Question and Answer

It occurred to me that some of you might have questions that I could address via a Q & A column. I love to strategize with clients about all sorts of issues, and I do that with them on an on-going basis. This column will address questions about career, business and life strategies, choices and challenges. If you’d like to submit a question to Daisy send an email to Ros@daisyswan.com with Q&A as the email subject I will review it and answer it for publication here, if appropriate, and to you personally. I will not include any person’s name or contact information. Questions will be selected for weekly publication.

Q & A with Daisy:

Q: Entrepreneurial Burnout
My husband is at a crossroads. He’s been running his own computer service business for three years and he’s tired of the demands of being on-call all the time. He’s starting to think he should just take a job that can offer him a good income and benefits, and where he’ll feel more respected for the work he does. I think he should stay with his dream and expand his business so that he can eventually have more flexibility and income. I don’t want to lose him to long hours and a corporate life. What do you think?

A:
Being on-call 24/7 is tough on anyone but these demands are balanced by the rewards one receives. It sounds to me as if that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Start by sitting down and figuring out what your husband’s, and your family’s, ideal lifestyle goal is. Once that’s clear it’s easier to work backwards to figure out how to get there. It’s possible that your husband is feeling burned out by the demands of doing everything needed to run his business. It’s not unusual for people to enthusiastically start their own business only to find that running it is more than just doing the actual skilled work or service. Your husband might renew his interest in his business if he develops a plan to expand the business. Perhaps bringing in others as employees or contract workers or delegating some of the more menial tasks will help. Can he start to delegate some of his responsibilities to free him up to develop his business in other ways? He might be reinvigorated by taking a class about business planning or management for entrepreneurs where he can hear how others have successfully developed their businesses. Many universities and community colleges have spring courses, so now would be the time to jump on that. He might also contact SCORE to speak with a volunteer advisor about his business.

Any major decision begins with good probing questions; what does your husband enjoy about having his own business? Why did he choose to start it, and what successes has he accomplished already. If he could paint a picture of his business being a great success, what would it look like? His value of owning his own business may have shifted now that he’s got a business that requires repetitious activities. A little productive ‘day dreaming’ could help get his inspiration going again.
Another issue you mentioned is that he wants to feel more respected for the work he does. We each have our own way of interpreting how we’re respected. It’s time to understand what he likes about having his own business and what it is he thinks he would gain from working for a company. Working for a ‘name’ company whose services, products and culture he respects could be a great way to achieve personal stability and credibility. It will take some time conducting research to find the right company and job fit, but it could be very worthwhile if, after answering larger career and life planning questions, he determines that life as an employee fits better for him and your family.