
So, what do you value the most?
Are you building your business in a way that is in alignment with your value system? If you are a type 2, but have built a type 1 business, it is likely that your business feels burdensome to you. You are probably feeling overwhelmed, burnt out and stressed the majority of the time. Many seem to think that business growth automatically means business stress. It doesn’t have to be this way.
You have to be more intentional in building your business and business growth. Take some time this month to review if you are building your business to be in alignment with your values and your long term personal desires.
Long term I want to be able to travel every 6 to 8 weeks. I want to spend summer and Christmas breaks out of the UK, every single year. Building a business that requires me to be constantly available isn’t going to facilitate that. I want to achieve business growth, but only on my terms.
I want to be able to drop/collect my daughter from school, attend her plays, sports days and performances. I want to be able to have family Sunday dinners, help my daughter with her homework and be present in her childhood. A business that saps my time, wouldn’t allow for that. I therefore have ensured that my business model does allow for these desires.
The question is, have you?