As I’m writing my book on how to grow a small business and still live life on your own terms, I’ve been studying the effects of overwork. It will come as no surprise that overwork creates chronic stress. And chronic stress has debilitating consequences.
Numerous data demonstrates a host of health problems associated with stress. Did you know that studies show that stress is more closely related to heart disease and to cancer than smoking is? A Harvard study showed that men who experience chronic anxiety are six times more likely than contented men to die from a sudden heart attack. Furthermore, data links stress to a whole host of emotional and physical disorders, including ulcers, migraines, back pain, depression, anxiety disorders, and insomnia. In fact, a recent study of 2,000 workers showed that those who work eleven hours a day or more had double the risk of developing depression compared with those who worked eight hours a day or less. Another study of 10,000 workers found higher levels of both anxiety and depression in those who put in the most overtime.
In other words, the “freedom” entrepreneurs seek when they start their business is replaced with work taking over their lives. The “success” they seek is robbing them of many of things they care about- such as good health and having time and energy to spend with the people they care most about.
Does it have to be this way? No, it doesn’t. But entrepreneurs need a new road map. And that road map includes streamlining and systematizing your business as quickly as possible. Something I’ve learned from coaching entrepreneurs is that the motivation to streamline a business comes from visualizing the life you really want to live and believing you can create that life.
Stay tuned for my article next week to help you visualize and create the life you want.