Pace, Pressure, and the Cost of Later

In business and life, if January invites ambition, February is the month when reality sinks in.

Last month, you were encouraged to start the year without starting over. To keep your focus on continuation rather than reinventing. The calls to action were simple: thinking about what you would keep, what you would not want to do any more, and what you are curious about enough to try.

In February, let’s visit those answers by melding them into practice.

For most women in business, the early weeks of the year bring a familiar pattern. Goals seem clear. Commitment is strong. And then, as we often do, we start bargaining away our time and intentions with “I’ll take care of myself later.”

• “Later” after the deadline.
• “Later” after the launch.
• “Later” once things settle down.

Sound familiar???

And then comes the cycle of viewing this as a failure. A failure of discipline or true desire. But is it? Or maybe it is the result of responsibility, ambition, and the pressure to prove the business is worth the effort we pour into it.

Over time though, postponing physical and mental health becomes part of the normal operating model. Which it was never intended to be.

So, if January was about setting a direction, then it follows that February is about looking at our momentum – our pace. Are the patterns you repeat supporting both the business and the person behind it? Are you building in a way that lets you continue to grow over time.

Sustainable businesses built through constant acceleration are rare. Better to be built through attention, intention, and the willingness to question assumptions that no longer serve us.

February Call to Action:

This month – take some time to reflect on HOW your business is being carried by you.

• What does your “later” list look like?
• What can you do to mitigate the “later” syndrome?
• Determine what “later” vs “now” is costing you personally and professionally.

Stay connected with the ESB Committee as we continue supporting women at every stage of their business and professional journey.

Barbara J. Bozeman
Chair Entrepreneur & Small Business
smallbusiness@nfbpwc.org

Our next meeting is February 11th at 8:00pm EDT. See the Events page of the NFBPWC website or this magazine for more details.