Running a business can be a lonely pursuit. While you have the advantage of not working a tough entry level job for entry level pay (as anyone in your customer service department will remind you), in return for a top-level salary you do have to turn your life over to your work. It’s far harder for a CEO, founder or other top-level decision-maker to leave their work in the office than it is for those further down the tree. With the responsibility for everyone in the company’s success, from shareholders expecting a return to staff expecting wages, resting ultimately on your shoulders, relaxation can be tough.
On top of the responsibility, there’s the reality that command is isolating. It’s a theme writers have tackled for centuries, and it’s a reality you will live.
All of these factors contribute to the phenomenon that is founder burnout: a deep state of exhaustion that takes years to recover from. No one likes waking up tired and going to work weighed by the feeling they have nothing left to give. Don’t let it cut short your entrepreneurial career. The key to long term survival is to spread the load a bit. The key decisions will still rest on your shoulders, but with expert input you can have more confidence in the decisions you’re taking, and you gain these experts as peers. You’re les isolated if you’re working with one or two expert consultants who have their own business reputation. You can discuss problems with them, and reach solutions without feeling like you’re stuck with no one to talk to.
Choosing which consultants to work with is an important issue to face. If you’re not discerning you could end up spending all your budget without much to show for it, so you need to put thought into this.
Market Research
If you’re just starting out, trying to attract new customers, or simply feel you don’t understand the people shopping with you, then Market Research is an important area to pursue. You can’t make good choices with your products or marketing unless you understand what your customers value, so building a relationship with a market research firm like Attest is a vital way to get the insights you need.
Legal Help
A businessman’s lawyer has long been his confidante and it’s not hard to see why: a lawyer’s career is founded on understanding complex issues and making careful judgements.
Building a relationship with a lawyer gets you more than just legal advice, it gives you a peer on your level who understands the pressure you’re under and can help to diffuse it. It’s steps like this that ensure your career will be long and successful.
