As an entrepreneur or even an everyday person, it is very likely that you have been exposed in some regards to grind culture. Grind culture dictates that we dedicate every waking moment of our lives to chasing our dreams and achieving our goals. This means working a 9-to-5 and having a business on the side and also working on investments in your free time. This means sleeping very late and being the first week up and check into the workforce. While hustle and grind culture is often associated with world-famous entrepreneurs like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and others, not enough is said about the need for rest, and not enough emphasis is placed on leisure culture.
As an entrepreneur approaching a new existing business venture, at the forefront of your mind is likely all the work you need to put in to make it a success. But it is also imperative that you acknowledge the need for rest and relaxation during your journey. Outside of the glamorous holiday pictures that flood the Internet, the need for an entrepreneur to play as much as he works is also tied to health and the success of the business.
Take Zaf Baker, an international entrepreneur who owns multiple businesses and is world-famous for his innovation. While a lot of information is available regarding the many businesses he runs, he is also popular on the internet for content regarding his travels, vacations, famous celebrity friends and jet setting around the globe.
Believe it or not, the latter is just as important as the former for an entrepreneur. First, it is a matter of health and wellness. Working sun up to sundown sounds good on paper and might produce results but if you cause adverse effects to your health in the process of doing so, not much is gained. We’ve all heard about the proverbial business owner who built an empire but dropped dead of a heart attack a week after his retirement. This is actually not unheard of as many business people do not prioritize their health enough. As you develop your empire, make sure you are going against the grain by setting out times of the day week, and year specifically for rest and this includes taking vacations, working out, eating healthy, or just resting.
It might help to think of these periods of rest not as idle time but instead as rejuvenation time and also a time to seek out inspiration. If, for example, you are traveling staying at a hotel, or going outside your comfort zone during your vacations, it can be an opportunity to get new innovative ideas for business ventures and also to explore different places of the world have to offer that could aid your business in the long run. There is also a benefit for this towards your team.
As the entrepreneur, you tend to oversee everything but giving your team a period of time where you are not present gives them an opportunity to explore some independent ideas and this could benefit your business as a result.
Also, it is important to consider your work-life balance at the end of the day. You’re not just a business owner but a human being who likely has a significant other, children, friends, and family who want to spend time with you. Keep in mind that the end goal of being an entrepreneur besides making money is making money that you can enjoy with those you love. If you aren’t doing that at all then there is no point in running a successful business.
At the end of the day, most entrepreneurs end up retiring at a point in their lives whether by choice or due to old age and it would be a tragedy to have spent decades on your business with no personal memories to show for it. It is a cliché, but your business is not going to keep you warm at night. As an entrepreneur, it is imperative that you prioritize your play as much as you do your work. Take inspiration from Zaf Baker and strike a balance between creating your empire and simply enjoying life.
