Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I think we all have one- that is, a lesson in running our businesses that we have learned the hard way.  My biggest lesson to date (I am sure there will be more) is that you can only work 12 hours a day 7 days a week for so long.  While you feel productive at first simply because you are working so much, it really can be counter productive.

What I found to be the best alternative was to set my work schedule in advance and then step away from the computer (hard as that may be) once that time is up.  I really do seem to get more done, and I even manage to squeeze in some time for fun, too.

Does anyone else have a valuable lesson they would like to share?

 

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Rosanna Tussey
Owner
New Mexico Candle Co.
http://www.nmcandleco.com

First of all, what we found was that if we work 12 hours, then fly to Hong Kong and work on the plane, then fly back to the US, we actually can work 36 hours in a day. :-D

Nah...just kidding. But here`s some information about the power and benefits of sleep, where naps enhance learning skills and prevent burnout.

Too many people believe that working, working, working, never stopping, and always handling crises is the way to go. They believe that it`s the American Work Ethic, staying ahead of the pack, keeping one`s competitive edge.

Ridiculous. :-)

Then there was the old story about the tortoise and the hare....remember that one?

The hard lesson for me was:

What a great thread. The most important lesson I`ve learned wasn`t learned the hard way — thankfully — but instead was learned through working with a client. I work with several nonprofits and this particular organization always shows their gratitude (not just to me, but to anybody they come in contact with). On the flip side, I`ve done pro bono work for nonprofits that can barely muster a "thank you."

Gratitude shouldn`t be painful. And it can take you so far.

Lisa


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That`s another hard lesson, everyone seems to run into, but not so many people actually learn:

:-)

Make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing, before anything happens.

I dealt with a company that was supposed to do from A to Z, we had verbally agreed to that, but the agreement we signed covered from A to X. Since I failed to notice that Y and Z were not covered by the contract I paid them the agreed amount. When the they got to X the agreement was done, and I was unable to finish that project because Y and Z were not covered.

 

I agree with ElidS.  We lost $100,000 because our attorney failed to put that a contract for the sale of our business was NOT transferrable.  The original owner bailed on us for a better opportunity and sold the business to his employee and assigned the contract to him.  The new owner had no interest in paying us and threatened to file bankruptcy and include the contract if we didn`t settle with him for $25k.  He was a TERRIBLE credit risk that we would NEVER have sold our business to in the first place. 

So, two lessons were learned - get everything in writing AND never do private financing.  If they can`t get the money from the bank, then find someone who can.

~Kim

Regarding the working and never stopping...

For me, the only structure I have is that I create. Without structure, I tend to ping-pong between work too much or not working-focusing enough. A few years ago, I created a "vacation log." I use it to track my self-given vacation/sick time for the year. Right now, I give myself 3 weeks plus 1 "holiday" a month. This seems to be equivalent to what I had when I left corporate America years ago. 

The vacation account ensures I work about the same amount each year, and if I work hard-hard-hard I take some time off later.

The other thing that helps is that I have a standard length to my day. On days I`m dragging, I`ve got to work that length. On days I`m flowing with the work, I`ve got to work that length. If I`m short on a day, I make it up later in the week, etc.

Anyway, this little structure "game" has really worked for me, adding in some self-discipline to make sure I do a good "job" at home.

--Chris

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Chris Arnold, Time Management and Productivity Coach & Consultant
Success Under Pressure -- Surviving and Thriving in a Busy World

Structure`s good. I support it. :-D Right now I organize everything for a realtor, and believe me, when there`s no structure....ya kinda notice. 

This is an interesting thread. Waiting to see more experience here :).

One lesson I`ve learned: don`t pay for any service entirely up front, even if the service provider was recommended by somebody you trust. It took me two undesirable experiences before I learned this lesson.

Even if the vendor is a trustworthy person, they`re going to be more prompt, more professional, and just work harder in general when there is still money to be made.

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