When do you uncork the champagne, when you’re an entrepreneur who’s learned that this charting your own course business is a marathon, not a sprint … and a never-ending marathon, at that?
It’s a good question, and one I’ve been thinking a lot more about, since reading Steve Wallace’s post on the subject. I certainly empathize. For example: it’s currently 1:58 am, and I’m still up, working. I’ve actually had a really good few days, but I’ve got four items on deadline for tomorrow. So even though I could break out a little champagne, I don’t really have the ability, or time, to enjoy it at the moment. Corn flakes and fizzy water actually sound much more appealing right now … and would be much more helpful to the cause.
As I’ve often said, the good news about working for yourself is that there’s nobody telling you what to do all the time. The bad news is, there’s also nobody telling you to go home.
On the other hand, it’s worth noting that although I really do wish I’d gotten the work done three hours ago … I really love the work. Enough that I don’t even hate it when it’s the middle of the night and I’m still doing it. That’s worth a lot. So is the zero commute time I have in my life. And the people I get to talk to, and the places I get to see. And the fact that my mind is challenged and fulfilled, almost every single day. There are sacrifices, to be sure. Lots of them. But even at 1:58 in the morning … I still wouldn’t trade.
But you still have to balance out those 2 am work hours, somehow. Somewhere in the mix, champagne moments really do matter, if you don’t want to burn out. Life is short, and it flies by with increasing speed as the years go on. So one of the challenges of being an entrepreneur is getting your head out of the trenches long enough to look around and enjoy the view, every now and then. Yes, the long view is critical. Otherwise you’d give up on all the dark days. Seriously and truly, you would. Even if you’re not trying to convince an emerging economy to work with you on a risky, entrepreneurial venture. But we all need a Saturday night dance, every now and then.
But what and when do you celebrate? Part of the dilemma, I think, stems from the fact that most entrepreneurs I know are harder on themselves than anyone else ever could be. It’s why they can be entrepreneurs, without any structure or boss behind them. But it also means that those of us who suffer from self-driven expectations need to make a conscious, concerted effort to do some reality-check adjustments, every now and then, and congratulate ourselves on what we’ve accomplished, instead of focusing only on what still remains to be done.
It’s hard to see the picture, sometimes, when you’re sitting inside the frame. But in reading Steve’s post, it occurred to me that maybe he, I, and our fellow adventurers ought to take a little of that Madison Avenue advice. Buy ourselves some mid-level champagne and allow ourselves the luxury of celebrating some of the little victories in the 100 years’ war. A really fun and productive day. A great new client. A positive balance sheet. The sheer fun, adventure and challenge of having to figure it all out from a blank page. Or even still being solvent, after all these years in the game. Even if we had to scrape a bit to be able to say that.
When I got ready to fly my airplane across the continent by myself, the very first time, another pilot friend (who’d also done a lot of solo adventuring) said, “Remember, Lane, sometimes you have to step back and remind yourself you’re having fun, in the middle of all the work and adventure.” He was right. Adventure—for all its amazing, rewarding, and unforgettable gifts—requires focus, and is generally a lot of work, with a lot at stake. So sometimes, strange as it seems, you have to consciously shift your focus for a bit and remind yourself that, despite the work and effort involved, you really are having fun.
You don’t have to open a bottle of champagne in order to do that, of course. But it sure doesn’t hurt. Come to think of it, perhaps this weekend, when I get through a couple of these deadlines, I’ll open a bottle, myself.
Just for the fun of it.
Lane Wallace is the Editor and Founder of No Map. No Guide. No Limits.
Hi Lane,
I operate a small business and agree that we need to take the time to enjoy life, enjoy the long view, and that is one of the ways flying a light airplane is so great. All we have to do is get away from the office for a few minutes and get up into the air. We can quickly get a perspective there that few people are fortunate enough to enjoy.
The views are long and everything is clear. Of course it is very helpful to just sit on a park bench or sit in the woods for a while, but flying and the freedom that comes with it quickly takes me to another level.
I certainly do enjoy all your articles. Keep up the good work.