Own a business now, see you in a few years!

Well it's summer time.  That means family gatherings, holidays, picnics and
other obligations.  Which gives me more opportunities to say "No", "Sorry, I
can't", "Wish I could but I'm busy" and my personal favorite, "I"ll try". 
I have a small business that doesn't run if I'm not there.  It's still
crawling along, not quite walking but can get around if I hold it's hand.  I
would like to compare it, for a few minutes, to having a child.  I do not have
children and constantly made to feel less of a human being for that fact but
that is for my therapist to hear, not you..  Anyway, I often compare my business
to giving birth, raising and loving a child.  I created the concept of it (conception), put my dream onto paper (carried it for far more than 9 months), gave birth to it (walked away from my full time job and opened my doors) and now
I'm raising it.  Now I have witnessed family and friends having babies for
years.  Everyone is excited over the pregnancy, showers are thrown, tears are
shed and the little rascal finally arrives.  Then mom and dad lose sleep, look
rather worn out for a bit and complain often how hard it is.  And..the excuses
begin.  "Can't make the party,  baby is sick"  "Can't come to your dinner party,
little Mary has a recital", "The holidays have to be at our house because little
Johnny loves our tree" and on and on and on and that's OK.  Everyone in the
world gets how your life changes because you have recreated a more wonderful,
more special version of you.

So how does all this fit into business.  Well I gave birth to this dream of mine that has completely consumed my life, I no longer sleep a full 8 hours, sometimes grab an hour or two, I worry all the time, I love it with all my heart, I consider it an extension of me.  Therefore, I also have to miss parties, family gatherings, holidays and friends parties but it isn't OK.  It's not the same understanding smile and nod when I say "Sorry can't make your grand event but I will be at my client's grand opening"  Or " Well my clients website needs updating and this is the only day I can do it."  Nope!  Everyone gets mad.  To the point, I'm thinking of changing my businesses name to "Dorothy" and tell everyone she has a severe case of the hiccups so I have to stay home.

I Need to be here, I Need to grow this business but more importantly I WANT to grow this business.  Like little Johnny is an extension of you, Start From Scratch is an extension of me.  Your child can't be left home alone with a fever, my business can't be left alone when my clients are counting on their social media updates and have paid me to do it.

So no, I can't make my own hours so I should be able to make your party,
I do make my own hours which is often 10 hour days. I do have to be here often
on weekends, which is OK but not if I want to make your outside barbecue and I
would love to spend more time with my family but my business needs me
too.

So as Father's Day is upon us, I will not be spending it with either
of my Father's but with both of them being Entrepreneurs and firefighters who
worked through holidays, I expect they will understand my dilemma.  And for the
rest of you that own a business, give yourself a break and say "no" with pride
and continue building your baby, those who love you will try to understand.  Or
just tell them your baby has the hiccups :)

Until next
time...


Start From Scratch
www.sfroms.com
backtobasicmarketing.blogspot.com
860.383.4095