It’s Not Optional for Small Business Owners

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, it’s time to gear up for the rest of the year-end holidays. The December calendar fills up quickly with parties, family gatherings, shopping trips and charity drives. The kids will be home, your home will be chaotic and your friends who work for someone else will be planning holiday trips to warmer temperatures.

But if you’re like most small business owners, you not only make the bacon, you also wrap it up, sell it, cook it and clean up afterwards. It goes without saying that you’ll be working through the holidays.

Making Choices

This is a great time of year for reflection. And one consideration that’s tantamount if you’re going to get through another year working through the holidays is to remember that you chose this life. If you wanted to clock out at five, take three- and four-day weekends on a regular basis and get paid while on your holiday cruise, then you would’ve stayed working for someone else who maybe gave you those perks.

But you didn’t. You chose to be the boss. When life gets difficult and you’re tired, remember who’s in charge. Whenever you’d rather not be working through the holidays and you think “everyone else” is having fun, that’s when it’s time to remember that this is your choice. (And believe that you’re not alone; “everyone else” isn’t exactly gallivanting from party to party.)

It’s All About Attitude

In addition to taking responsibility for the predicament you find yourself in this December, a different perspective can help you get your fill of ho-ho, merry-merry, happy-happy wishes. Consider:

• You must be doing pretty well if you have so much work that you have to keep working through the holidays.
• The parties and the celebrating you do in the future are going to be just that much sweeter because you made a success of your business.
• You’re the type of person who understands that sacrifice is required for success.
• Others can have the madness, the traffic and the drunkards this year; you get a pass.
• You’ll stay positive and pay it forward to everyone you meet this month, because you’re a successful business owner with an attitude of gratitude for your work, your talents, your clients, your staff and your source.

And little tricks don’t hurt either. After all, even the most positive, enlightened among us has a bad day once in a while. Even the most successful go-to guru has a bout of the poor-me’s occasionally. To help you get through the downsides of working through the holidays, here are a few tangible tips:

• Focus on what’s in front of you. If you’re stuck in front of your computer writing or managing spreadsheets, get through each day by maintaining your focus on the task at hand. If you’re glad-handing new clients, don’t think about tomorrow or next week and what others may be doing. Stay committed to your business.
• Stay hydrated, take time to exercise and eat well. When you’re physically run down, it’s even more difficult to maintain a positive attitude, especially when self-pity knocks.
• Prepare for the busy end-of-year obligations that every small business owner faces and get some of it out of the way early whenever you can so that you might have time for a cup of cocoa near the fire and maybe a few hours to open gifts with the family.
• Take little mini-breaks to call your adult kids or your parents. Pack a lunch with Christmas cookies and turkey sandwiches. Drink hot cider or cocoa to bring the season’s treats to you.
• Make plans for a big holiday trip next year. Or plan to take off during a slow time for your business, perhaps in the summer or during the bleak days of February. Give yourself something short-term to look forward to that will propel you through any misgivings you have about working through the holidays.

Happy Holidays from your friends at Ray Access!

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