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Image Credit: ChamberofCommerce.com

Owning a small business is a pursuit of the heart. As any entrepreneur would tell you, the success of a business is about more than making money. It is important to remember who you are as a person in order to succeed as a business owner but sometimes the character of an entrepreneur gets buried under the hustle and bustle of being the boss.

There are small ways to keep your spirit alive and well as a small business owner that can be incorporated in your daily routine. Keep these ideas in mind to combine the entrepreneurial spirit with your personal beliefs:

  • Hire good people. Of course every business owner wants to hire the best workers for every position in the company. Challenge yourself to look beyond the qualifications on a piece of paper, however. Make a priority list of personality traits that you desire in every new employee and develop interview questions that lead you to those people. It is also important to consider the personalities of the staff you already employ and determine if each new person fits into the larger workplace puzzle.
  • Create a mission statement. Come up with a few sentences that encapsulate who you are as an entrepreneur and what your business stands for in ethical, spiritual terms. You do not have to talk about the actual operations of your business here. A mission statement should address the way you plan to carry on as a business and how you feel your customers should be treated. If you have specific religious or spiritual beliefs, you can include those in a mission statement. At the very least, outline your ethical stance and make a commitment in writing to uphold those beliefs in all your business dealings.
  • Surround yourself with reminders of home. Even if you work from a home office, fill your desk with pictures, quotes and other trinkets that remind you what you are truly working to achieve. On your toughest days as an entrepreneur you can pause to look at these items and find some inner strength to keep going.
  • Get enough sleep. It seems so simple but so many busy entrepreneurs do not get enough rest. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that more than 30 percent of U.S. adults get just six hours, or less, of sleep each night. Working adults should really be getting at least eight hours – with ten being the best scenario. To be the best leader of your company, your body needs time to refuel. Avoid staying up late to finish work; opt to get up a little bit earlier instead. When your brain and body is rested, you will be more productive.
  • Go away sometimes. There is a difference between being dedicated to your company and making your business your entire universe. It is okay to take a lunch break, or even (gasp) a vacation from time to time. Rely on that strong staff mentioned earlier to handle business affairs when you are not available. You will return to your job refreshed and better prepared to take on new tasks.

What everyday ways do you keep your spirit healthy as an entrepreneur?

 

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