12 Things That Should Matter The Most: To Entrepreneurs

Could this be the most important question any business owner should ask themselves?

What matters the most to me?

I’m a business owner in the coaching & therapy space, and I hear the high price business owners pay ….until they figure this one out.

There's a British phrase: “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.”

What do I mean? Well, when you choose one good thing over another good thing , there’s a cost (opportunity cost) or consequence associated with the process. There are two desirable outcomes but...

You can't have the best of both worlds or ‘have it all.’ You have to make a choice ...there will be a trade-off.

A couple of years ago I made a trade-off. I 'unconsciously' picked my business life over my personal & family life.

I forget my partner's birthday and our anniversaries. I made up excuses for not spending quality time with him or taking surprise holiday breaks.  I umm’d and arrgh’d about seeing our friends and family (they felt like an inconvenience?). I had exhaustion, blood pressure issues and eye problems.

But strangely enough there were two things I always had a great relationship with ...my laptop and my phone.

...And then my 23 year old son Riaz-Jaye died in 2018. That changed everything. It changed me and it changed the way I looked at 'life.'

...And then covid struck in 2020 - and I almost died. (I'd never been seriously ill before). Up until then I felt pretty invincible. It too changed the way I looked at 'life.'

The only 'good' thing to come out of all this bad was that ...it finally made me answer the opening question. The most important question any business owner should regularly stop and ask themselves:

What matters the most to me?

My answer was:

"Relationships mattered to me the most, including the one with myself. Much more than the one-sided dysfunctional relationship I had with my (Business) laptop and phone.

These huge wake-up calls made me realise I'd been trying for years to "have my cake and eat it too." I wanted to run a business. I wanted the security of my health. I wanted the security of important relationships. And I expected everyone would be there when I needed them ... even though I wasn't prepared to put in the time, effort or commitment to nurture my non-business related life.  

…At some point business owners have to get 'real' with themselves. We have to get clear about what matters the most to us. Creating MONEY or creating MEMORIES?

And this inevitably means making a simple decision to re-prioritize Bad Business Behaviours  ….in order not to lose something equally important - our personal and family lives (and our health).

 Take a look at this list of things that might matter to you, and tick the ones that resonate.

12 Things That Matter The Most To Me

1. Love and Connection: Deep emotional bonds with partners, family and friends. People add to our happiness! And strangely enough can make us ‘feel’ emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually stronger.
2. Health and Well-being: Is it possible to have a business or a personal life … without good physical and mental health??
3. Safety and Security: Physical safety, financial security and a home reduces anxiety, and increases peace of mind and stability.
4. Freedom and Independence: We need to feel we are the masters of our own destiny otherwise we lose positivity and 'hope.'
5. Purpose and Meaning: Finding a sense of purpose, whether through work, hobbies, or altruistic activities, gives life direction and significance.
6. Respect and Recognition: Feeling valued and acknowledged by others contributes to self-esteem and greater self-fulfillment.
7. Happiness and Joy: The pursuit of happiness? We shouldn't try to chase happiness, but we can create more memorable pockets of 'joy.’
8. Knowledge and Growth: Human beings are curious. Learning and personal development boosts happiness plus creates innovative services & products.
9. Peace and Harmony: Many seek this internally or externally.  Via relationships, a spiritual practice or within society and the environment.
10. Nature and Environment: An appreciation for the natural world is a must.  Building a sustainable environment for future generations is everybody's business.
11. Legacy and Impact: The desire to leave a positive mark on the world and to be remembered as someone who ‘did a good thing.’ A small reward for being a visible or invisible hero.
12. Equality and Justice: Creating a level playing field for all with strong societal structures in the area or profession that matters to you.

Life is short and eternity is long ...if you believe in the things that I do.

So if this article impacted you. Or meant something to you in any way ...please share it with your connections.

Help them to figure out and reconsider whether they need to ...get their priorities straight.

If you enjoyed this article and want to keep this list of items front and centre of mind for the next 7 days, Download the checklist: 12 Things That Should Matter The Most: To Entrepreneurs

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If you want to find out how I can help you to transform your thinking, stop trying to "have your cake and eat it too"- and balance making money with making memories...

.... DM me "MEMORIES"

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