I've talked about ups and downs in business many times before, but it has never hit me more than it is right now. This is definitely not my normal rant or suggestions about what to do if you really want to grow your business. This is my heart breaking. And I hope that it gives you some encouragement as well.
Many of you know that I have been an entrepreneur (and doing things long before they were called what they are called today) since I was 12 years old. I was an administrative management company -- now called VA while the industry still had secretaries. I owned a cowork/incubator while they were still called executive suites, and I ran referral groups before anyne had ever heard of the BNIs of the world. That makes me OLD, I know. But it also tells people that I lived and breathed business most of my life. The most important thing to me was helping my customers with their businesses, supporting my employees and myself as well.
I worked 7 days a week and only took off the week between Christmas and New Year to be with family for more years than I can imagine. In fact, for quite a while my mom and dad worked with me in the admin business where we had 6 offices in 6 cities between Michigan, Virginia and Washington, DC. My first two offices in DC were first, in a closet space not big enough for both me and the client -- we met in the hall outside my office door (but it WAS in the National Press Building, downtown DC). And then my second office was in a refurbished funeral home on 13th Stree (hooker heaven). We were in the baseement where they still did embalming and my employees wouldn't work after dark as they were afraid the ghosts would jump out and "GET" them.
Life throughout all these times were certainly interesting. Business was good, business was bad. I worked at a J.O.B. to help me keep my business alive. I had 10 contractors working for me at other times business was so good. I was offered great exposure to clients, and then the rug was pulled out from under my feet. Those are just the ups and downs of being in business. And for over 30 years I went with the flow -- never thinking abou doing anything else.
Then about 11 years ago (Geez, was it really that long ago), I woke up one night and it was like I was standing in the shower with my eyes open and the water pouring in. Bright halos of color surrounded everything. I was scared to death and for the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about what was on my schedule for the next day. Instead, I asked my then-husband to ge me to the hospital ASAP. That was a big thing, by the way, as we didn't have health insurance at the time. I had never bothered to worry about such insignificant things before.
Well, the verdict came in that I had a very serious case of Glaucoma, and for the next two years, I laid on either my left side or my right side, visited the eye doctor 3 times a day (testing pressures) and had four surgeries. Work went right out the window. Turning my business over to my office manager, aka friend, I learned the hard way that as a small business owner, no one cares about your business as much as you do, and by the time I was able to see and move again, my business was in the pits. It was shortly after that that I divorced my husband, moved back home to help take care of my aging parents and remarried.
Again, I was back to business. About three years in, I had a minor heart attack, and was told I should not work again. Three days later I was signing a lease on a new office. Getting a theme here? And life as a business owner went on. However, here's where I really want you to pay attention -- life (and God) has had other ideas for me. Two years ago, I was in a bad hit and run car accident which left me without the benefit of the full use of my left leg. As well, my parents started going down hill and as I write this we are worried if my mom is going to make it through the day. My business is suffering and you know what, I don't have any idea of what to do to resuscitate it. Unfortunately, I have a big event coming up in just a couple of weeks, and I really don't care -- well, I do, but don't know which way to turn at the moment.
I guess what I'm sharing here is that business owners are people first and foremost. We all need to figure out where our businesses lie in relationship to our lives. Do we have plans for the what ifs and the I hope not. It can be a fire, a burglary, an illness, a downfall in the eocnomy. You never know what might be just around the corner. So don't wait til it happens. But at the same time, don't let your business become your life. Make time for things that you'll want to remember when looking back.
When you're starting your business, it's important to focus on that -- it's like a baby and needs lots of care and love. Yet, you need to take time for family and friends as well. Today, my wish is for you all to find a happy medium in there where you have a growing healthy company AND time for family and friends.
Take care all.
Nancy
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