During the last 90 days or so, I have been spending lots of quality time with my son playing baseball and tennis, to name a few activities. \u00a0I have also faithfully taken my wife out on a date once a week.\u00a0 However, my 15-year old daughter has been quite busy with her select volleyball team and also going out a lot with her friends.\u00a0 In my heart, I knew I needed to spend more time with her, just her.\u00a0 I needed to be a more engaged father with her.\u00a0 So a few weeks ago, to start, I took her on a date.\u00a0 She and I went to her volleyball game together (a long drive in which we could talk) and then out to dinner.\u00a0 It was just the two of us and a good opportunity for me to get caught up with her life and rapidly changing world.\u00a0 It was terrific and vitally important to both of us \u2026 especially me.\u00a0 Since then, we have also played tennis together and I started giving her driving lessons.\u00a0 That got me thinking about all the different roles we juggle at work and at home.<\/p>\n

As business owners, we tend to wear many hats at work \u2026 often too many hats and some of them not really that important.\u00a0 Similarly, we also wear many hats in our personal lives yet most of them are vitally important. \u00a0Sadly, at times we get so busy and consumed by the business or other distractions and issues that we forget about the many important roles we are responsible for in our personal lives.<\/strong>\u00a0 Every now and then (like I did with my role as father to my daughter), it’s wise to face the truth, examine our many roles and see if we are neglecting some.<\/p>\n

For example, most of us are responsible for the following roles in life: Business Owner\/Professional, Spouse, Parent, Friend, Son\/Daughter, Brother\/Sister, Aunt\/Uncle, Neighbor\/Citizen, Faith Member, Club\/Association Member, Mentor, etc.\u00a0 Which of these roles, if any, have you been neglecting because of your business or other excuses?<\/strong><\/p>\n

What does this have to do with business coaching you ask?\u00a0 Business coaching, done right, also helps you to have balance and real fulfillment in your life.\u00a0 After all, what good is it if you are a huge success in business but a failure at home?<\/strong>\u00a0 We at The Growth Coach <\/a>know with certainty that you can have success AND a balanced life<\/strong> \u2026 we successfully coach several thousand entrepreneurs, executives and professionals<\/a> each year to do just that with our strategic-focusing process.\u00a0 Awareness, objectivity and accountability go a long way to ensure doing the right things in our business and personal life.<\/p>\n

In order to have business success, you DO NOT have to sacrifice your family, friends, health or sanity.\u00a0 If you are, your approach is broken and\u00a0you need business coaching immediately. \u00a0You should be able to run a successful business with the right leadership approach and business systems in place that will allow you to have a fulfilling family\/personal life as well.\u00a0 Besides, a healthy balance in your life will be good for you, your health, your family\u00a0and yes, even your business.<\/p>\n

Let’s get back to the point at hand.\u00a0\u00a0What roles, if any, might you be neglecting?<\/strong>\u00a0 Please don’t play games or\u00a0get defensive.\u00a0 Here comes some tough-love business coaching.\u00a0 I know you are busy at work and have all kinds of demands on your time, energy and focus.\u00a0 All owners do \u2026 you are no different.\u00a0\u00a0However, please forget about yourself and your business for a moment and think about your loved ones.<\/strong>\u00a0 Seeing the big picture is critical to real success and happiness.\u00a0 Again, which role or roles have you been neglecting?<\/p>\n

Still not sure?\u00a0 Then let’s dig deeper into the truth and face reality.\u00a0 Imagine if I visited with and asked your spouse, kids, friends, parents, siblings, neighbors, faith members or others about your level of engagement and involvement.<\/strong>\u00a0 What would they say?\u00a0 Would they say you are present and active in their lives?\u00a0 Would they say you spend enough time with them?\u00a0 That you are a terrific spouse?\u00a0 Great parent?\u00a0 Good friend?\u00a0 Or, would they say your heart and head are always focused on work, even when at home?\u00a0 Or that you are so busy at work you don’t have time for them? \u00a0What would they say?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you really want to know the truth, ask them yourself how you are doing with your various roles.\u00a0 No matter what, you need to ask, accept the truth, and put a plan in place to make amends.\u00a0 You and your loved ones will be glad you did.<\/p>\n

Again, who needs more of your time, attention and love?\u00a0 What role have you been neglecting and now wish to correct?<\/strong>\u00a0 Do yourself and loved ones a huge favor.\u00a0 Over the next 90 days, focus on 3 roles you are going to pay more attention to … providing more time, energy, focus, emotions, and involvement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

How do you get started?\u00a0 It’s easy.\u00a0 Tell your loved one that you are sorry you have been so busy at work (or other distraction) and that you are committed to being a better husband, wife, father, mother, or whatever role you want to focus on.\u00a0 Ask them to forgive you.\u00a0 Then ask\u00a0your loved one to pick\u00a0an activity they would like to do just with you in the next few weeks and get it on your calendar.\u00a0 Follow through with your activity no matter what.\u00a0 Don’t you dare\u00a0conduct business while you are with them.\u00a0 That would send yet another\u00a0message that your business is more important than they are.\u00a0 Put your cell phone or Blackberry away or on silent and truly be present with that person.\u00a0 Spend the time focused on them, getting to know them better\u00a0and truly listening to what they have to say.\u00a0 Again, over the next 90 days, focus on 3 roles you are going to provide with more attention, time, energy and engagement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Having a business is no excuse for neglecting your important roles in life.\u00a0 After all, what will you want on your tombstone?<\/strong>\u00a0 That you were a successful business owner that paid a huge price or that you were a loving, engaged, and committed parent and spouse?\u00a0 I thought so.\u00a0 Here’s to your success AND balance!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

During the last 90 days or so, I have been spending lots of quality time with my son playing baseball and tennis, to name a few activities. \u00a0I have also faithfully taken my wife out on a date once a week.\u00a0 However, my 15-year old daughter has been quite busy with her select volleyball team […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":142,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[857,876,858,1107,861,863,897,864,935,865,867,1065],"class_list":["post-1996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-coaching","tag-business-coach","tag-business-coaching","tag-business-owner","tag-business-owner-roles","tag-business-systems","tag-entrepreneur","tag-growth-coach","tag-leadership","tag-marketing","tag-small-business-management","tag-strategic-mindset","tag-work-life-balance"],"yoast_head":"\n