Healthy Trending

Taking Care of Yourself

– article by Lisa Sasevich

You may have heard entrepreneur Jonathan Christian speak about his business success live on my stage. But as with most business owners, his path to success wasn't the easiest nor was it necessarily the most expected. In 2008, a severe car accident changed his life in an instant. A challenging road to recovery followed, including a surgery to completely rebuild his neck which left him unable to work for over a year.

Jonathan was stuck at home to heal and feeling the stress of being self-employed with mounting bills. Little did he know, the scope of his business was about to shift as the result of an interesting influence. He found himself turning to social media as a means of staying in touch with the outside world and soon realized that such emerging technologies could benefit his small business clients.

"That's where my blog started and 275 blogs later, I'm still writing, teaching people how to leverage their story in such a way that people want more."

He rebranded his company, We Make Stuff Happen, and began teaching clients what was possible with social media. They expanded into website and graphic design along with content writing and business was booming.

"For me, it was more helping than selling. Invariably, if you have the right skills to bring to the table and help people, they're willing to pay you for it," Jonathan says.

Yet even with decades of business experience under his belt, Jonathan, like many entrepreneurs, reached a point where he needed a different kind of change. He saw that his company was reaching capacity. Helping people was in his blood but by only helping a handful of people at a time, there was a limit to the amount of income he could generate.

"Even if I employed more people, it was still just me. I could only bring in so many leads."

After participating in the 6-Figure Telesemninar and Webinar Sales System program and taking full advantage of his ticket to the Speak-to-Sell Live event, it was Jonathan's wife, Debbie, who nudged him to dive headfirst into the year-long Sales, Authenticity & Success Mastermind, known as the "Sassy Mastermind".

Jonathan jokes, "Who am I to dispute my wife? It was the best thing I ever heard." Though it was quite a large investment, Debbie believed in Jonathan and his business, trusting they would see a return on their investment in the program. Sure enough, within the first year using the Speak-to-Sell model, he earned that money back tenfold.

Within just a couple months, Jonathan launched a webinar that enrolled 23 people and literally doubled his business without doubling overhead. He'd generally take on one new client or so a month and suddenly there were 23 highly invested clients enrolled in this 26 week program.

Out of that, he launched a mini version to serve those clients who might only need a refresher, a social media boot camp. This entry-level course, enrolled over 100 people. And since both of these products were virtual, it freed Jonathan up to work in-depth and one-on-one with a handful of clients.

"I used to physically go to somebody's office and work with them, which I still do and love, but now I can do both. And we've achieved amazing results because we've done that so intensely. We've got a much bigger stage."

And this is just the beginning of his story. His company is poised to shatter the goal of earning seven figures in three years. "I'm bold. I'm two years to seven figures. That's my goal and we're over halfway there."

His results have been truly amazing and it's led to huge freedoms in Jonathan's personal life as well. He and his wife now live in their dream home and he owns an amazing office he never thought was within reach. When buying his new home, Jonathan needed an additional $50,000 in the bank. He was able to generate extra business and earn the money in only one month.

And it's not just these tangible benefits Jonathan now enjoys. With his increased income, he's been able to spend time with his family on amazing vacations, such as the two week cruise he took Debbie and her parents on aboard the Oasis of the Seas.

"My mother-in-law just hugged me and cried on my shoulder and thanked me. I couldn't have done this for them a year ago. That's priceless and I didn't do it from debt. I did it from cash flow, from using my Speak-to-Sell talk."

Such gifts as that quality time with family are immeasurable and precious in the fast-paced entrepreneurial world. His giving to others has been magnified as well and he's been able to help several different charities much more deeply. Though Jonathan says perhaps the greatest gift he's received came directly from his experience in the Sales, Authenticity & Success Mastermind.

"This is my stage. This is my time in life to impact the world with the gifts that I've got and I gained that through the Sassy mindset."

Entrepreneurial Self-Care: How to Make "Me" Time When You're Already Stressed Out and Stretched Thin

6 January 2017 |   Posted by Lisa Sasevich

 

As an entrepreneur, you've undoubtedly heard the buzzwords: "self-care" and "'me' time."

