More often that not it is the drive and relentless commitment of a business person that will see their business become a success. It may take years but they stick at it and in the end it all comes together (well sometimes this happens and as we all know, often it does not). But can you become too obsessed with a business or a business idea that you lose touch with reality? Well again we all know that the answer is yes and we probably all have business friends who have not been willing to let a business go when everyone around them has believed that it was never going to work.
There is, however, a catch 22 here. We all also know of businesses where the founder has stuck with it when everyone else thought they were crazy and the business became a roaring success. So can you become too obsessed with a business or is it just that you were not obsessed enough and that you did not try hard enough or long enough to bring it to life?
Adam Fridman in his article “Stepping Back: Five Ways Driven Entrepreneurs Can Improve” published in Inc. Magazine believes that entrepreneurs should every now and then stick their head out the window the let the wind blow through their hair to help them maintain perspective. He has five suggestions:
“1. Hang Out With Entrepreneurs in Different Field. While entrepreneurial energy is contagious, supplying that energy all the time can be exhausting. Try going to a meeting of entrepreneurs in a completely unrelated field.
2. Read Fiction. A good page-turning romance novel or spy thriller can be distracting enough from calculating wholesale shipping rates to do the trick.
3. Exercise. You don’t have to be an Olympian. Or even an athlete. Or athletic. But going to gym or for a jog can clear your mind in ways other distractions can’t. Even doing it just once can be the break you need.
4. Make art. Like hitting the gym or the bike path, you don’t need to be artistic to make art. In fact, it may be better if you’re a complete novice.
5. Try extreme experiences. It’s hard to fixate on entrepreneurship challenges while sky diving. Or bungee jumping. Or whitewater rafting. The fear will shout out everything else. And some–such as skydiving–will literally change the way you see things.”
Adam’s suggestions are great and every business person needs to live a life where their commitment to the business is balanced with family, health, spirituality and some real self-time. There are seasons in which you throw yourself totally into your business, their are seasons of rest and seasons of reenergising yourself with the passion and creativity that keeps you going.
As for too obsessed, I believe the answer is no. You cannot be too obsessed but you can become so unbalanced that you lose perspective and your effectiveness diminishes greatly. Obsession for me means commitment which must be harnessed by balance to make it effective. The points Adam made above are some examples of how you may bring balance to your life. We are however all different and you will need to experiment and find the right elements for your balance.
To harness your obsession I would recommend the following:
- Establish a regiment (habit) that underpins your balance. Carve your days and weeks up into a routine that incorporates all the elements necessary for you and do not lose that routine. The routine is how you live your life and you hate varying it.
- Find an exercise/health/eating pattern that renews, restores and maintains your health. Your goal is to not just offset your work hours but to grow in health and strength year after year. Spirituality may well become a key element of your health and renewal regiment.
- Establish a small close network of advisors (accountant, legal, marketing, technology, HR) who really understand you and your business. Make sure they place their profession and integrity above your fees so they will honestly and openly call you out when they think you are wrong. Then listen to them, they are the ones that have your back.
- Give to others openly of your time and money and create and sustain an attitude of gratitude. Humbleness and giving are great balancers and will ground you everyday.
- Nurture lifelong friendships with a small few who you can share, without reservation, your darkest fears.
So I wish you all the best in pursuing your obsession and strengthening it through balance.
