Dealing with Overwhelm in Your Small Business with Henry & David.
Dealing with and managing overwhelm as you start and grow your small business. David Begin and Henry Lopez shares their thoughts and experiences, and practical tips, on how to manage stress and avoid being overwhelmed and paralyzed. What causes overwhelm? What happens to us when we are overwhelmed? How do you effectively manage stress and overwhelm? Henry and David share their experience and advice to help you answer these questions, so that you can achieve your most important small business goals.
Henry is the host of The How of Business podcast, a serial entrepreneur and business coach with over 35 years of diverse business experience, including successful careers in information technology, sales, sales training, real estate, and business ownership. David has over 30 years of broad business experience, including successful careers in the information technology industry, sales, sales training, public sector, and business ownership.
Dealing with Overwhelm in Your Small Business with Henry & David – Topics and questions cover on this episode include:
Overwhelm – Definition: Bury or drown beneath a huge mass. To defeat completely. To give too much of a thing to (someone); or to inundate.
Dealing with overwhelm is a normal part of starting, running and growing a small business. We all deal with it. You have to learn to embrace and manage it such that it does not paralyze you and lead to excessive stress.
Why do we get overwhelmed?
• Too much to do at once to start or manage a small business.
• Underestimating effort required to launch or grow a small business.
• Too many people depending on you for support and decisions.
• Trying to be everything to everyone in your business.
• Trying to focus on too many things at once.
• Decision Fatigue – you are tired of being the only one making the business decisions.
• Deadlines & Expectations – self-imposed and from others.
• Too many commitments or appointments – you said yes too much or chase everything. You must learn how to say “no” more often.
• Limited Focus – what do you need to focus on next to start or run your small business. You can’t get it all done, so determine what’s most important today, and this week.
• Too much time outside your Zone of Genius – what you are good at and enjoy most, and how much time are you spending doing other things.
What happens when you get overwhelmed?
• Paralysis – you make no progress with launching or growing your small business!
• Stress
• Poor Quality
• Frustration
• Disappointment – for you and others
• Low Achievement or Procrastination
• Disillusionment
How to manage overwhelm?
• Prioritize, Focus, Systemize
• Focus on what’s in front of you right now and finish it.
• Be realistic – set realistic short-term goals.
• Make a list of everything else and either prioritize it, delegate it or say no.
• Delegate or partner for most of what’s not your Zone of Genius. This is one of the great reasons for partnering in small business.
• Do the next most important thing on your list with as little distraction as possible.
• Minimize multi-tasking.
• Time Block your schedule.
• Say no to the noise, and be ruthlessly protective of your time (including down time).
• Say no to other projects that don’t make sense now.
• Stay Healthy. Prioritize your personal health (exercise, sleep, eating well) as just as important as other business responsibilities.
• Schedule free time.
• Get help! Mentors, Coaching, Peers…
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The How of Business podcast, hosted by Henry Lopez, is consider one of the best podcasts for small business owners based on our reviews and rankings. Henry is a Serial Entrepreneur and a Small Business Coach – helping people start, run and grow a small business.