By now, you probably know you need them, in order to live a happy and balanced life.

But you also know that creating the type of personal freedom you crave requires hard work.

You may be wondering how to get everything done and fit in self-care and 'me' time.

I have good news: hard work and self-care do not have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, creating the time and space for self-care is critical if you want to achieve your biggest goals … and enjoy the journey along the way!
 

What IS Self-Care, Exactly?

"Self-care" describes any actions you take to identify and meet your own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Why Is Self-Care So Important?

Research from the British Psychological Society confirms that we don't make good decisions when we're burned out. Yet ambitious, goal-driven people often push right on through the overwhelm, even when they are really stressed.

And let's face it: most entrepreneurs are stressed, to some degree.

Let's take a quick look at some numbers:

A recent survey by The Alternative Board found that:

  • 19% of small businesses owners work 60 or more hours each week,
  • 30% work 50-59 hours, and
  • 33% work 40-49 hours.

In other words, more than 80% of business owners work MORE than full-time.

AND, 79% of survey respondents said they are working too much.

Are there consequences to this kind of overwork?

According to this survey, yes. About three-quarters of respondents reported experiencing business-related stress manifesting as impatience, insomnia, forgetfulness, mood swings, restlessness, boredom, and temper outbursts.

Clearly, your stress level impacts how well you're able to do your job—to serve the people you're passionate about serving.

If you're stressed, you can't effectively serve your clients, you can't effectively attract new prospects, and you can't convert any sales.

But when you take care of yourself, you're able to better serve and take care of those around you.

So, if entrepreneurs are already spending too much time working, how can they possibly fit in self-care?

The first step: make it a priority.
 

Prioritizing Self-Care

You ARE your business. You can't afford to be less than your best, or to let yourself go.

In fact, I want you to consider recharging an entrepreneurial essential!

There IS a way to run a business you love, and enjoy all the time for self-care you desire. It's called structure.

Structure gives you the ability to be successful and to take care of yourself, and it's as important in your personal life as it is in your business.

If your days are already full and you're not doing any self-care now, the idea of adding something to your schedule may feel daunting.

It's okay to start small (you don't have to drop everything and run off to Tahiti!).

Maybe you set aside 30 minutes of self-care each day, right when you wake up or just before you go to bed. Or, you may opt for an hour of 'me' time every weekend.

Start small, and see what works for you. The key is to start.

[bctt tweet="Structure gives you the ability to be successful and to take care of yourself."]

Uncertain of what self-care may actually look like for you? Keep reading …

Self-Care Activities

Get enough sleep. Many of us skimp on sleep, telling ourselves we have too much to do. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says sleep helps your brain work properly and enhances your creativity as well as your problem-solving and decision-making skills—all of which are essential to your business success! Lack of sleep can make you feel angry and impulsive, have mood swings, feel depressed, or lack motivation.

Eat healthy foods. Eating healthy is good for your physical health, and it can increase your productivity, according to a study by the Population Health Management. Foods rich in vitamins and minerals have been associated with a lower risk of depression and stress.

Exercise. Innumerable studies have shown exercise reduces stress, clears your mind, and keeps you fit and healthy. Go for walks, practice yoga, jog, hit the gym … find something that feels GOOD, and do it!

Treat yourself. Whether you love massages or a glass of wine, you should treat yourself regularly.

Take breaks. Stand up after being at the computer for a while. Set a timer, and when it goes off, take a little stroll to clear your mind and stretch your body.

Spend time enjoying hobbies. Read, visit museums, take photos … whatever tickles your fancy!

In the end, it comes down to making your own rules. Which of these items is at the top of your self-care list?

When you incorporate self-care into your routine, you can perform more effectively at work by better serving your clients, attracting new ones, and making more sales.

You'll also be more productive, happier and less stressed.

So remember, self-care is more than just a buzzword; it's an entrepreneurial necessity!

P.S. If you're not sure how to fit self-care or me time into your daily routine, check out  these fantastic apps that help you incorporate it, every day.



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