I was sending emails while in labor: How letting go of fear in missing out in your personal life can make you a better business owner

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By:  Melanie Colusci

As a small business owner it’s often hard for me to leave the work at work. I believe this is because I live in a place of fear at times. Fear I might miss an opportunity or I might not generate enough income to support my family and pay the bills. Best and probably MOST of all, fear I might FAIL.

This leads me to the story I want to share. In telling it now it sounds so incredibly ridiculous, but let me tell you, in the moment, I couldn’t see through it. I was held so tightly in the clutches of this fear that I WAS WORKING FROM THE HOSPITAL WHILE I WAS GETTING READY TO DELIVER MY SECOND CHILD! Seriously, in between contractions I was sending e-mails to co-workers and clients. I only put the work away when it was actually time to start pushing.

Let me back up a little bit…

When I moved to Pittsburgh I knew one person and started my business completely over. That was only nine years ago. Because I started over I felt there wasn’t time for vacation or any time off for that matter, again, because of the fear. So when I became pregnant with both my children it was “business as usual”. I worked up until the day I gave birth (well, in the case of my second, I also worked the day I DID give birth). Even after the children were born I took little time off and actually worked part-time from home until each of the boys were old enough to start daycare.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we not take time to smell the roses as they say? Why did I let this fear take over my life and steal those precious moments from me and the boys?

In reflecting back on this experience there are two takeaways I learned. One, have an emergency plan! Who will cover for you if you suddenly weren’t able to work for a time?  Would everything shut down or would some of the critical components still run with someone’s help? Two, RELAX… The work will still be there.

Now, I do take more time for me. Probably not as much as I should, but I have worked on making sure I have a backup plan.  This enables me to actually take an afternoon off or go on vacation with my family and not worry. I know that business will continue as usual and everything won’t shut down because I’m out for a day or two.

Mostly, I share this story so you know there is light at the end of the tunnel. If you feel the same fears I did and know you don’t take enough time for yourself to truly experience life hang in there. Start working through what your business backup/emergency plan looks like. Start small and schedule an afternoon or two off. Take time to smell the roses!

In my recently released book titled “From Start-Up to Success: Navigating the Journey to Becoming (and Staying) a Successful Entrepreneur” there are many other helpful ideas to becoming the best entrepreneur you can be.  Make sure you check it out and watch for more to come. You’ll be happy you did!

Here’s to you. All my love,

Melanie

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