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Ever wonder how the most successful entrepreneurs manage their time and energy to create profitable businesses and independent lifestyles?

It may not be the way you think.

Although it’s obvious these entrepreneurs are clear and focused on their priorities, and strategic about working smarter instead of harder…

They’ve also adopted other habits that may seem counterintuitive.

If you are overworked or overwhelmed, the root problem may be that you are trying to run a business with an employee or task oriented mindset.

• Equating hard work with productivity.
• Confusing a 60 hour work week as necessary.

If so, somewhere along the way, you programmed your brain to work harder instead of smarter.

As though each unit of input directly relates to a specific dollar amount earned. Just as it does for an employee working on tasks for an hourly wage or salary.

It’s a common mistake. Many talented and passionate entrepreneurs endure years of frustration or burnout by getting caught on the hamster wheel of endless tasks and responding to the demands of others…

… And what worked to get the business launched, becomes counter-productive as their business grows.

They lose momentum and confidence, because they are scattering their energy. Instead, they should pause and get strategic about harnessing their time and energy to make their impact.

It’s heartbreaking to watch these inevitable outcomes of cause and effect unfold over time. See: Wearing Too Many Hats Will Boil Your Brain

Before long, instead of improving productivity –  productivity suffers, personal and business relationships suffer and then, their health suffers which makes everything grind to a halt.

Health, close friends and family all too often get pushed aside because of overwhelm. Even though time spent in rest and rejuvenation  provides the insights that will leverage time and energy.

These are all signs that foreshadow entrepreneur burnout.

What started as self discipline somehow mutates into mental health issues of poor self care, loneliness, anxiety and other forms of chronic self deprivation.

Instead of getting the freedom they started their business for they become enslaved by it.

It’s an exhausting, lonely and disheartening experience.

Instead of denying themselves, what entrepreneurs really need is a reliable method to achieve clarity and focus, to get strategic and eliminate the energy traps that keep them stuck.

As I mentioned earlier, the solution is counterintuitive.

1. Get self connected to open your mind and cut through the noise.

2. Get clear about exactly what you want… in life and business

3. Get focused with a simple strategy to restore balance harmoniously, so your personal life and business support each other in a healthy way (instead of competing with each other).

Effectiveness is not achieved through brute force, because it triggers other, more serious problems. You’ll make more impact in the long term with a relaxed concentration.

It’s about developing the ability to harness your mind and energy. Toning your body, mind and spirit to a flexible and resilient state.

There are principles to managing your energy well. Learning them helps you become more intentional and makes growth more interesting (and challenging in a good way) than overwhelming.

I’ve been leading sales teams and running my own businesses since the 80’s.

Training entrepreneurs and other thought leaders to develop high performance success habits through ancient eastern practices that empower their body, mind & spirit since 2003.

Just like them, I am on a journey of continuous adaptation.

The past few years stress and overwhelm has become widespread, and many people seem more easily frayed than in the past, not as resilient.

It’s important not to internalize the lack of control you feel about being overwhelmed into a source of shame.

Getting centered and productive is a strategic outcome, born of cause and effect.

So, if you’re feeling overworked and overwhelmed, I recommend you consider effectiveness a core muscle you need to develop.

After all, it is no exaggeration that along with your business; your health, relationships and sanity are at stake.