As a business owner myself, I know the blood, sweat and sleepless nights it takes to build a business from scratch.
Being an entrepreneur takes determination, commitment and a level of focus that requires all of you, all of the time. That is until you have found your groove, started to achieve your dream and live your vision, that’s when balance and realignment becomes an opportunity which is the essence of learning to not work, but create your entrepreneurial vision (even if you work for someone else).
Whatever stops you from tapping into that creative core of motivation: the stress of trying to fit one more thing in your day, guilt that your taking any time that you may be able to spare from the business and spending it on something as indulgent as a work-out, a decent meal or a nights sleep, recognize it. It might not be what you want to hear, but building a successful business at the price of your physical, mental and emotional well-being is not any real accomplishment.
Creativity, focus, optimism—these are daily requirements for a creative leader and if you are feeling a bit low on any or all of them, these tips will help you keep your creativity a priority and the rest in perspective. Incorporate this type of thinking into your life and you will be surprised how less overwhelmed you feel with the same amount of impressive work. Incorporate them all — go ahead and activate your creativity and start ENJOYING your full potential. After awhile, it won’t even feel like work.
1) Workout everyday for 30 minutes
Whether you choose to break a sweat every morning at 6am or after you crawl through the door at 9pm after just closing the juiciest deal of the quarter, working out for a half an hour every day is non-negotiable. For you creative leaders who want the optimal level of achievement and well being, this first step is a must; nothing increases all 3 of the top essentials: creativity, focus and enthusiasm (READ confidence with a smile) like pushing yourself only to discover more of your strength rising to meet you. Exercise is not a priority, it is a prelude to success.
2) Drama not karma
Most successful entrepreneurs are fans of efficiency, but this little turn of phrase helps leaders refocus whenever a situation presents itself that could derail their focus for awhile. Like a stop sign that helps clarify goals and intentions, opting for the high-road in situations aligns words and actions and directs leaders clearly toward achieving their goals them.
3) Nourish your self-esteem
If you feel like crap about yourself, you tend to feed yourself crap. If you love and believe in yourself you listen to what your body wants to eat to be healthy and strong.
Eating well is obviously one piece – creative leadership is about being at choice in your life. What you eat indicates where you are in terms of your attention and how you feel about yourself. If you don’t care enough about yourself to tend to and create a healthy diet for yourself it will be difficult for you to achieve health in any other aspects of your life fully.
A bowl of beans and brown rice or tossing a colorful salad of beets, goat cheese and pistachios takes all of 10 minutes or less to make… which is a lot less time than it takes for Thai-food not to mention a fraction of the sodium. Even if you are on the road you have options that express the quality of relationship you are in with yourself — or not.
Eating healthy is not difficult unless caring for yourself is difficult. Changing how you care about yourself is a process that with your awareness changes one step at a time, until suddenly those small steps add up to a lifestyle of healthy creative leadership.
4) It pays to play
Never underestimate the power of play. Whether it is the game of touch football in the park on Saturday, hanging out with your friends, or learning how to play the guitar, play in its infinite richness is instrumental in cultivating your creativity. Many entrepreneurs dismiss play as a waste of time or indulgence: taking them away from the business or other responsibilities. Putting off fun, free-time and play are sure fire ways to limit your creative range and potential. Choose to enjoy your life now by making space and time for rejuvenation and creativity. Sure sign of real success? Lots and lots of fun.
5) Dream
Have you ever noticed that after a restful night the answer to a problem you have been tossing around for weeks *suddenly* comes to you? Sleep is a rich and unlimited source of information, don’t miss it!
Sleep=dreams and dreams=your creative network. Best way to up your game literally overnight? Get a fantastic dose of 8 hours. And honor this at least 5 nights of the week. If it makes it any easier for you, your brain is still working even when you are not. And with you in some sense out of your own way — these connections can lead to some crucial insights that might not be apparent to you when you are awake. Pay attention to your sleep and your dreams, they ARE telling you something but you have to care enough to put yourself to bed in the first place to discover what they are trying to tell you.
Building a career that you love is one of the most fulfilling and exciting challenges we all face, but not at the sacrifice of our quality of life. These 5 To Live By tips are healthy ways to enjoy the fruits of your labour (even if you are still planting the first seeds).
Have a favorite To Live By tip you would like to share with the CLCommunity? We would love to hear from you!