Has your Business Enslaved you?

Imagine dying at your desk. On the job. Pretty awful, right? Well it happens. When work becomes the only thing you live for, it kills you. Did you know that sitting for too long can hurt you? Working for too long, not taking vacations, it's all there and it can all cause damage. I touched on it before in this blog, but I want to cover something different.

Stress from your job can trap you by itself. But there are other aspects of work that we can fall into and not even recognize that we are doing ourselves harm. This article discusses the aspects of self-enslavement, especially at work. We trap ourselves within our own lives- too many activities, too many jobs, not enough vacations. Many people that I know have enslaved themselves.

We constantly tell ourselves that we must work more. More activity to cram into a day, more work to get ahead, more strain, stress, and worry. People all around the world (including America) are literally working themselves to death, and it is socially acceptable.

And that's the tragedy.

Work should support your life, not become it. No living being was meant to work for as long or hard as humans do, or force others to do. You work to (hopefully) be fulfilled, and to support yourself and/or your family. Work has a duty to support you, not trap you inside a cage.

Working hard is fine. Don't get me wrong. But I've said it before, and I'll say it again- there are so many more things to life than just work. And there are so many more things to life than not working! The key is simply balance, and that my friend, is not what humanity has. The scales are tipping toward toil and death, and it's time to lighten things up, no matter how grim any given situation is.

Lighten up!

Change in Business- Change your Business

Change is good. Overall, anyway. I've noticed that a simple shift of tactics, or a different piece of equipment, or even a new employee, can breathe new life into a business that is stagnating. Here's the thing though- your business is always stagnating if you aren't helping it evolve.

There is no one way to do anything. As life continues and so does business, shades of grey are being added to the spectrum or reality every day. Forgive the metaphorical side note, but it's true! Many businesses that I have worked at before coming to Budget were perpetually stuck. Just stuck in their own ways and habits so deeply, that they were in complete denial when the proof of such errors slapped them in the face.

Business, like anything, can get really boring if nothing is going on. And I don't mean cash transactions, or store activity. What you sell, whether it's a product or a service, is merely a tiny fraction of your total business. The people you employ, the business practices you enforce, the brand of coffee you serve in the break room. It's all part of one entity- it's the most life an intangible concept like "a business" can achieve.

Change what's not broken. Fix what is. Constantly evolve.

Change can be scary, I know. Many people out there are resistant or downright hostile towards the concept of change, but it is merely a base fear triggered by the encounter of something new. Humans fear the unknown, but they are eager to accept changes that make their life better. In that same vein, your employees and yourself are good metrics for new things that you are trying out in business. See how the employees respond. See how you respond. Change is good, but it isn't always the best option.

Don't be afraid to look at your current systems, employees, and equipment with an eye on the future. Is what you are doing working? Don't blame the economy. It could very well be you. And this brings me to my main point. If I can't sell you on change now, I won't ever.

Sometimes, carrying on the same way you have always done can get you in trouble. Especially if you are in a situation where you are trying to do the same old same old to fix a problem that requires a different touch. That fear of change might have saved some businesses here and there. Maybe a change you are unwilling to make is finally accepting help or guidance from others. It's a common fear and a matter of pride that will do nothing but hold you back.

If you are reluctant about changing your business up here and there, start with your own personal life. Do something different, get coffee from a different shop, eat an unusual breakfast, do something different! The more we settle in our ways, the more our business suffers. You work is a reflection of yourself- make sure you recognize your face in the mirror.